Billy Loughnane celebrates Bow Echo's 2000 Guineas win

Runners for day one of Royal Ascot

Horse Racing

Sun June 14, 2026 · 2d ago

Six runners will face the starter for the St James's Palace Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Gstaad will renew rivalry with Bow Echo in the mile Group 1 for three-year-olds but Rayif was a surprise absentee with Nemone Routh telling the Racing Post the Poulains winner had picked up a 'mild fever'.

Alongside the winners of the 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas, there will be the exciting Sandown winner Talk Of New York, Poulains fourth Puerto Rico, Irish 2000 Guineas fourth Power Blue and Lord Britain.

The meeting starts with the Queen Anne Stakes over a straight mile which has attracted a field of nine, including the Lockinge Stakes one-two Notable Speech and More Thunder plus the former's stablemate Opera Ballo and Ascot specialist Docklands.

A field of 22 will go to post for the Coventry Stakes for which Aidan O'Brien has declared Confucius and Great Barrier Reef while there are 26 in the King Charles III Stakes with last year's winner American Affair facing an international challenge led by Australian sprinter Overpass.

Overpass' trainer Bjorn Baker told Luck On Sunday on Racing TV: "You've got a little bit of confidence from Australian sprinters being so good over here but it's hard to be confident when you're up against 25 runners.

"He's travelled great. He's been staying at Charlie Hills' and they've been fantastic to us. Bobbie Staveley has moved back here and she's looking after him; she's looked after him a lot when he travelled in Australia and she's very happy with him.

"So I've got a good few people around us and at the end of the day, I just hope he runs up to that level. It's very hard to weigh up the form but I think if he brings his best, I'm hoping he will be very competitive."

Monteille finished eighth behind American Affair at 150/1 12 months ago but was only beaten two and a half lengths and Cristian Demuro, who rides the filly for trainer Marco Baratti, is looking forward to another crack at the Group 1 prize.

"She finished very close [last year] and I think she's improved with age," he said.

"She did not so in Dubai last time, finished fifth [behind Native Approach in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint] beating Rayevka [also declared and a general 6/1 chance] so that's a good [form] line for her and I think she has a chance."

Haatem is another bidding to retain his crown and the Wathnan Racing-owned colt will have to see off 15 rivals in the Wolferton Stakes to do so.

Among them is Enfjaar who finished fourth behind Haatem and jockey Ray Dawson is hoping for better this time around.

"He was very unfortunate last year in Royal Ascot, there was a bit of interference and it looked like he probably would have won.

"His run at Goodwood was very pleasing. He had a long time off, the race wasn't run to suit but he ran on really well, got a bit tired as he was entitled to. We've got a nice draw in 7, he will like the track, there will be a good gallop on I would imagine so it should suit and I really look forward to getting on him on Tuesday."

There are 20 runners in the near two and a half mile Ascot Stakes and 19 in the Copper Horse Stakes over 14 furlongs.

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