Coronation Stakes: Forgotten filly could just seize crown at 20/1

The Coronation Stakes looks on paper like another match-up between the two Guineas winners, Precise (Irish, Curragh) at even money, and True Love (English, Newmarket) at 4/1. That might be the case. They are two very good fillies, and no surprise the former is heavily favoured.

But we note with interest that the race has lost two fringe players today: Narissa and Edaja will not be coming over from France per Paris-Turf this morning (still quoted, British bookmakers clearly don't speak French), and there aren't that many other fillies worth mentioning as viable place (and slight win) candidates.

Abashiri and The Prettiest Star are not without merit, but don't tempt as much at shorter prices. Of the others, So Regal is facing a massive class hike, it's preposterous that Diane favourite Diamond Necklace is even quoted for this race, and Balantina is known to be short of full fitness even if she makes the race.

All things considered, we want to have an each-way play on the highly talented Touleen at 20/1. The daughter of Lope de Vega ended her 2yo campaign with a lacklustre fifth to Zanthos in the Rockfel Stakes (after thrashing that one previously) but scoped filthy in the aftermath. That was the end of her 2yo campaign.

This year, she has been narrowly beaten as favourite in the G3 Fred Darling at Newbury, before finishing a fair sixth in the 1000 Guineas, just half a length and a length behind the aformentioned The Prettiest Star and Abashiri respectively. But Touleen is the one we want to play in this rematch.

Why? Trainer Owen Burrows is pretty sure she is better than her Guineas run, not least as Saffie Osborne told him immediately in the aftermath of that contest that his filly didn't really handle the Newmarket track. Unlike some, Burrows is not the kind of trainer to talk up his horses or make excuses for them, and we think there is reasonable chance that there is more to Touleen than we have seen this season.

Given doubts over so many of those listed and the prospect of a small field, 20/1 appeals a fair each-way value to test that theory, particularly as we doubt this price will last until the 5-day declaration stage, let alone beyond it (she's already as short as 12/1 in places).

Recommendation for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, 19 June 2026

Back Touleen each-way at 20/1 with numerous bookmakers (including Bet365, Paddy Power, Skybet, Betfred). We don't recommend taking lower on this occasion.