Hollie Doyle: Flat horses to follow in 2026 including Derby hopefuls and international stars

Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle reveals ten of the horses she is most looking forward to in 2026 as the flat season kicks into gear.

Aramram

Richard Hannon's five-year-old has taken his form to a new level since the autumn, winning a valuable handicap at Ascot in October and then clawing back the higher rated Jasour in the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster on the opening day of the Flat. He's just the type that Richard and the team do well with so I'm expecting him to make a smooth transition into Group company now.

Bay Of Myths

It's early days but this lovely big son of New Bay gave me a nice feel when scoring on debut at Chelmsford City at the beginning of March. Despite his greenness he was well in control in his 10f maiden and can hopefully kick on. I understand his joint-trainer Jamie Insole has a valuable spring handicap in mind for him at Newbury.

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Erdenali

I'm sure I wasn't the only person to be blown away but this three-year-old's belated debut performance in a Saint-Cloud newcomers race at the end of March. The son of Caravaggio toyed with his opposition over 1m and looks another star in the making for Aga Khan Studs. In fact, he's already been hailed the next Calandagan, which is some billing to live up to, but he's in great hands with Francis Graffard. It's just a pity he's a gelding, not a colt!

Hawk Mountain

Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett didn't go into the Group 1 Futurity Trophy last autumn as his stable's main fancy but made virtually all the running to stake his own Classic claims. He's out of Ballydoyle's Champions Day Fillies' and Mares' heroine Hydrangea so is going to be even more potent over longer distances this year and is one I'm expecting to develop into a serious Derby contender.

King Of Earth

William Haggas can find plenty of improvement in this son of Kingman who is a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change. I liked his Newbury debut back in October when he ran a promising second but he took another step forward in a similar race at Doncaster's Lincoln Meeting, despite being carried badly off line in the closing stages. His Guineas entry may not be taken up but illustrates how highly regarded he is.

My Ophelia

My husband Tom (Marquand) really likes this filly and partnered her to a debut win at Newbury last back-end. She has a hefty price tag to live up to having cost a cool 1.7m gns but still has the world at her feet. William Haggas's filly is closely related to his Group stars My Oberon and My Prospero so I'm looking forward to seeing Tom renew the partnership. She holds an entry in the Irish Oaks.

Shaatir

Despite winning a Lingfield maiden last summer, he still felt a bit on the weak side when he finished down the field in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, he's done well physically since and shaped well enough for me in his comeback run in a Listed sprint at Deauville in early March, despite being quite rusty. Archie Watson's son of Havana Grey hasn't put a foot wrong and can still develop into a stakes performer.

The Prettiest Star

I'd love to see David Ward have another headline horse and this daughter of his ace sprinter Starman could fit the bill. Ed Walker's filly was much too classy for her rivals in a 6f Nottingham maiden last summer and had a strong field well beaten when finishing close behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket on her only subsequent start. The apple of my good friend Kieran Shoemark's eye, she's in the Guineas and gives the impression she'll see out 1m.

Wareeth

My boss Archie Watson's been patient with this son of Sea The Stars who made a spectacular winning debut for me at Newcastle recently. We knew he was talented but didn't expect him to make such a striking impression first time out. It'll now be interesting to see how he copes in deeper waters. Archie has declared him for the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday so let's hope he becomes a flagbearer for the yard this summer.

Zeus Olympios

One of the horses that excited me most last season was Karl Burke's son of Night Of Thunder who made it four from four in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket on his final start in September, comfortably holding Godolphin's 119-rated Opera Ballo. Karl reports that he's wintered well and is aiming him at the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, which looks the ideal target at this stage of the year.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft.