The Buckingham Palace Stakes is a handicap run over 7f. It takes place at 18:10 on Thursday 19th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

9⁽¹⁸⁾

82-588

Northern Express

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael Dods

9-8

101

117

Very steady in the top C&D handicaps, finishing third and fifth in the last two runnings of this before chalking one up (good to firm) in July; minor form in 2025 but he is just below that winning mark; can't be ruled out.

5⁽⁸⁾

626070

Witch Hunter

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

9-10

103

116

Popped up in this race (good to firm; 50-1 off today's mark) in 2023 and he also won a Group 2 later that summer; hard to place at different levels in the meantime but a better effort back here can't be ruled out.

25⁽¹⁵⁾

89-811

Mirsky

J: Tom Marquand

T: David O'Meara

9-2

114

On a hat-trick after wins over about 1m at Thirsk (good to firm) and Epsom (good to soft), albeit having things play out well in the latter; finished a fair fifth of 18 in a good C&D handicap in October but it's likely something new is needed for the return to 7f.

7⁽²⁴⁾

-50418

Two Tempting

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

9-8

101

112

Barnstorming year in 2024 with five wins (including on this course) at 1m and about 7f and he took full advantage of the rail draw when winning at Chester (extended 7f, good) last month; out the back at Epsom since, though, and he's up against it today.

26⁽⁹⁾

222-53

Gleneagle Bay

J: David Egan

T: Stephen Thorne

9-2

114

Close up in two good handicaps in Ireland last autumn, over 7f at Leopardstown and 1m at the Curragh, but a close third in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good to firm) last month promised better, considering he arrived late on the scene away from his main rivals; he's since joined Amo Racing; up 3lb but strong chance.

10⁽³²⁾

749-93

Holguin

J: William Buick

T: Hamad Al Jehani

9-7

100

115

Smart for Andrew Balding in 2023 when a Listed winner at 7f and in the frame in Group 2s; did well for latest trainer at Chester (7f, good) in May when, racing wide throughout from high draw, he still managed a close third to Myal and Never So Brave; back up 2lb but past form makes him worth a look.

21⁽⁵⁾

30-600

Ramazan

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

9-3

120

Has left an imprint on some of the best-known handicaps, such as when only just losing out in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good) in May 2024; has not aspired to those heights in 2025 but he's 9lb lower than for the aforementioned run and promising Warren Fentiman claims 5lb; one to keep an eye on.

22⁽²¹⁾

-10505

Spangled Mac

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: George Boughey

9-2

114

Had wind surgery since AW run in April (cheekpieces left off, refitted today); has course form but he's no standout at the weights on C&D form, including when fourth of 29 in this race off today's mark in 2023.

19⁽¹⁶⁾

74002-

Thunder Ball

J: J M Sheridan

T: Brian Toomey

9-4

114

Capable in competitive races for the Coles, including on good to firm, but some rain would have helped and best efforts at 1m and 1m1f; left the Coles for 55,000gns in the autumn; best watched on debut for new yard.

16⁽³¹⁾

11-514

Yorkshire

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

9-5

113

Can lead; progressive on AW since dead-heating for most recent turf win, at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) last May; ran a solid race when a close fourth of ten back on turf at Haydock (7f, good) in April, but several of these should prove better treated.

14⁽²⁶⁾

19-422

Oliver Show

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

9-6

112

Three AW handicap wins at 7f and 1m in 2024 and he nearly sprang a surprise in the Lincoln (1m, good to soft) this March, when he arrived in front with a well-timed run only to lose out on the nod; up 4lb; interesting to see him back at 7f but he has hopes of better; has now had a second wind operation.

28⁽²⁵⁾

820-65

Divine Libra

J: James McDonald

T: Charles Hills

9-1

114

Never involved from way back in this race last year but he fared better with a more prominent ride when about 2l behind the winner Northern Express over C&D (good to firm) in July; the luck hasn't been with him this year but he still needs to improve on that latter form.

17⁽²³⁾

216103

Apiarist

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-5

113

Has mostly raced over 1m since handicapping but the return to 7f paid off handsomely on Southwell AW in February when he interrupted the winning sequence of a smart one; has returned to 1m since, finding stronger finishers ahead of him when mid-division in the Lincoln in March, but a strongly run 7f could be more the ticket.

23⁽²⁾

3-2242

Run Boy Run

J: George Wood

T: Richard Spencer

9-2

112

Can lead; all three handicap wins at 7f, on good to firm, soft and AW, but he's run two very good races over 6f of late; now 9lb higher than when third of 13 over C&D in September and this needs more.

2⁽¹⁴⁾

1113-9

Tarkhan

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-12

105

111

In good form in the autumn, winning a Listed race (extended 6f, soft) in Germany and close up in an Italian Group 2 (1m, heavy) but he didn't look well handicapped for his British debut at Chester last month and so it proved; has a lot to find in first-time blinkers.

12⁽²⁷⁾

29-906

English Oak

J: James Doyle

T: Ed Walker

9-7

100

121

Well ahead of his mark last June when taking this race to pieces but he never went on from that and has been slow to come to hand this year; first-time cheekpieces could hurry him up and he's only 1lb higher than last year so has a big weights chance.

8⁽¹⁷⁾

601-40

Watch My Tracer

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Scott

9-8

101

107

Goes well fresh, winning a Listed AW race (7f) in 2024 before failing to go on and it was a similar story in Bahrain this winter, winning there in December but in the ruck twice since; has a demanding task here.

20⁽⁴⁾

17-705

Cerulean Bay

J: David Probert

T: David O'Meara

9-3

115

All four 7f wins on good to soft, soft and good; signs of life on third run of 2025, when a staying-on fifth of 13 behind Myal and Never So Brave at Chester (extended 7f, good) in May, but sights are set higher here.

3⁽²⁸⁾

6720-2

Never So Brave

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-12

105

115

Looked a smart prospect when impressing against a good rival on handicap debut at Chester (extended 7f, good) last May for Sir Michael Stoute, but this free-goer saw more daylight than ideal when sixth in the Group 3 Jersey here last June; he had some excuses after but the return to good ground suited on yard debut at Chester (7f) in May where he was hampered but only just failed to overhaul Myal; up 4lb but still has handicapping scope.

24⁽²⁹⁾

83-871

Akkadian Thunder

J: W J Lee

T: David O'Meara

9-2

114

Unexposed in 7f turf handicaps and things didn't go his way when a never-nearer eighth of 18 over C&D (soft) in the autumn; confirmed he was on the right side of the handicapper when a cosy winner from Billyjoh at Doncaster (7f, good) 12 days ago and he's in contention off 6lb higher.

29⁽³⁾

04-832

Billyjoh

J: Frederick Larson

T: Michael Appleby

9-1

114

Has yet to win a turf handicap but he's been a superb performer in these big-field races and was the one to chase home English Oak in this 12 months ago; ran another cracker when runner-up at Glorious Goodwood (also 7f on good to firm) in July and looks primed for another sterling effort after running well behind Akkadian Thunder at Doncaster recently.

NR⁽¹⁹⁾

317/35

Array

T: Andrew Balding

9-9

102

108

Effective on all surfaces but his Group 2 win over 6f as a juvenile came on heavy; missed all of 2024 but seems to retain his ability, running as well as he was entitled to in Listed company at Haydock (7f, good to firm; worst chance at weights) in May; yard's main hope is Never So Brave.

4⁽¹¹⁾

4-1157

Aafoor

J: Szczepan Mazur

T: M Al Attiya

9-12

105

109

Hampered when a never-nearer eighth of 18 in his sole 7f handicap in Britain, at Goodwood (good to firm) last July; much higher in the weights now following three 1m2f wins in Qatar over the winter and a remote finish in a Group 3 at Sandown (1m2f) recently left questions hanging.

13⁽⁶⁾

8-1933

Jayyash

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Hamad Al Jehani

9-7

100

111

Had some good results in Qatar over various trips since December, a close third of ten over 7f reading well, but he has more to prove on his British form being 18lb higher than for an AW defeat for the Gosdens in August.

15⁽¹³⁾

423/1-

Inside Matters

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

9-5

107

Well connected; unraced on quicker than good to soft, winning a 7f Compiegne maiden on very soft last July; gelded and had wind surgery since; interesting type but easier options will be available later.

1⁽²²⁾

12-326

Roi De France

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-12

105

116

Improved on last year's turf form when returned to the AW over the winter, but he went up the weights and his challenge never seriously materialised in the Victoria Cup over C&D (good to firm) in May, when a one-paced sixth of 17; dropped just 1lb and needs more for first-time cheekpieces; sold for £320,000 this week.

18⁽¹⁾

-22123

No Retreat

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

9-4

113

Consistent in Britain and UAE but he has more to do than when getting off the mark at Meydan (7f, good to firm) in February and when third in a lower grade at Haydock (1m) for new yard in May; now has tongue-tie refitted with cheekpieces added.

27⁽¹²⁾

541-26

Fifty Nifty

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Tom Clover

9-2

113

Successfully dropped to 7f at Newmarket (good to firm) in August but after a promising comeback on the Rowley Mile (7f, good) he checked out fast there in May; off the win list this time.

11⁽³⁰⁾

1-3181

Myal

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Steph Hollinshead

9-7

100

115

Connections have done brilliantly in 7f handicaps with him, winning six from seven on all surfaces, but he seemingly had no excuses in the Victoria Cup over C&D last month and Never So Brave was hindered at Chester recently when only just failing to get past him; needs to pull out more.

RACING POST TIP

Gleneagle Bay

The fitting of cheekpieces for last year's easy winner English Oak suggests he may not have been hiding his light under a bushel for handicapping purposes, but if they have the right effect he would have a major chance. Never So Brave did very well to get as close as he did to Myal at Chester (where Holguin ran a blinder in third) and although his hard-pulling tendencies raise some doubts back on this stiff, straight track, he's still the second choice. The vote, however, goes to GLENEAGLE BAY who excelled himself in the Victoria Cup here in May, when the race did not go entirely his way, and looks to have a good prize in him. Akkadian Thunder and Oliver Show also make some appeal, while those stalwarts Billyjoh and Northern Express could well find themselves in the thick of it again..

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	English Oak [26]	4	9-8	100/3F	Ed Walker	James Doyle
2023	Witch Hunter [24]	4	9-10	50/1	Richard Hannon	Jamie Spencer
2022	Inver Park [2]	4	9-1	12/1	George Boughey	Ben Curtis
2021	Highfield Princess [31]	4	8-11	18/1	John Quinn	Jason Hart
2020	Motakhayyel [26]	4	9-3	14/1	Richard Hannon	Jim Crowley
2014	Louis The Pious [29]	6	9-4	33/1	David O’Meara	Silvestre De Sousa
2013	Lightning Cloud [32]	5	8-13	25/1	Kevin Ryan	Neil Callan
2012	Eton Forever [11]	5	9-8	14/1	Roger Varian	Neil Callan
2011	Manassas [29]	6	9-0	12/1	Brian Meehan	Martin Dwyer
2010	Treadwell [6]	3	8-10	14/1	Jamie Osborne	Fergus Sweeney

Key race stats 2025

Key trends (Removed from the meeting after 2014; Reintroduced in 2020)

At least one top-three finish within last three starts 6/6
Officially rated 92 to 99, 5/6
Carried no more than 9st 4lb, 4/6
Aged four, 5/6
Won in a field with at least 11 runners, 4/6
Distance winner, 4/6

What happened in the Buckingham Palace Stakes last year?

There were five winning favourites on day three last year, with Never So Brave sending favourite backers home happy by landing the concluding Buckingham Palace Stakes. On his second start for Andrew Balding, having joined from the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute, Never So Brave did not get an entirely clear run but still won in good style by two and a quarter lengths under Oisin Murphy in the 7f handicap.

Buckingham Palace Stakes

18:10 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2025

What happened in the Buckingham Palace Stakes last year?

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