Commonwealth Cup Tips 2026: Favourite Looks Tough To Oppose

A race that has become a firm fan favourite since it was added to Royal Ascot's schedule, the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup has once again attracted a star studded field in 2026. The race revolves around Karl Burke's stable star Venetian Sun and try as he might, Billy Grimshaw found it impossible to oppose the rapid filly...

I'll let you behind the curtain for a minute here; nobody who makes a living previewing races and tipping racehorses wants to suggest backing the favourite. We all dream of nailing a big one, a 50/1 horse no one else even deemed worthy of a second glance on the racecard, but sometimes a horse leading the market slaps you in the face and just says: keep it simple. VENETIAN SUN is exactly that type of horse in here.

Not since Quiet Reflection has Karl Burke had a sprinter as exciting as this daughter of Starman. Her win in the Sandy Lane Stakes last time out at Haydock was phenomenally impressive as she travelled all over the rest of the field - a field that in the lead up to the race had been labelled deep and competitive - before responding in a matter of moments when Clifford Lee gave her a slight shake of the reins. This was her moment of metamorphosis, no longer being forced to race over seven furlongs or (heaven forbid after her non staying Guineas effort) a mile, but allowed to show exactly how much raw pace she has over sprint distances.

The sprinting division in this country has been sorely lacking a real star to hang its hat on for some time, but I truly believe this filly can be just that. With her experience over further, I do not worry about the stiff Ascot finish which I perhaps would have if only seeing her latest success, and the fact she won the Albany over this course and distance last season is certainly no negative. Her draw in 13 is fine, albeit I'd have preferred a few boxes higher, and with a strong pace to aim at almost assured given who Ballydoyle are making their first string here, I cannot see a scenario barring rotten luck in running where she does not look the winner all through the race before hopefully hitting the front.

The aforementioned Ballydoyle first string is the much heralded but as yet underwhelming Albert Einstein, who was the latest cab off the ranks in getting Aidan's "fastest we've ever had" speech before the season kicked off. Quickly installed as the 2000 Guineas favourite, he did not even make that race after two defeats when favourite over in Ireland and he was very much on a retrieval mission at Newbury last time out when finally showing some spark dropped to the trip he'll encounter here.

Were he trained by anyone else he'd be double figures, but he's not. He's trained by the greatest of all time, and has the greatest jockey arguably ever and certainly since Lester Piggot on his back. He also has the aid of a few stablemates who will almost certainly be making the race for him, although Wayne Lordan may have other ideas onboard the clearly talented but frustrating Charles Darwin. This No Nay Never colt has been held in high estimations for some time and is not simply a pacemaker, however he does enjoy making the running and as such he will be making it a test for everything else in the race. This'll suit his stablemate, but it'll also be of no concern to Venetian Sun.

Brussels is another from Ballydoyle who may well be on pace-making duties after he was swept aside in the Sandy Lane by today's favourite, but it is actually the horse that beat Albert Einstein at Newbury last time out from stall two in here that I fear could give Venetian Sun most to worry about. His Newbury win perhaps was down to fortuitous track position, however the fact he ploughs his own course means his potentially disadvantageous draw in two is negated here and I don't think he was stopping at the line last time out. He is a massive price in comparison to Albert Einstein and we know he will battle to keep the lead and is bred to stay further than this. He's no 25/1 shot.as some books are making him, but he also shouldn't be good enough to beat VENETIAN SUN.