With turf racing now back on the level in both Britain and Ireland, we’re ready to put forward our 10 horses to follow for the 2026 Flat season.
Classic prospects, elite older horses, unexposed maidens and potential big handicap winners feature in this list:
10 Horses To Follow – 2026 Flat Racing Season
Alparslan
Alparslan (Karl Burke)
Demolished a big field when winning a valuable sales race at the Curragh and was far from disgraced as a 50/1 outsider in the Dewhurst. Having proven he can handle cut in the ground over in Ireland, shrewd handler Burke should be able to place this Dandy Man colt to good effect.
French Master
French Master (John & Thady Gosden)
Came with a powerful late surge to land the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot last term and was then not disgraced in the Goodwood Cup. An Ebor bid did not go to plan but the son of Frankel has been gelded over the winter and should pay his way again this year.
George Stubbs
George Stubbs (Aidan O’Brien)
This half-brother to seven winners, including Group One scorer Johannes Vermeer, did not make it to the track as a juvenile but remains held in high regard by connections.
O’Brien stated: “He’s a mile-and-a-half horse. He’s called George Stubbs because everything about him is beautiful. He won’t get out to be a Derby horse, but he could end up at (Royal) Ascot.”
James J Braddock
James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien)
After being a slightly unlucky second at Navan, where his rider lost an iron in the closing stages, this Zarak colt powered clear late on to score by six lengths in a 20-runner Curragh maiden on heavy ground. Physically looked the type to progress at three and is reported to have matured well over the winter.
Minnie Hauk
Minnie Hauk (Aidan O’Brien)
O’Brien is a past-master at mopping up major prizes with star fillies that stay in training and this daughter of Frankel has the profile to follow suit after a superb three-year-old campaign which yielded three Group One wins before a narrow second in the Arc.
The Ballydoyle handler beamed: “She’s stronger this year, twice as wide and is in great order, we’re not rushing her but everything she’s doing is lovely.”
Pierre Bonnard
Pierre Bonnard (Aidan O’Brien)
Convincing victories in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud established this strapping Camelot colt as ante-post favourite for the Derby and all appears to have gone well over the winter.
“You’d imagine he’ll get a mile and a half well because he’s so relaxed,” said O’Brien, who is plotting two trials in Ireland before heading to Epsom. “He’s big and he’s classy and he’s done very well. He’s a big, rangy horse.”
Publish
Publish (John & Thady Gosden)
The Juddmonte home-bred got off the mark in a Sandown maiden before chasing home subsequent Royal Lodge winner Bow Echo at Haydock and is expected to emulate his sire Kingman by really coming to the fore as a three-year-old.
Barry Mahon, European racing manager for the owners, said: “He’s a horse we’ve always liked from a yearling, as he’s a beautiful physical, a big, imposing horse. We’re hoping he’ll be a better three-year-old.”
Rahiebb
Rahiebb (Roger Varian)
Failed to score again after a successful debut at Newcastle last March but was a fine third in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and only went down by a neck when runner-up in the St Leger. The apple of Varian’s eye still has plenty of scope for further improvement.
Sea Of Kings
Sea Of Kings (Harry Eustace)
Still a maiden after five attempts but the full brother to Irish and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Sea Of Class caught the eye in a couple of ultra-competitive handicaps at Goodwood and York last summer and being gelded can help him to fulfil his potential at four.
Tarriance
Tarriance (Andrew Balding)
Showed plenty of spirit to secure gutsy handicap wins at Sandown and York last season before struggling in the St Leger. Already has a good third in Saudi Arabia on his card this term and looks the type to carry on improving.
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