16:20 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 18 June 2025

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10

Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 2m 2.51s

(8)

Anmaat²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 123| CD

5/1

High-class gelding who signed off for 2024 with victory in Champion Stakes here, ½ length too strong for Calandagan. Returned at the very top of his game when ½-length second of 9 to Los Angeles in Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, travelling with purpose. Shouldn't be much between them again.

Form: 21/151-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Continuous^b¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

100/1

St Leger winner in 2023 but failed to hit the same heights last year and has largely been used for pacemaking duties in recent starts. Same tactics likely to be employed again for Los Angeles.

Form: 9-39594

(4)

Facteur Cheval⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Flavien Prat| T: J Reynier| OR: 115

25/1

Group 1 winner on the turf in Dubai last year before a slightly underwhelming mid-field effort in the Queen Anne (1m) at this meeting. Second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for the second time in October but yet to hit the same heights this time and now tries a new trip.

Form: 632-376

(5)

Los Angeles²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 123| D

13/8

2024 Irish Derby victor and only blip since came in the Champion Stakes here in October. Battling qualities firmly in evidence both starts this season, supplementing his Group 2 win at the Curragh with a fine effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. The one to beat.

Form: 1439-11

(2)

Map Of Stars⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: F Graffard| OR: 118| BF| D

13/2

Very smart performer, won Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud in March and Prix d'Harcourt at Longchamp (by 2½ lengths from Horizon Dore) in April. Not seen to best effect when neck second of 6 to Sosie in Prix Ganay at latter course last time, conceding first run and his limit may not yet have been reached.

Form: 141-112

(1)

Ombudsman²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 117| BF| D

7/1

Unraced at 2 yrs but quickly made up for lost time in 2024, winning all 4 starts, culminating in a Group 3 success at Longchamp (1¼m, good to soft). Met with defeat for the first time but elevated his form when 1¾ lengths second of 7 to Almaqam in Brigadier Gerard Stakes and ceiling not yet reached.

Form: 1111-2

(6)

Royal Champion⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 115| CD

25/1

Smart gelding who went 2-2 for his current yard (following a spell in Australia) in the Winter Derby at Southwell (11f) in February. Respectable fourth under a penalty in Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown but this is a different level of opposition.

Form: 6201-14

(3)

See The Fire³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 119| D

7/2

Smart and consistent filly who landed Group 3 Strensall (9f) in August and ended her campaign with a good fifth of 11 in Champion Stakes here (10f) in October. Satisfactory return to action at Sandown and absolutely blew apart the Group 2 Middleton Stakes last month. Supplemented for this.

Form: 2135-51

Non-Runners

(9)

Certain Lad⁴⁰

Weight: 9-2| Age: 9

T: J Channon J: George Bass

Forecasts

Los Angeles (13/8), See The Fire (7/2), Anmaat (5/1), Map Of Stars (13/2), Ombudsman (7/1), Facteur Cheval (25/1), Royal Champion (25/1), Certain Lad (66/1), Continuous (100/1)

LOS ANGELES was undoubtedly better placed than most of his rivals when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup but he displayed a really likeable attitude to fend off Anmaat and a similar scenario is envisaged here. See The Fire has been supplemented following her Group 2 demolition job at York and in receipt of weight, she could be dangerous in a cracking renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes.