The eyes of the racing world turn to one of the UK’s most famous courses this week. As ever, the first Friday and Saturday in June see Epsom Downs step proudly into the spotlight with the latest editions of the Oaks and the Derby. The 1m4f Classics justifiably dominate the discussion in the lead-up to the meeting, but they aren’t the only 1m4f Group 1 contests on the Epsom bill.
New Slot for the Coronation Cup
First run in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII, the Coronation Cup gives the most talented older horses a chance to shine over the Derby track and trip.
In a change to the Epsom schedule, the Coronation Cup moves to a new Saturday slot in 2026. Race three on the eight-race card, the £1 million event follows the Group 3 duo of the Tattenham Corner (John Of Gaunt) Stakes and Princess Elizabeth Stakes and tees up the Dash Handicap and the Epsom Derby itself.
In relocating the Coronation Cup to this prime-time Saturday slot, the Jockey Club no doubt hoped for a quality renewal to kick things off. Happily, they have received just that, with the 2025 Longines World’s Best Racehorse heading the six-runner field.
2025 1-2 Lock Horns Once More
Looking back at the 2025 edition of the Derby Festival, the Coronation Cup produced one of the most pulsating finishes of the meeting. Sent off as first and second favourites that day, Calandagan and Jan Brueghel laid it all on the line in a thrilling France versus Ireland battle. Carrying the Aga Khan silks, Calandagan edged his nose ahead of Jan Brueghel for a fleeting moment, but the 2024 St Leger winner plumbed his reserves of stamina to forge a half-length clear at the line.
For Calandagan, that effort represented a fourth consecutive runner-up finish in Group 1 company. The son of Gleneagles hasn’t tasted defeat since. Breaking his top-level duck in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, he then gained revenge over Jan Brueghel in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, before rounding off the season with stunning victories in the Qipco Champion Stakes and Japan Cup. Rising to a rating of 130 on the back of those efforts, Calandagan ended 2025 as the highest-rated horse in the world. Fit and well following a comeback success in the Dubai Sheema Classic, the mount of Mickael Barzalona heads the Coronation Cup market at a general 10/11.
In comparison to Calandagan, Jan Brueghel has enjoyed a quiet time since his 2025 win. Given the rest of the year off following his fourth-of-five effort in the King George, he made his comeback in the Ormonde Stakes over 1m5½f at the Chester May Meeting. Sent off as the 4/7 favourite, he once again displayed stamina as his strong suit to stay on best for victory by two and a half lengths. He’s back down to 1m4f here, and officially five pounds inferior to Calandagan, but is unlikely to relinquish his crown without a fight. At a general price of 3/1, Jan Brueghel sits second in the market.
Derby Champ Returns to the Scene of His Finest Hour
Moving down the betting list, the name that immediately leaps off the page is that of Lambourn. When analysing a 1m4f event at Epsom, form doesn’t come much stronger than a Derby victory.
Lambourn achieved just that in 2025, when leading the field a merry dance from the front under Wayne Lordan. He showed that effort to be no fluke when following up in the Irish Derby, before his season tailed off with defeats in the Great Voltigeur and St Leger. Like Jan Brueghel, Lambourn made a winning return at Chester when toughing it out over an inadequate 1m2½f in the Huxley Stakes.
With Ryan Moore preferring Jan Brueghel, Lambourn is reunited with Wayne Lordan for this assignment and shouldn’t be underestimated. St Leger Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, and Goodwood Cup runner-up, Illinois, completes the three-pronged O’Brien attack.
Burke Challenger the Best of the Brits
If the Coronation Cup is to remain on British soil, the market suggests that Karl Burke’s Convergent is the most likely to repel the Irish and French raiders. Racing in Britain, Germany, France, and Ireland in 2025, this much-travelled star produced his peak performance to win the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp. Looking as good as ever when winning the Group 3 Surprise Stakes on his comeback, this represents his stiffest test to date, but he has earned another shot at Group 1 company.
George Boughey’s Bay City Roller is the rank outsider of the field but is a Group 1 winner over this trip, having landed the Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern in November. A neck behind Lambourn in the Huxley Stakes and second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time, he may outrun his double-figure price.
If it lives up to the hype, the 2026 Coronation Cup will provide a mouthwatering appetiser ahead of the Derby main course on Saturday afternoon.