2026 Commonwealth Cup odds, horses, field: Racing insider offers best bets, top picks for the race at Royal Ascot

The Group 1-winning Venetian Sun will look to add a second Group 1 victory to her résumé when she leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Commonwealth Cup on Friday at the Royal Ascot meet in England. Trained by Karl Burke, Venetian Sun has five wins in seven career starts, including the Group 1 Sumbe Prix Morny last year. For Friday she is the 13-8 favorite in the 2026 Commonwealth Cup odds from overseas bookmakers. Albert Einstein (15-2), Division (10-1), Wise Approach (11-1) and Charles Darwin (12-1) round out the top five choices in the 22-horse Commonwealth Cup field. Post time for the race is 10:05 a.m. ET.  

With several talented horses set to leave the starting gate, you NEED to see what racing reporter and insider Michelle Yu, who's in England to cover the Royal Ascot meet, has to say before making any 2026 Commonwealth Cup picks.

Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.

She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young's win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism's win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman's win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe's win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

In March she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. And on the Kentucky Derby undercard, she smashed two races: Crude Velocity's win in the Pat Day Mile and Stark Contrast's win in the American Turf.

For the 2026 Commonwealth Cup, Yu has made her picks and constructed her bets. One surprise: Her top pick is not Venetian Sun, even though she is the 13-8 favorite.

Instead, Yu's top pick is a double-digit longshot who is "pretty established." She is including this horse in her 2026 Commonwealth Cup bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see her picks before locking in any of your own.

So which double-digit longshot wins the 2026 Commonwealth Cup? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Michelle Yu's 2026 Commonwealth Cup picks and bets, all from the racing insider!

Don't miss out: All new SportsLine memberships include Paramount+ Premium -- a $13.99/month value -- for no extra cost! Join now and get it all.