Prince of Wales’s Stakes Details
Race: Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Venue: Royal Ascot
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 17, 16:20
Distance: 1m 2f (10 furlongs)
Prize Money: £1 million
Status: Group 1
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Key Prince of Wales’s Stakes Trends
Trainer Trends
- Aidan O’Brien has won this race five times in total, including three victories in the last nine years.
- John & Thady Gosden have won three of the last four runnings.
- John Gosden also landed the race with The Fugue (2014) and Lord North (2020) before Thady joined the licence.
Favourite Trends
Only two favourites have won the race in the last ten years.
Finishing positions of favourites since 2016:
5-1-2-2-1-4-2-2-8-6
Notably, four of the beaten favourites during that period were trained by Aidan O’Brien.
The favourite this year is Ombudsman, trained by John & Thady Gosden and set to be ridden by Will Buick for the owners Godolphin.
French Challenge
French-trained runners have struggled in recent years:
- 2025: 4th, 6th
- 2024: 2nd, 3rd, 7th, last
- 2019: 3rd
- 2018: 6th
- 2017: 6th
None of those runners started favourite.
France’s most recent victories in the race came in 2007, 2009 and 2010. The 2007 winner Manduro and 2010 scorer Byword, both trained by Andre Fabre, were sent off favourite at 15/8 and 5/2 respectively.
French hopes will be high this time around thanks to the presence of last season’s Arc winner Daryz.
Runner-by-Runner Guide
1. Almaqaam (Ed Walker)
Ed Walker is enjoying a strong campaign and this five-year-old entire provided him with a first Irish Group 1 success when winning at the Curragh on May 24, defeating subsequent Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller.
He arrives here at the top of his game, although Daryz, Ombudsman and Minnie Hauk (if back to her best) set a high standard. A place finish is certainly within reach.
2. Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal)
A reliable servant for connections, Dancing Gemini has earned over €700,000 and won at Group 2 level.
However, he has never won beyond a mile and faces a difficult task stepping into this company over this trip.
3. Daryz (Francis-Henri Graffard)
Last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner is the standout performer in the field.
He returned with a decisive victory in the Group 1 Prix Aga Khan IV over nine furlongs and looks the horse they all have to beat. Daryz is bidding to become the first French-trained winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes since 2010 and boasts an impressive record of seven wins from nine starts.
4. Devil’s Advocate (John & Thady Gosden)
Likely to be employed as a pacemaker, the 109-rated performer has yet to register a Group race victory.
5. Mississippi River (Aidan O’Brien)
Another runner expected to perform pacemaking duties. The 98-rated colt appears to be in the field to assist stablemate Minnie Hauk.
6. Ombudsman (John & Thady Gosden)
Last year’s winner returns with another major chance.
Following his success in this race 12 months ago, he added victories in the International Stakes at York and the Dubai Turf at Meydan. He also finished second in both the Eclipse Stakes and Champion Stakes.
A decisive comeback success at Sandown on May 28 should have put him spot on for this assignment. He rates as the chief danger to Daryz.
7. Minnie Hauk (Aidan O’Brien)
The winner of the English Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks last season, Minnie Hauk showed her class throughout 2025.
She was beaten just a head by Daryz in the Arc but disappointed when only fifth at the Curragh on her latest start. Whether she can reproduce her best form this season remains the key question.
8. See The Fire (Andrew Balding)
See The Fire arrives in excellent form after winning her last two starts, including a successful defence of the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York.
She is a likeable and progressive mare, but will need to find significant improvement to claim this Group 1 prize.
Royal Ascot 2026 FAQs
When does Royal Ascot 2026 start?
Royal Ascot 2026 gets underway on Tuesday, June 16.
How long does Royal Ascot last?
Royal Ascot is a five-day festival featuring 35 races, with seven races taking place on each day of the meeting.
Where is Royal Ascot held?
Royal Ascot takes place at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England. The racecourse is located around 25 miles west of London and is regarded as one of the most prestigious venues in world horse racing.
What time does racing start at Royal Ascot?
The first race is scheduled for 2:30pm each day, with the Royal Procession taking place beforehand at approximately 2pm. The final race is generally due off at 6:10pm.
How can I watch Royal Ascot 2026?
Royal Ascot will be broadcast live on ITV throughout the week, while Sky Sports Racing will also show every race live. Coverage on ITV typically begins from around 1:30pm each afternoon. You can also stream every race live on the BAR 1 Betting website & app.
What are the biggest races at Royal Ascot?
Some of the most prestigious races at Royal Ascot include the Queen Anne Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes, Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Ascot Gold Cup, Coronation Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
How much prize money is on offer at Royal Ascot?
Royal Ascot remains one of the richest meetings in British racing, with millions of pounds in prize money on offer across the five days, including several Group 1 contests worth £1 million or more.
Who is the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history?
Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history and regularly dominates the meeting with a powerful team from Ballydoyle. His record-breaking tally of 96 winners means he could become the first to train 100 winners at the meeting.
