2026 Doncaster Cup Tips - O'Brien's raider can claim Doncaster crown

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 09 Sep 2026 12:50

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2026 Doncaster Cup
This Group Two takes place at Doncaster on Friday 11th September
Queenstown is our selection at 5/2

The Doncaster Cup. (Getty)

Day two of Doncaster's St Leger Festival is headlined by the Doncaster Cup. This two-mile-two-furlong contest has been won by many of the sport's finest stayers, and there's an open feel to this year's renewal.

Here's our free guide to the 2026 Doncaster Cup, including our best betting tips.

2026 Doncaster Cup Odds

Name	Odds
Cabello De Mar	7/4
Queenstown	5/2
Winday	13/2
Beylerbeyi	10/1
Berkshire Sundance	12/1
Bar	16/1

2026 Doncaster Cup Runners

Cabello De Mar heads the betting for Friday's feature at Doncaster. George Scott's stable star won his second Group One in France when landing the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier back in May, but was virtually pulled up in the Ascot Gold Cup and looked rusty when fourth behind Al Nayyir in the Lonsdale Cup at York.

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien team up with Group One-placed Queenstown, who returned to action with an impressive triumph in the Irish St Leger Trial last month. William Buick jumps into the saddle of Emmet Mullins' Melbourne Cup entry Winday, while Henry De Bromhead's Ebor placer Ascending is the third and final Irish runner in Friday's feature.

Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi steps up to Group Two level for the first time ahead of a prospective return to Newmarket next month. Berkshire Sundance also makes the jump from handicap company, while Danny Tudhope and David O'Meara team up with the out-of-form Epic Poet. Jennie Candlish's mare Peace Belle is the eighth and final entrant.

2026 Doncaster Cup Tips

An RPR of at least 113 is usually required to win this historic staying contest. On this season's form, only the top two in the market seem capable of running to that level, and I'm siding with QUEENSTOWN (5/2) over the penalty-carrying Cabello De Mar.

Third behind Ethical Diamond in last year's Ebor, Queenstown has three lengths to find with Cabello De Mar from their clash in the Prix du Cadran. Aidan O'Brien's gelding returned to France at the end of October and finished a good second to favourite Arrow Eagle in another Group One, the Prix Royal-Oak.

O'Brien decided to skip the first half of the season to focus on another busy autumn campaign. Wayne Lordan rode Queenstown in the Irish St Leger Trial on his return to action three weeks ago, and the six-year-old produced a lovely performance, kicking on after pace-setter Dallas Star gave way before holding Kizlyar at arm's length on the run to the line.

Queenstown recorded an RPR of 115, matching the career-best figure he achieved in the Prix Royal-Oak. Ryan Moore's mount saw out 17 and 20 furlongs last season, so this intermediate trip of 2m2f shouldn't cause him any problems.