Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips 2026: Saturday's Additional Selections

After what has been another spellbinding week in Berkshire, the curtain comes down on Royal Ascot for another year on Saturday. There are plenty of races to get stuck into and to wrap up the week, Billy Grimshaw has a couple of supporting selections to go with his huge priced fancy in the QEII Jubilee...

14:30 Royal Ascot - Norfolk Stakes

A new time slot for the Norfolk in 2026 sees it kick off Saturday, but even with the new timing there is a familiar name in juvenile sprint races represented again in Wesley Ward. The American does nothing for the stereotype that his countrymen can dip into hyperbole a touch too often, and he has predictably waxed lyrically about this horse's chances, but I do think his EZ TINA could upset the favourite Carry The Flag.

Aidan O'Brien's market leader has been all the rage as the week rumbles on with his form continually being franked, particularly by the draw bias beating Coventry winner Great Barrier Reef, but he does not look like a typical Ballydoyle banker to me. His last run was over six furlongs and this is only over five, but he was coming back to the pack before the furlong pole at the Curragh and I am not sure he will truly see this out even with the master Ryan Moore on his back. He is certainly no 2/1 shot in my book, anyway.

Many readers will be scoffing at me suggesting backing an American runner but not thinking Aidan O'Brien's hotpot will stay, given the record that a lot of Ward's runners have of late of blasting off from the gate before flailing as the Ascot stiff finish comes into play. And perhaps they are right to scoff, but EZ Tina did seem to be barely breaking a sweat at the end of her debut romp at Woodbine as she finished. She will almost certainly try to lead the low stalls group and is drawn low with other speed balls like Tribesca and Where Love Lives, who will be itching to get on with things.

Over the last decade the lower drawn horses have had great success, with stall 1, stall 2 and 4 twice and stall 5 all tasting victory. The last four winners have all been prominent, too, so I do not mind the usual American tactic for this. She looked out of the ordinary on debut and is worth each-way support.

16:20 Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes

This doesn't look a particularly hot Jersey to my eye, but I am itching to take on the inexperienced 9/4 favourite Sober Strike. William Haggas's charge has looked smart in both starts, victorious each time, but no horse has won this in the last twelve years on the back of just two starts and he'll have to be a real Group class animal to overcome that in the hustle and bustle of this race.  It is rare an Aidan O'Brien runner ridden by Ryan Moore is the horse standing out as value in a race, but that is what I believe is happening here as I quite fancy NEOLITHIC to outrun his 16/1 odds.

I am sweet on his conqueror last time out Causeway in the King Edward VII on Friday (readers on Saturday will know if that was a wise decision or not!) but in that race, Neolithic ran with great credit until the petrol tank ran dry. He seems to not quite stay a mile but looks to have ability and is a hardy horse for a three year old, with plenty of experience. I like his draw in seven as he has the pace of Morris Dancer and Dorset either side of him so Moore can decide whether he wants to attempt to lead his group, switch to the other side or change tactics entirely and try to get his horse some cover.

Aidan O'Brien has hit the century of winners now at Royal Ascot but shows no sign of slowing down and in a race that looks ripe for the picking, there is no better man to do it.