Declarations are out for the Yorkshire Oaks - let's take a look at the runners, rider, trends, and the best bet in the race.
The Yorkshire Oaks looks set to provide one of the most intriguing clashes of the Ebor meeting, with proven Group 1 stars taking on a three-year-old generation that has continued to raise its game throughout the season. Kalpana arrives as the obvious benchmark after her brilliant King George success, but she faces a host of serious challengers, including last year's winner Minnie Hauk, Irish Oaks heroine Johanna Walsh and the rapidly progressive Tattycoram.
Yorkshire Oaks 2026 Trends
- Age: 10 of the last 12 winners were 3-year-olds.
- Market: 8 of the last 12 winners were favourites, while 10/12 finished in the top three in the betting.
- Recent Form: 8 of the last 12 winners won their previous race, with all 12 having run within the previous 53 days.
- Irish Oaks: 7 of the last 12 winners ran in the Irish Oaks last time out, with four winning and two finishing placed.
- Distance: 9 of the last 12 winners had already won over 12 furlongs, while 7 had at least two previous runs at the distance.
- Official Rating: 10 of the last 12 winners were rated 112 or higher.
- Group Form: All 12 winners had previously won at Group 1-3 level, while nine had already landed a Group 1.
- Season Form: 11 of the last 12 winners had at least two runs that season, with 10 having already won in the campaign.
Yorkshire Oaks 2026 Odds
Yorkshire Oaks 2026 Runners Guide
Kalpana
Kalpana sets the standard on recent form after producing arguably the best performance of her career to beat Calandagan in the King George at Ascot. The Study Of Man mare travelled strongly before finding plenty in the closing stages, confirming her ability to excel over 1m4f and at the highest level. She also brings an excellent recent profile of 312121, but the obvious concern is the quick turnaround from such a demanding race. If reproducing her Ascot performance, she is undoubtedly the one they all have to beat.
Minnie Hauk
Minnie Hauk has plenty to prove on her 2026 form but cannot be dismissed given what she achieved last season. The Frankel filly won the Yorkshire Oaks in 2025 as well as the Epsom and Irish Oaks before finishing runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, establishing herself as one of the best fillies in Europe. However, she was comprehensively beaten by Kalpana at Ascot and has failed to reproduce her best form this term. A return to York and 1m4f could spark a revival, but she needs a major turnaround.
Johanna Walsh
Johanna Walsh has rapidly developed into one of the leading three-year-old middle-distance fillies, taking the Irish Oaks by four lengths after previously finishing an excellent second in the Ribblesdale. Her Curragh victory was particularly impressive as she travelled smoothly before quickening decisively, suggesting she has both the stamina and speed required for York. She also reversed her Ascot form with Earth Shot in emphatic fashion and remains open to further improvement. She is arguably the biggest threat to Kalpana from the three-year-old generation.
Tattycoram
Tattycoram has made remarkable progress this season and could still have plenty more to offer. After winning the Daisy Warwick at Goodwood, the Camelot filly stepped forward significantly when routing a strong field in the Lancashire Oaks, beating Tiffany by four and a half lengths with an impressive Racing Post Rating of 112. She travelled powerfully and stayed strongly up Newmarket's finish, providing plenty of encouragement that this longer trip will suit. The main question is whether she can reproduce that improvement against genuine Group 1 opposition, but she looks one of the race's most interesting improvers.
Inis Mor
Inis Mor has already shown that 1m4f brings out the best in her, finishing second to Johanna Walsh in the Irish Oaks after previously placing in the Prix de Diane. Her staying performance at the Curragh was full of encouragement and she remains a serious contender if reproducing that level. A subsequent drop back to a mile in the Desmond Stakes did not work, with her weakening into fourth, but that run can be forgiven given her clear preference for a longer trip. Returning to 1m4f is a major positive and she has the form to make the frame.
Earth Shot
Earth Shot has some strong form to her name but needs to bounce back from a disappointing Irish Oaks. She narrowly defeated Johanna Walsh in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot, showing a good attitude over 1m4f, but was unable to reproduce that effort when the pair met again at the Curragh. That reversal leaves her with something to find, although her Ribblesdale victory proves she can compete at this level and she is still relatively lightly raced. If the Irish Oaks was simply a bad day at the office, she has the ability to get involved.
Legacy Link
Legacy Link brings strong course form after winning the Musidora over 1m2½f at York before finishing second in the Oaks at Epsom. Her pedigree is a major positive for this trip, being by Dubawi out of Chiasma, a sister to Frankel who stayed 1m4f, while her late finish at Epsom also suggested she would benefit from stepping up in distance. The concern is her disappointing seventh in the Ribblesdale when favourite, but a return to York could help her rediscover her best form. She is an obvious rebound candidate.
Sparan Nua
Sparan Nua has already proven she can compete at Group 1 level, finishing third behind Johanna Walsh and Inis Mor in the Irish Oaks after winning the Munster Oaks. Her Curragh effort suggested that the 1m4f trip suits, while a subsequent attempt at a mile in the Desmond Stakes resulted in fourth and arguably confirmed that she needs a longer test. She therefore returns to the right conditions here, although she needs to find some improvement on her Irish Oaks effort to challenge the leading contenders.
Sugar Island
Sugar Island provides Aidan O'Brien with another interesting option and brings Group 3-winning form to the race. She has shown an ability to perform on softer ground, which could become a significant asset if conditions ease at York, and she has already demonstrated that she possesses plenty of ability at this level of competition. However, she was behind Amelia Earhart in the Cheshire Oaks and needs to improve again to match the leading contenders. She is nevertheless an intriguing outsider if conditions play to her strengths.
Yorkshire Oaks 2026 Declarations
Kalpana Colin Keane
Minnie Hauk Jockey tbc
Tattycoram Eddy Greatrex
Earth Shot James Doyle
Inis Mor Oisin Murphy
Johanna Walsh Dylan Browne McMonagle
Legacy Link William Buick
Sparan Nua Rossa Ryan
Sugar Island Jockey tbc
Yorkshire Oaks 2026 Tips
Tattycoram 1pt each-way at 12/1 is the value option.
Ralph Beckett's filly looked a completely different proposition when bolting up in the Lancashire Oaks, beating Tiffany by four and a half lengths in a performance that earned a 112 Racing Post Rating. She is clearly going the right way, stays well and has already proven she can produce a potent finish over this type of trip. Kalpana sets the form standard, but Tattycoram's upward trajectory makes her the one at the prices to potentially bridge the gap to Group 1 level.
