2026 Gold Cup odds, horses, field: Racing insider offers best bets, top picks for Thursday's race at Royal Ascot

The Aidan O'Brian-trained Scandinavia will look to extend his winning streak to six when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Gold Cup on Thursday at the Royal Ascot meet in England. A son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Scandinavia has not lost since June 18, 2025, exactly one year to the day. For Thursday he is the 7-4 favorite in the 2026 Gold Cup odds from overseas bookmakers. Trawlerman (3-1), Rahiebb (5-1), Al Riffa (13-2) and Caballo De Mar (9-1) round out the top five choices in the 11-horse Gold Cup field. Post time for the race is 1:15 p.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 Gold 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 Gold Cup, Yu has made her picks and constructed her bets. One surprise: Her top pick is not Scandinavia, even though he is the 7-4 favorite.

Moreover, Yu's top pick is a horse who is a "good stayer." She is including this horse in her 2026 Gold Cup bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see her picks before locking in any of your own.

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

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