Horse Racing Tips Today – Ed Quigley’s Royal Ascot Preview for Tuesday 16 June

Written By Ed Quigley | Published at June 16, 2026

Royal Ascot 2026 is here, and red-hot tipster Ed Quigley is back as he takes a look at the opening day of action on Tuesday, and gives his four best bets for the afternoon...

Royal Ascot 2.30 - Docklands e/w

Docklands won this race 12 months ago, and given his fantastic record at Ascot, it is hard to knock him out of the frame here back at his happy hunting ground. He won nicely at Doncaster on his comeback, and ran a very solid race in defeat in Hong Kong when last seen in Group 1 company, when finishing third. No doubt everything will have been geared around another tilt at this as he seeks to defend his crown. Underfoot conditions should be spot on for him, and he looks to be cracking each-way value in this. With three wins and four placed efforts over Course and Distance from just eight starts, he is very much in the category of track specialist.

Royal Ascot 3.05 - Night In Vegas e/w

The Coventry Stakes often throws up a classy individual, but simultaneously he can often provide a big shock as we saw in 2020 when we had a 150/1 winner. Night In Vegas is a fascinating contender here for the Eve Johnson Houghton team. The 2-year-old is unbeaten in two starts, having looked smart when winning over Course and Distance on debut despite looking green in the early stages, and then followed up in good style in a minor event at Goodwood. He gives the impression that there is so much more under the bonnet and I really like his untapped potential coming into this. He looks as though he is learning on the job, and there is a lot of raw ability involved. I can see the set-up of this race being perfect for him, and given that he already has winning form at the track, he shouldn't be underestimated.

Royal Ascot 4.20 - Gstaad

We have the rematch that we have all been looking forward to, as Bow Echo and Gstaad lock horns once again. Bow Echo got the better of Gstaad in convincing fashion in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, but I think that the Ballydoyle camp will be confident they can turn the form around heading into this encounter. Bow Echo was excellent, there is no denying that, but the vibes in the aftermath were that perhaps Gstaad just needed the run a little bit, and he went one better next time out in the Irish 2000 Guineas when powering clear, albeit in weaker company. Gstaad should be absolutely spot on for this assignment, and you have to bring the Ascot factor into play; Gstaad was an empathic winner of the Coventry Stakes at last year's Royal Meeting, so he has already proven that he can handle the track and the occasion. With the prospect of the ground looking to be on the quick side, that is another positive for the Aidan O'Brien runner who can really serve it up to the English Classic winner here. All being well, Ryan Moore will be in the saddle, and this combination looks to have a cracking chance of adding yet more Group 1 glory to the extensive haul from the record breaking Ballydoyle outfit.

Royal Ascot 5.35 - Haatem

I think this can go the way of last year's winner Haatem, who shaped as though he was badly in need of the run when down the field at Goodwood on his seasonal reappearance run last month. He travelled well to a point before weakening inside the hard yards, and so that race should see him strip much fitter ahead of looking to make it back-to-back wins in this assignment. He is still relatively unexposed at 10f, and a much better showing should be expected today returning to the track in which he enjoys. James Doyle is on board for the Richard Hannon team, and he looks a very solid each-way play in what is naturally a wide-open looking encounter.