The 2026 Prince Of Wales Stakes is one of the centrepieces of Royal Ascot, a Group 1 contest run over 1m2f, and this year has attracted the best from Britain, Ireland and France.
Open to horses aged four and older, it has a long history of producing top-class winners and often acts as a key mid-season test for those targeting races such as the Eclipse or Juddmonte International.
This year’s renewal on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 features a compact but high-quality field of eight runners. The presence of race favourite, Ombudsman, gives the race a focal point, but there is enough depth in opposition to suggest this is far from straightforward.
The Leading Trio In The Betting
Ombudsman heads the market at around 11/8 for John and Thady Gosden, with William Buick taking the ride. A five-year-old with strong course and distance credentials, given that he won this race last year, he also has the highest official rating in the field at 128.
His recent wins in the Dubai Turf and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes underline his incredible consistency, which has set a clear standard for the race.
Tactically versatile and proven at Ascot, Ombudsman looks the most solid option on paper. The main question is whether he is fully battle-hardened against rivals with slightly different profiles and potentially more upside.
Daryz, trained in France by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, is the main market rival at around 2/1.
A four-year-old colt with an official rating of 127, he has won his last three starts, all of which were Group 1s at Longchamp. He also goes into this race as the current winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Daryz could be well suited by the likely pace of a small-field Group 1. The key unknown is how he handles Ascot’s unique track, but French runners have a strong record in this race.
Almaqam is next in the betting at around 13/2 for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark. He comes here after a recent win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh, but he still has a bit to find on the top two.
He looks a reliable each-way type who should run his race, though he may need further improvement to win a race of this depth.
And The Rest
Aidan O’Brien saddles two runners, with Minnie Hauk the more prominent in the betting at around 8/1. Ridden by Ryan Moore, she receives a 3lb allowance as a four-year-old filly, and she arrives after a solid recent effort in the Gold Cup at The Curragh.
Minnie Hauk has enough class to be competitive and could be suited if the race turns tactical. She is a credible contender who may be slightly underestimated given her stable’s record at Royal Ascot.
See The Fire, trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy, is priced around 18/1.
A five-year-old mare, she has won her last two starts but faces a significant step up in grade. Her Racing Post Rating indicates she will need a career-best effort.
She is in good form and could outrun her odds, but this is a different level of competition, and she may find a few too strong late on.
Dancing Gemini, at around 40/1 for Roger Teal, looks an outsider on relatively middling form.
He has struggled to match the consistency of the leading contenders, and while he is not completely outclassed, he would need a major turnaround.
Devil’s Advocate is the second Gosden runner and is priced at around 66/1. Despite being from a top yard, his current rating leaves him well short of the required standard.
He has shown some ability but appears to be making up the numbers in this company.
Mississippi River completes the field at around 100/1 for Aidan O’Brien. There is no doubting that he looks out of his depth in a race of this calibre, but as most of us know, you can never underestimate an O’Brien second string!
Verdict
Ombudsman is a worthy favourite based on ratings, course form and recent progression, and he sets a clear benchmark for the race. However, at a relatively short price in a Group 1, he does not have much margin for error.
Daryz looks the most interesting alternative. His profile suggests further improvement, and he has already shown he can produce figures close to the favourite. If he adapts to Ascot, he has a strong chance of taking this.
Minnie Hauk appeals as a value option each-way. She is not far behind on ratings, receives a weight allowance, and comes from a yard that excels at targeting these races.
Almaqam is likely to run well but may find one or two too strong at the finish, while the remainder look up against it on current evidence.
The Prince Of Wales Stakes
The Prince Of Wales Stakes is often a tactical Group 1, where positioning and timing matter as much as raw ability.
Run over 1m2f, it tends to favour experienced middle-distance performers who can settle, quicken, and sustain their effort in the closing stages.
In contrast to more chaotic races on the card, this contest is usually shaped by small-field dynamics and controlled pace, placing a premium on racecraft from both horse and jockey.
Whether or not Ombudsman can join the rare double winner’s roster is another matter entirely. That feat hasn’t been achieved since Muhtarram in 1994 and 1995, but if any horse has a real shot at it, it’s Ombudsman.
BETFRED
