Welcome to Racing Ahead Magazine – July 2026 Edition

In these troubled times it is a particularly welcome bit of joyful news for the sport – and of course for the health, both physical and mental, of the stress-laden young people who have been finding their way to join the fun of the track in swelling numbers.

There could be no better role-model than beaming star Billy Loughnane, whose winning grin has now graced Newmarket and Royal Ascot highlights with a beacon of youthful enthusiasm flowing with optimism and promise.

If that sounds like hype, no apology – we could all do with such high hopes.

So with summer sunshine rewarding the Royal meeting crowds after rain had done little to daunt young students who boosted a Derby crowd, sadly in a pale reflection of bygone days but seemingly oblivious to the wind and rain on the Downs.

Youth shone through at Ascot too and as we congratulate the great Aidan O’Brien for topping his ton of meeting wins in fairytale style with Scandinavia’s astonishing triumph in a Gold Cup race for the ages – we saw son and heir apparent Joseph, now 33 and with many top prizes in the bag already but still with his Milky Bar kid looks, add five of his own Royal meeting trophies to his cabinet.

Now we march on into the mid-season highlights for more of the same first class action, hopefully in fine weather.

In this issue our top tipsters, analysts and observers have armed us with another colourful offering packed with information, advice and entertainment as we look for yet more fun for the crowds. . . and winners,

We’ll never abandon our older readers but we hope you pass your copies on to youngsters in the family too – we want to hear their voices as racing draws them away from shady phones and social media and out into the wide-open spaces and joys of the racecourse. We are all winners if we can keep up with the youngsters’ pace – and we can all take a deep, healthy lungful of that fresh air together.