Ten Bob Tony causes huge shock in Queen Anne Stakes

In a real “David and Goliath” story, Ten Bob Tony caused an almighty shock in the Queen Anne Stakes, as the outsider of the field got up late to land the opening race of Royal Ascot 2026.

Sent off at 50-1, Ed Walker’s five-year-old — who runs in the colours of Simon Sadler, who owns Blackpool Football Club — was having just his third run over a mile — the last one being in May 2024 — but stayed on strongly under Kieran Shoemark. Opera Ballo set very stiff fractions under Billy Loughnane and was still in front entering the final furlong until More Thunder emerged to challenge, before Ten Bob Tony came over the top from the back of the pack to win by half a length. Notable Speech so impressive in the Lockinge Stakes, never really threatened to land a blow as the 9-4 favourite.

Previously seen as a seven-furlong specialist, Walker’s charge had won over that trip at Epsom on Derby day.

Belief in a David and Goliath Story

Walker said: “I’ve lost my voice already, it’s day one! I can’t say that was expected. We had paid to enter the race and he came out of Epsom really well, Simon Sadler is such a sporting guy.

“Obviously he owns his club, he loves sport, he loves to have a go. He loves the David and Goliath story.

“We came here last year with Do Or Do Not, who I wanted to run at Carlisle, and he insisted he came here and had a go at the Coventry and we finished second.

“We took on an odds-on shot in France in a Group Two last year and we beat her. He’s so up for having a go and when the horse was as well as he was after Epsom, we knew we had to.”

He went on: “We agreed we’d sit last and pass as many as we could in the final furlong. This horse is just a legend.

“What’s been the key? He’s just a really solid horse, we rode him cold and, like it can do here at Ascot, it just fell apart in the last furlong. Kieran didn’t commit him too early and saved him for a finish. He’s a super kind horse — just a legend.”

Cruising to Day One Group One Glory

Shoemark said: “He just travelled into it so easy, I didn’t think we were going over quick either so it didn’t feel like there was a pace collapse, but he really did cruise into it; he’s a pretty smart horse.

“I thought his run at Epsom was pretty good, but he’s clearly taken a step forward again and he’s just in a good from of mind. He’s danced a lot of dances, but he’s turned up when it mattered.”

Shoemark, who will partner Almaqam for Walker in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday, added: “It’s massive, I appreciate the magnitude of Royal Ascot and to win a Group One in the first race on the first day certainly takes the pressure off, but ultimately it’s extremely special and I feel very fortunate to be a part of that team.”

Of More Thunder, who was second in the six-furlong Wokingham last year, William Haggas said: “Frustrating, but there we go. We ran a very good race, and second I’d probably have taken this morning, but we like to win.

“Full credit to Ed, I don’t know where he’s sprung that one from, but there we go. The first thing I thought was, crikey, maybe he might get a mile and a quarter now!”

Headwinds and Future Plans for Beaten Favourites

Charlie Appleby said of Opera Ballo and Notable Speech: “With Opera I’m delighted. Billy said he’s jumped, he’s keen for the first two. You can see it on the clock at the end of the day. They’re going decent fractions into a headwind.

“Billy said had there not been a headwind there, would he have won? I don’t know about that because he’d have to go at a decent clip. For me he’s a Sussex (Stakes) horse. He’s got it written all over him, get him back on a turning track there and that’s where we’ll head.

“Notable Speech I’m afraid is three from three now (defeats at Ascot). We know what Notable Speech is. Normally you see him from the three to the two to the one with William (Buick) sat still and once you see William’s body language at the two pole starting to ask this horse to try to pick up the leaders that’s never a good sign with Notable.

“For whatever reason he just doesn’t turn up here so we’ll put a line through it. He’ll probably got to France and then his usual travels around the other side of the world.”