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Prince Of Wales Stakes: Key Horses to Watch

irishracing.com news

irishracing.com news

Curragh 25-5-25 Los Angeles and Ryan Moore win the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) for trainer Aidan O'Brien(Healy Racing)
© Healy Racing Photos

The highlight on Day 2 of Royal Ascot is undoubtedly the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and it’s also one of the best races of the week. There are some excellent horses on its illustrious roll of honour and we have plenty to look forward to.

There are 10 runners who have been entered at the five-day stage so we’re going to look at the chances of each. Aidan O’Brien has won it three times since 2017 and has two potential runners, whilst the Gosdens won it two years ago and they have one horse lined up.

4.201m. 1f. 212yds. 8 Declared.
Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1 ) of £1,057,500.00 4-y-o plus

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  • Leading candidates

    Los Angeles is the leading Ballydoyle contender and he arrives here off the back of two wins over this trip. Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old won the Irish Derby last year and ran a cracker to finish third behind Bluestocking in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

    Beginning the current campaign with Group 2 success at the Curragh, he got the better of White Birch who could be in opposition once again here, and showed a good attitude to score by a neck, despite not being fully fit.

    He then won the Tattersalls Gold Cup, at the expense of Anmaat, who should step forward a good amount for that run. Owen Burrow’s seven-year-old won the Champion Stakes at Ascot last season but maybe still has a little bit to prove at the top level.

    French raider Map Of Stars remains very lightly raced and his record of five wins in seven starts is pretty impressive. Francis Henri Graffard’s colt was just a neck behind the well fancied Arc hopeful Sosie in the Ganay at Longchamp and would have learnt plenty from it.

    John & Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman progressed quickly through the ranks last season and finished his three-year-old campaign with a game success in a French Group 3. Second in the Brigadier Gerard on seasonal debut, he’ll need to improve significantly on that form.

    White Birch had an excellent spring campaign last season but unfortunately it was cut short by injury. He beat Auguste Rodin, who won this race last year, by three lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup but has a bit to find after finishing fourth in the same race this year.

    Outsiders

    Ascot 19-October-2024 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)Charyn and Silvestre de Sousa win for trainer Roger Varian from Facteur Cheval.Healy Racing
    © Healy Racing Photos

    Another French-trained entry is the useful Facteur Cheval, who would have place claims on his best form. That being said, his three runs so far this season have been pretty underwhelming. Jerome Reynier’s gelding is probably best watched in this company.

    Continuous is probably a pacemaker at best here, as his form has really taken a dive since winning the St Leger in 2023. It was an improved effort behind Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Stakes but it’s hard to see him featuring here.

    Karl Burke ’s Royal Champion was a cosy winner of the Winter Derby on seasonal debut and finished fourth in Group 3 company at Sandown after that, which makes him hard to fancy.

    Certain Lad was well beaten by Map Of Stars on seasonal debut and finished last of six in the Huxley Stakes at Chester. Jack Channon’s nine-year-old is likely to struggle at this level if that form is anything to go by.