Royal Ascot 2026: Horse-by-horse guide - Prince of Wales’s Stakes

This year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes is a high-quality one, with the top-rated Ombudsman (128) - last year’s winner - just setting the standard on official ratings ahead of Arc winner Daryz (127). Minnie Hauk, a close second in the latter contest, is only a further pound behind those two when considering her 3lb sex allowance, while both Almaqam (122) and another filly in Kalpana (120) ensure that there is further depth to the contest.

Tactics will be fascinating here, as a couple of these have shown their best form over a mile and a half. I don’t expect them to be waiting around, with both Ballydoyle and Godolphin seemingly employing horses to make the pace. That should make for a great spectacle and a true result, with the cream rising to the top - hopefully.

1. ALMAQAM (stall 1)
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark | Trainer: Ed Walker

Ed Walker’s five-year-old produced arguably a career-best effort last time in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, breaking his duck at the top level in the process. That form has been franked by the second Bay City Roller, although admittedly in very different conditions at Epsom in the Coronation Cup. That suggests he is an improved animal this year, and he doesn’t have that much to find with Ombudsman on Champions Day form, who he beat earlier last season with the benefit of a run and in receipt of 3lb.

2. DANCING GEMINI (3)
Rossa Ryan | Roger Teal

Dancing Gemini hasn’t managed to win a Group 1, with his Lockinge second just over a year ago the closest he has come. He has raced at a mile since his run in the Eclipse in July 2024, although he has often shaped to these eyes like he might appreciate a step up in distance. His record at Ascot is quite poor from four attempts, and he has plenty to find on form too.

3. DARYZ (2)
Mickael Barzalona | Francis-Henri Graffard

Last year’s Arc winner on his sole start at a mile and a half, Daryz has done most of his racing around this trip. He has largely been successful too, with the only reversals being a narrow defeat at ParisLongchamp prior to the Arc and last season in the International at York. That run is a slight concern, though, as it was his only run on these shores, and it was the quickest ground he has faced thus far.

4. DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (4)
Robert Havlin | John & Thady Gosden

The stablemate and owner-mate of Ombudsman, Devil’s Advocate ensured there was a strong pace in the Champion Stakes here in October and will likely have a similar role here. It will be interesting how hard he goes, though, given the fact that many of these would prefer a stiffer test.

5. MISSISSIPPI RIVER (7)
Wayne Lordan | Aidan O'Brien

Like Godolphin, Ballydoyle are taking no chances regarding the pace set-up in this race, and Mississippi River has been entrusted with that responsibility. Minnie Hauk will want a real test at this trip on the forecast ground, and he will be the sacrificial lamb in ensuring the pace doesn’t relent at any point. Given his form is largely over a mile, I wonder how long he will sustain it.

6. OMBUDSMAN (8)
William Buick | John & Thady Gosden

Patience has certainly paid off with Ombudsman, who wasn’t set huge tasks in his three-year-old campaign. He really announced himself by winning this race last year and then followed it up with another huge performance in the International at York. A narrow reversal at Sandown in the Eclipse was sandwiched in between, and he was no match for Calandagan here on Champions Day when possibly slightly below his best. Those two wins (on quick ground) set the standard here, though, even if it is marginal.

7. MINNIE HAUK (5)
Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien

Another that has largely been campaigned over further, connections’ confidence in her over this trip must be noted. Minnie Hauk clearly wasn’t at her best last time at the Curragh, but I think one can put a line through that as the lack of pace clearly hindered her. The set up here should be more suitable, and I would expect her to leave that effort well behind, even if I still have reservations whether she can beat the very best over this distance.

8. SEE THE FIRE (6)
Oisin Murphy | Andrew Balding

While her best efforts have probably come at York, See The Fire has built a steady portfolio of work over the last year or so. She wasn’t disgraced behind Ombudsman in this race last season or at York in the International, but it is hard to see her reversing those form lines at the same time. She will be relying on the main contenders faltering here, but she should run her race once again.

JAMES FLAHERT’S VERDICT

Given the forecast conditions and the likelihood of ground on the quicker side of good (in places at least), I can’t oppose OMBUDSMAN. At his best, which tends to be under those conditions, he is a top-class animal, and the fact that he has produced that over this course and distance means he ticks all boxes. Of course he isn’t a huge price, but I still think there is a little juice in it, as I feel he wins this race more often than not under these conditions. Any change in conditions would make it a different race entirely, and a far more difficult one to call, but he is the standout for me, and I think he will go off shorter than the 11/8 currently available.