Royal Ascot 2026: Karl Burke could have up to 20 runners with one ‘very hard to beat’

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Karl Burke says he could have up to 20 runners at Royal Ascot including one who will be ‘very hard to beat’.

The Middleham, Yorkshire trainer has trained eight winners at the famous race meeting, headed by a Group 1 victory with Quiet Reflection in the 2006 Commonwealth Cup.

Now established among the top five trainers in the country, Burke will return to the five day fixture with a number of live hopes. Group 1 winner Venetian Sun, jointly owned by Tony Bloom, owner of Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion, and Ian McAleavy will be among the star names as she tries to give Burke a second Commonwealth Cup.

“We look like having a big team this year at Ascot,” he told Tattersalls. “We could have up to between 15 and 20 runners if they all get there in one piece. Obviously, that brings certain pressures along the way. So hopefully at least one of them can finish with his head in front, or her head in front.”

The trainer has shared his thoughts on some of his contenders , who are all graduates of Tattersalls , with the auction house.

Venetian Sun (Commonwealth Cup) “Venetian Sun didn’t stay the trip in the Guineas, dropped back into the Sandy Lane over six furlongs and she’s unbeaten over six furlongs. She put up a superb performance in the Sandy Lane. She goes to the Commonwealth Cup as favourite. With a bit of luck with the draw and the ground and a bit of luck in running, she should be very hard to beat. She’s in great form.”

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Night Raider (King Charles III Stakes) “Night Raider’s unbeaten this year over five furlongs in the Palace House and the Temple Stakes at Haydock. He heads to Ascot in great form. We think he’s got a serious chance in what was the King’s Stand. There’s a small possibility he could turn out again in the six-furlong race on the Saturday [Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes], but we’ll get the five-furlong race out first. He’s in great form.”

Wild Blossom (Queen Mary Stakes) “She was pretty spectacular, breaking her maiden up at Carlisle. She heads to the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. She looks a high-class filly with a lot of speed, very mature filly, and I’m sure she’s got a big future in front of her, and she’s all there as well. She’s a strong filly. But she’s got a great mind.”

Ruler’s Pride (Coventry/Norfolk Stakes) “He broke his maiden up at Ayr. He looks a real good recruit from the breeze-up. He’ll head for the Coventry. He will have an entry in the Norfolk, but more likely to go six furlongs. A real good, strong, galloping two-year-old with a big future in front of him.”

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Light Of Dawn (Albany/Queen Mary Stakes) “She is a new Wathnan recruit, she looks a high-class filly. She’s got an entry in the Albany, and I’d imagine that’s where she’ll end up rather than the Queen Mary. She looks a very promising filly.”

Love A Giggle (Queen Mary/Albany Stakes) “Love A Giggle won the Marygate after breaking her maiden at Southwell. She then went and put up a real good performance in the Marygate. She’s heading to the Queen Mary. She’ll possibly have an entry in the Albany, but I would say Queen Mary is where she’ll end up. She’s definitely stepped forward again after the Marygate. She looks very strong. I am really happy with her - very tough filly.”