15:40 Royal Ascot
Tuesday 16 June 2026
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10
King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
- 3YO plus  |  Class 1  |  5f  |  Good to Firm  |  26 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 15:44Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 58.72s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Seemed to excel himself in first-time headgear when second in the Nunthorpe last season. Hasn't come close to matching that form in 5 subsequent starts and this another very stiff examination. Cheekpieces back on.
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Very likeable sprinter who improved again last season, winning 3 of his 4 starts, including this race (big career best). Was off 11 months prior to low-key appearance at York but came on plenty for that when length second of 12 to Night Raider in Temple Stakes at Haydock. Bold bid expected.
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Advanced his form further when winning 17-runner Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in September, albeit seen to good effect racing close to the stand rail. Failed to fire in the Champions Sprint Stakes here final start and back at 5f after a mid-field effort in the Minster Stakes at York.
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Handicap winner over C&D last summer and productive spell at Meydan during the winter/spring, winning listed event and Group 2 Blue Point Sprint, both at 5f. Wasn't seen to best effect when 3 lengths eighth of 11 to Native Approach in Al Quoz Sprint last time (6f) and well-run 5f is ideal.
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Low-mileage 4-y-o who ended last season on the up, travelling sweetly when successful in handicap company at Doncaster prior to an excellent third in listed C&D event. Shaped quite well on reappearance but limitations perhaps exposed when 4½ lengths seventh of 12 to Night Raider in Temple Stakes.
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Returned from a 5-month break with back-to-back handicap victories at Newmarket in April, the latter saw him run out a most impressive winner of a 21-runner contest away from the main action. Confirmed he's in top form when 1¼ lengths fourth of 12 to Night Raider in Temple Stakes at Haydock.
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Made the leap from handicaps to pattern company last season, winning the King George at Goodwood and shaped with promise when fourth of 14 in a Group 3 at Newmarket after 7 months off in May. Backward step when 6¾ lengths ninth of 12 to Night Raider in Temple Stakes at Haydock.
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Always promised to be a Group 1 performer and gelding operation prior to reappearance has made a big difference, dominating the Group 3 Palace House Stakes and he overcame a tardy start when beating several of these in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Mid-field last year but much better expected here.
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Hasn't tasted success since the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes in 2024 but he's run some fine races in defeat, notably when fourth in last season's Everest behind Ka Ying Rising. Bold showing when fourth of 9 in T. J. Smith Stakes at Randwick (6f) and he's a very smart Australian sprinter.
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Picked up in 2025 where he left off the previous year when landing Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. Another smart effort when swooping late to land the Coral Charge in that grade 2 months later and reappearance second to Night Raider in former race was another cracking effort.
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Twice a listed winner in 2025 for Michael Appleby (including over C&D) and shaped well before fitness told on recent stable debut when third to Night Raider and Rumstar in the Palace House Stakes. Must have been amiss in the Temple Stakes given he was eased off.
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Cracking third in the 2024 Nunthorpe and bagged a Grade 1 prize in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar 3 months later, suited by strong tempo. Fourth in this race a year ago and returning from a spell at stud in Australia, he probably needed reappearance at Carlisle.
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One of the top sprinters around on her day, fifth in this fitted with blinkers before landing Group 1s at York (Nunthorpe) and Longchamp (Prix de l'Abbaye) last year. Low-key start to 2026 but always a chance the returning headgear (and tongue tie) and firmer ground will see her in a better light.
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Has advanced her form for Ed Bethell with blinkers on but beaten on merit in listed company at Carlisle 17 days ago and this a far harder assignment.
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Good test over 5f suited when landing Group 3 at Newbury on soft in September but didn't make much of an impact when ninth of 14 in the Palace House Stakes on return from 7 months off 45 days ago. In expert hands but this is a tough ask.
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Smart performer who peaked when runner-up in this race a year ago. Doesn't arrive in the same form this time though with a pair of heavy defeats behind Night Raider this season.
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Progressive all-weather handicapper who showed she's equally effective on turf in recent weeks, running a cracker when second of 12 to Jakajaro at York. This is a big leap in class, though.
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Ex-French mare who upped her game upon joining Ed Walker when winning a Group 3 and then Group 2 last spring. Ran up to form when fifth in a deeper renewal of the Temple Stakes 3 weeks ago but no obvious reason why she'll reverse the form with a few of these.
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Better than ever when landing listed race at Deauville in August. Hasn't come close to repeating that form since, missing the break a couple of times and she looks set to struggle in this company.
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Smart mare who won a pair of Group 3s in France in 2025. Below-form 4¾ lengths seventh of 15 to Native Approach in Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on return in February but much more like it when 1½ lengths fifth of 11 to Native Approach in Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan (6f) a month later. Back in trip.
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Won listed race at Chantilly and excellent third in Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at this meeting a year ago. Undone by poor track position in Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint and down at 5f she produced a career best when winning 9-runner Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp. Enters the reckoning on that form.
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Ended 2025 on the up with 6f victories in Pontefract listed event and Group 3 at Deauville in August. Good head second of 9 to Flora of Bermuda in listed race at Newmarket on reappearance before going one place better at Haydock (both 6f). This is a completely different assignment.
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Sent off a big price but no fluke about her win in Commonwealth Cup at this meeting a year ago. Matched that form when third in the King George Stakes at Goodwood and with her York run easy-enough to excuse from a poor draw, better is expected here with stiff 5f likely to suit.
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Nursery winner at Yarmouth during the autumn. Held his own in better company since without looking as though he's capable of making an impact at this level. Visor on.
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Sales price rocketed to 500,000 gns as a yearling and this promising Night of Thunder colt chased home the exciting Raaheeb on debut over 7f here in September. Won both starts this spring and way he goes about things suggests this first crack at 5f will suit. Can rate higher.
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Triple winner over 6f last season, including Curragh Group 3 and valuable conditions race here on Champions Day. Kicked on again this year, winning a pair of 5f listed races at Naas and dangerous to think that's his ceiling given the yard he represents.
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Forecasts
Overpass (10/3), Night Raider (4/1), Rayevka (7/1), American Affair (15/2), Big Mojo (11/1), Asfoora (12/1), Mission Central (14/1), Time For Sandals (16/1), Rosy Affair (18/1), Cover Up (25/1), Rumstar (25/1), Jakajaro (33/1), Behike (33/1), Heavenly Heather (40/1), Aspect Island (40/1), Frost At Dawn (50/1), Starlust (50/1), Shagraan (66/1), Getreadytorumble (66/1), First Instinct (66/1), Monteille (66/1), Miss Attitude (80/1), Jm Jungle (80/1), Mgheera (80/1), Ain't Nobody (80/1), Azure Angel (125/1)
A gelding operation has seen NIGHT RAIDER start to fulfil his immense early promise, supplementing his Newmarket win despite a slow start forcing a change of tactics in the Temple Stakes and he could be the answer. Australian representatives have enjoyed plenty of success over the years and Overpass (providing he copes with a bare 5f) has the form to be a major factor, while the re-application of headgear will also surely see the classy Asfoora in a much better light.
- Night Raider4/1
- Overpass10/3
- Asfoora12/1
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £396,970.002nd: £150,500.003rd: £75,320.004th: £37,520.005th: £18,830.006th: £9,450.00
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