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 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.

Walker said: “It is just an amazing story. Ten Bob Tony was Simon Sadler's first-ever horse and now he's got more than 50 in training worldwide. Ten Bob Tony won a Group 3 10 days ago and then turned up here and did that. Kieran gave him an absolute peach of a ride and was very, very patient. The miracle happened.

“We agreed we'd sit last and try to pass as many as we could in the final furlong. It is beautiful ground out there. I always think at Ascot you can get away with horses that need a bit of dig on the straight course. Chris does such an amazing job that it's like a carpet out there, so it's very forgiving quick ground. I was confident when I walked it that the horse would enjoy it.

“This horse is just a legend. What's been the key? He's simply a really solid horse. We rode him cold and, as can happen here at Ascot, it all fell apart in the final furlong. Kieran didn't commit him too early and saved him for the finish. He's a super-kind horse — just a legend.

Asked if the Group 1 Prix de la Foret would be Ten Bob Tony’s target, Walker added: “That's exactly what we thought after Epsom – to return to France for the Foret. Then we started thinking about what we'd do between now and the Foret, and as we were already in this race, we thought we'd have a go. You can't win sitting at home.

“You come into a week like this, and I think we'll probably have around 15 runners. I thought if we could get one winner it would be amazing, so to get the first one on the board – and in a Group 1 – is massive.

“We've got a good team, but it's so tough, and that's what makes this so special.”

Shoemark said: “Obviously, they were different conditions to Epsom – the ground was much quicker and it was a step up to a mile – but Ten Bob Tony is a good horse. He has finished third in a Foret and has Group 1 form.

“He travelled into it so easily and I didn't think we were going that quick either, so it didn't feel like there was a pace collapse. He really did cruise into it; he is a pretty smart horse.

“He is clearly thriving. I thought his run at Epsom was pretty good, but he's obviously taken another step forward and is in a good frame of mind. He has danced a lot of dances, but he's turned up when it mattered.

“This is massive. I appreciate the magnitude of Royal Ascot and to win a Group 1 in the first race on the first day certainly takes the pressure off. Ultimately, it's extremely special and I feel very fortunate to be part of that team. Ed Walker and his team do a superb job. They prep these horses amazingly and there's a lot of good ones there.

“We thought Ten Bob Tony wanted easy ground, but it is genuine Good to Firm.”

Winning owner Simon Sadler said: “This horse is named after my dad. That was his nickname because he used to run a 50p – or 10 bob – stall on the market in Blackpool. Dad's not here today as he's not in the best of health, but I'm sure he watched it and I'd bet he had more on the horse than I did!

“I am blown away. I am shaking. There are tears running down my face. Never in a million years did we think this would happen. It was an amazing ride. Now Ed's going to be in a lot of trouble because we probably should have been running him over a mile for the past two years rather than seven furlongs!”