Prince of Wales's Stakes - Winner

Royal Ascot Ante-Post Preview

Often billed as one of the highlights of the week, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes distinctly exemplifies what a superb week of racing it is at the Berkshire venue and this year’s renewal is no exception, in which some of the best 10-furlong horses are set to collide, featuring a Derby winner, Tattersalls Gold Cup winner and plenty of other Group 1 winners. 

Luxembourg leads the market 

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg is the market leader at a best price 7/2 after defeating Bay Bridge by half-a-length in a thrilling renewal of the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

After only finishing fifth on his seasonal bow in the Mooresbridge Stakes, Ryan Moore immediately sent him to the front and although it appeared he had seen off nearly all of his rivals, Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge was tracking his every move but the former was not for passing and grittily maintained his relentless pace to claim another Group 1 contest. 

He was well fancied for last year’s Derby after finishing third in the 2000 Guineas but missed the race due to a setback but has since made up for lost time, bagging himself two more Group 1 events after winning the Futurity Trophy Stakes at two and is now a winner of six of his nine career starts, accounting for a high-quality field in the Irish Champion Stakes, too. 

His seventh of 20 in the Arc was another fine effort on ground he hated and that winning performance saw his price crumble for this intended target. Soon after winning that race, his connections have decided that a trip to Royal Ascot for this race is his next port of call with the potential of better to come.

This four-year-old son of Camelot is a tough and hardy sort, who should have no issue with this course, as he’s a straightforward, well-balanced top-class horse and is most likely to be the choice of Moore again. It is hard to knock his credentials, he is an obvious candidate and it will take a good horse or two to see him out of the frame. 

Adayar could be the value bet

Charlie Appleby’s charge seemingly sprang a 16/1 surprise to most in the 2021 Epsom Derby but there appeared to be no fluke about that impressive performance, as he won comfortably by over four lengths and has evidently gone from strength-to-strength since. 

He then beat a high-class field in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes at Ascot before an excellent fourth in the Arc on ground that was soft enough for him. After that, he was then a laboured fifth in the Champion Stakes but bounced back to form in his only two starts last year. 

He won a three-runner affair at Doncaster before being beaten only half-a-length in the Champion Stakes at Ascot when second to Bay Bridge with My Prospero third and Baaeed fourth. He reappeared with success in the Gordon Richards Stakes and that form has since been boosted. 

The return to the 1m2f will suit him a lot better at Ascot and this dual Group 1 winner will get a really good pace to aim at as well. Last season was a stop-start as we didn’t see much of him, but he looked back to something near his best last time and no doubt connections will have left plenty to work on ahead of his main objective. 

Like Luxembourg, he is a high-class horse with a high cruising speed and has plenty of gears within his inventory. It is really hard to split the pair at the top of the market but I would just favour this former Derby hero, who is likely to track Luxembourg should that rival try to set the fractions and attempt to pounce late.

He is probably the rock-solid each-way bet at the odds, as it is difficult to see him out of the frame with a chance of taking top honours. His win against Mishriff and Love is a standout piece of form and he has leading claims. I cannot pick any holes in him to be honest, so he’s one for anybody’s shortlist. 

Remain upbeat about Desert Crown 

While it might have been disappointing at first glance to see the Derby winner and Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown beaten on seasonal debut, he lost very little in defeat to Hukum, as he travelled and settled well and looked the likeliest winner for a long way in the contest.

He showcased his trademark turn of foot to hit the front and go clear of the field but he was worn down close to home, clearly lacking peak condition and is sure to improve a ton from that reappearance. He clearly retains his ability from last season based on that return. 

He was breathtaking in the Derby last year and it would come as a major shock if he wasn’t able to win more Group 1 events this year. He is a high-class horse and that latest defeat doesn’t diminish his credentials for a race like this. I remain upbeat about his chances and he is widely available at 11/2.

Further depth adds to an intriguing renewal 

There is even more quality to this race when you take a closer look at the entry list. My Prospero ran a good race on his return in the Lockinge Stakes when fourth and will strip fitter. 

His two visits to Ascot have seen him narrowly beaten into third in the St James’s Palace Stakes last year before a close-up third behind Bay Bridge and Adayar in the Champion Stakes. He cannot be dismissed lightly. 

Meanwhile, connections of Bay Bridge, who is stablemate to Desert Crown, will fancy their chances of reversing Tattersalls Gold Cup form with Luxembourg and had previously won the Champion Stakes here in October. 

He is a consistent and high-class horse, who will be spot on in regards to fitness in a few weeks and has valid claims having already tasted top-tier success at this venue. 

Click here to see the latest Royal Ascot odds.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes 2023 Ante-Post Tips 

This race could turn out to be one of the races of the season as everywhere you look, the race is littered with top-class horses. 

However, I really like the odds about the Derby winner DESERT CROWN (best price 11/2) who travelled so well on his return but was just caught out by fitness in the closing stages when Hukum overhauled him late into the race. 

He breezed past the eventual winner, rated 122 going into that race, like the horse we saw win the Derby and is sure to come on plenty for the run. Clearly, he retains all of his ability from last season and connections have stated this race is his next target. 

His stablemate Bay Bridge could also run but I think this four-year-old is in for a massive season and at an each-way price, he’s a standout bet at the odds.