2026 Prince Of Wales Stakes Preview

This setup plays beautifully into the hands of the high-cruising stayers with explosive closing speed. With the ground getting faster, positioning will be critical and timing hitting the rising ground at Ascot will be essential. Going too early can prove fatal, while waiting too long might give away the tactical advantage to those who go first off the bend. Let’s take a look at the current entrants.

Daryz – currently 2/1 2nd favourite, the winner of last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is coming off consecutive commanding victories in group 1 company over in France this spring so has obvious quality. However, all of his victories have occurred on softer conditions than he will experience today and at current prices there are enough questions for me around whether he can perform against this level on faster ground.

Almaqam is currently 11/2 – Ed Walker’s five-year-old enters the race after Group 1 success in last month’s Tattersalls Gold Cup. He is one of the few horses in training who have beaten favourite Ombudsman, having won against him in the 2025 Brigadier Gerard. Almaqam is another who would prefer softer conditions but he has tactical versatility to run well from the front or the back which makes him a danger.

Minnie Hauk is currently 6/1 and represents Aidan O’Brien’s primary hope with Ryan Moore taking the ride. She was narrowly beaten by Daryz in the Arc last year and was looking an absolute machine up to that defeat. She was then sent to Del Mar for the Breeders Cup where she didn’t perform, perhaps being at the end of a season that took it’s toll on her after a string of top performances in top races. She started this year winning in group 2 company easily at the Curragh but then was a beaten favorite in the Tattersalls Gold Cup going down to todays rival Almaqam, where things just never quite went her way. Obviously she’s a talent, and she is getting a handy fillies’ weight allowance that keeps her highly competitive but there are a few chinks in the armour and today may not be her day. 

Mississippi River is currently 250/1 and is the second entry from the Ballydoyle yard. He looks set to be the pace setter for his stable companion and at current odds looks one to be thoroughly out of his depth in this company.

See The Fire is currently 18/1 and Andrew Balding’s consistent filly is not one to be easily dismissed having finished 3rd in last years race. However, this year’s renewal is perhaps deeper in quality and despite being a horse that loves a battle I feel she will struggle against the market leaders today but her battling qualities may put her in contention as a pricier each way play.

Devils Advocate is currently 125/1 and is the second runner from the John & Thady Gosden yard finds. Robert Havlin takes the ride on a horse who has proved to be a dependable, solid Group-level competitor without ever threatening to win a Group 1. He is another who lacks the explosive change of gears required to win at this level and his presence in this line-up is surely a tactical one.

Last but not least Ombudsman is currently 6/4 favourite and returns as the defending champion after an impressive seasonal return in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month. As a three-time Group 1 winner, he loves the test Ascot provides and thrives in high-tempo, truly run 10-furlong contests. Last year, he absolutely blew the field apart in the Juddmonte International, finishing miles clear of Daryz. Will probably take up a tracking position just off the speed and on fast ground his signature explosive turn of foot inside the final two furlongs makes him in my mind hard to oppose.

Not very original selection, but sometimes you have to acknowledge greatness and I think Ombudsman is one of the meeting’s “bankers” and Gosden will have him tuned to perfection to defend his crown.

Ombudsman 6/4 win bet

NMW Racing