15:40 Royal Ascot

Friday 19 June 2026

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

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 28.54s

(11)

Burdett Road⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: James Owen| OR: 105| C| D

40/1

Free-going sort who had a disappointing 2025 on the level. Ran a couple of decent races over jumps in the autumn and was rather in-and-out of form in the Middle East earlier in the year, down the field in Dubai Gold Cup (2m) when last seen. Returns to a handicap with the hood discarded.

Form: 86-2937

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(12)

Ambiente Friendly^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Cieren Fallon| T: James Owen| OR: 105| D

40/1

Very smart 3-y-o who was placed in the Derby/Irish Derby in 2024 for James Fanshawe. However, ended that campaign below his best and disappointing so far in this sphere for James Owen. More like it over hurdles last season and cheekpieces are the headgear of choice for his Flat handicap bow.

Form: 5/44846-

(10)

Mondo Man⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: C Soumillon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105

12/1

Useful on Flat in France and has got his act together over hurdles this year, landing the odds at Plumpton in February before following up in Imperial Cup Handicap at Sandown the following month. Let down by jumping in hat-trick bid but he's an interesting contender on Flat handicap bow.

Form: 32547/4-

(17)

Warrant Holder^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| D

16/5

Dual winner last year and, having been gelded/fitted with a tongue strap, made a successful return from 7 months off in 15-runner handicap at York (10.3f, good) 5 weeks ago, bit in hand. 5 lb rise by no means insurmountable and he merits serious consideration.

Form: 21231-1

(13)

Emit^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: R L Moore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 104| D

11/2

Won a listed race at Gowran last summer before finishing placed in 2 Group races at Longchamp. Solid efforts in defeat this season, most recently when fourth of 12 on handicap debut at the Curragh (1¾m, good) earlier in the month, left with a bit too much to do. Remains of interest.

Form: 22-4354

(18)

Nightime Dancer⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 102| D

9/1

Got off the mark in 1m4f Southwell novice last spring before advancing his form in much better company, eighth in the Derby and fourth in Geoffrey Freer at Newbury. Gelded and ran well on return/handicap debut when fourth of 8 at Newmarket (1½m, good to firm) 7 weeks ago. Can build on that.

Form: 13824-4

(22)

French Duke¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Spencer| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 102| D

22/1

Doubled his tally on first start for new yard having left Roger Varian at Meydan (1½m, good) in January, reversing form with Asgard's Captain. Not so good tried in listed company at Abu Dhabi the following month and hasn't been seen since.

Form: 2/803-16

(4)

Omni Man^t⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101| D

12/1

Won twice on turf last season and ended his campaign with an improved effort when third of 13 to Phantom Flight in Diamond Stakes on all-weather debut at Dundalk. Gelded and offered little on both outings this campaign so has got a bit to prove back in a handicap.

Form: 5163-98

(8)

Hopewell Rock⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: James Doyle| T: G Boughey| OR: 101

3/1

Dual 1m winner at 2 yrs and improved in defeat in handicaps last season until just ninth in November Handicap at Doncaster final run. Gelded and shaped encouragingly after 6 months off when third of 8 at Newmarket (1½m, good to firm) 7 weeks ago and he may well progress again. Shortlisted.

Form: 1/3229-3

(1)

Opportunity²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: James McDonald| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| D

6/1

Has some very strong 3-y-o form to his name and confirmed the promise of his reappearance when winning 12-runner handicap at Carlisle (11f, good) just under 3 weeks ago, everything proving straightforward having been kept handier than previously. Has a progressive profile so of obvious interest.

Form: 4/149-31

(7)

Military Academy^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 100| D

50/1

Showed signs of temperament towards the end of a winless 4-y-o season for the Gosden stable but made a positive start for current connections when a close third in the Winter Derby at Lingfield. However, well beaten on all 4 subsequent starts so can only be watched for now.

Form: 230557

(9)

Tuscan Hills⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: D Egan| T: Robson Aguiar| OR: 99

66/1

Won a listed race as a 2-y-o but has failed to make an impact in a light career since, including on reappearance for a new yard at the Curragh (1m, heavy) in March. Upped markedly in trip.

Form: 11/706-0

(3)

Insanity⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 99| CD

10/1

Won at Ayr (13f) last June and better form when placed here and at York (twice) later in the season. Shaped as if retaining all ability after 5 months off when second of 8 at Pontefract (1¼m, good) in April and makes appeal for a yard already on the board here this week.

Form: 03220-2

(19)

Nesthorn⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: N Callan| T: George Baker| OR: 99

100/1

Dual winner in France who made the perfect start for current connections on handicap debut in Bahrain (1¼m, good) in December. Below form on his final couple of starts out there and heads up in trip on return.

Form: 511-777

(5)

Teumessias Fox⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 98| D

40/1

Won the Rosebery at Kempton last spring but hasn't won in 9 runs since, left with too much to do when fifth of 14 at Newcastle (1¼m) 11 weeks ago. Needs luck given his style but should get a decent gallop to aim at here.

Form: 973-535

(20)

Regal Ulixes^h³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 98

22/1

Has seemed more tractable since the hood has gone on, winning at Lingfield in February. Respectable efforts in defeat subsequently, including back on turf at York 5 weeks ago, and this step back up in trip is worth exploring.

Form: 7-61647

(6)

Serengeti^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: M Murphy| OR: 96

50/1

Now with his third trainer in 2026 and caused a surprise when winning 6-runner handicap at Windsor (1¼m, good to firm) last month, seeming suited by the emphasis on speed upped in trip (tongue tie another possible catalyst). Just 1 lb higher but a follow up seems highly unlikely.

Form: 5-45001

Non-Runners

(15)

Plage De Havre³⁷

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

(21)

Dain Ma Nut In¹²⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Hopewell Rock (3/1), Warrant Holder (16/5), Emit (11/2), Opportunity (6/1), Nightime Dancer (9/1), Insanity (10/1), Plage De Havre (10/1), Omni Man (12/1), Mondo Man (12/1), Regal Ulixes (22/1), French Duke (22/1), Dain Ma Nut In (33/1), Ambiente Friendly (40/1), Burdett Road (40/1), Teumessias Fox (40/1), Military Academy (50/1), Serengeti (50/1), Tuscan Hills (66/1), Nesthorn (100/1)

A typically competitive Royal Ascot handicap. HOPEWELL ROCK gets the vote having been asked to come from much further back than a couple of similarly progressive rivals at Newmarket on return early last month. Also representing Wathnan Racing is Opportunity, who arrives on the back of a straightforward success at Carlisle and his progressive profile puts him in the mix. Warrant Holder, Plage de Havre and Emit are just a handful of others worth considering, too.