The Copper Horse Stakes is a handicap run over 1m6f. It takes place at 18:10 on Tuesday 17th June, which is the first day of Royal Ascot 2026. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

Predict the Winner

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

9⁽¹⁸⁾

-13109

Enemy

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Ian Williams

9-10

105

Won 1m4f/2m handicaps on the AW (3-36 on turf) earlier this year but this is a different ball game altogether and his run at Carlisle 17 days ago was no more than average; plenty of others appeal more.

1⁽⁶⁾

1126-7

Ascending

J: W J Lee

T: Henry De Bromhead

9-12

100

109

Won the Cork Derby over 1m4f before following up in the 2m4f handicap on this card 12 months ago (good to firm) and that golden spell continued when second in the Ebor at York (1m6f); only 2lb higher than at York so he's not handicapped out of this, and last month's run in a Group 3 after 215 days away should have brought him on fitness-wise; respected.

7⁽¹⁶⁾

7606-0

Yashin

J: Tom Marquand

T: Michael Bell

9-11

104

Ex-Irish 7yo; won a slowly run, four-runner Group 3 over 2m here in April 2025 on his stable debut but failed to kick on and he needed to run a lot better than he did at Newmarket in early May (1m6f) to be seriously considered here; the hood and blinkers are new additions.

6⁽¹⁾

-64077

Real Dream

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Ian Williams

9-11

107

Close up in a Saudi Arabian 1m7f handicap in February (latest run in a tongue-tie that now returns) but that form is none too persuasive in a race of this nature and he's hardly hit the ground running back in Britain; only eighth in this last year off 2lb higher; one for the optimists.

3⁽⁴⁾

2115-6

Paddy The Squire

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

9-12

100

107

Had a ball last year after being gelded, winning three of his six starts and as good as ever when a close fifth stepped up to 1m6f at Haydock in September; however, he is a 6yo and perhaps high in the weights now, a suspicion seemingly confirmed by his York run one month ago; there's no obvious significance in the return of cheekpieces.

2⁽¹³⁾

355-27

Stressfree

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

9-12

100

109

Not a prolific winner, with his waiting tactics, and never involved when 7-1 for last year's 1m4f Duke of Edinburgh at this meeting; however, it would be unwise not to recall his fourth in the Ebor at York last August (1m6f, good to firm) off a 1lb higher mark and he was unsuited by the steady pace at York last time out (1m4f); could get competitive should this pan out favourably; stable won this in 2022.

13⁽¹⁷⁾

940-63

Duraji

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

9-9

108

Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made his debut for Richard Hughes in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) and, having broken well from his wide draw, he put up a bold show from the front only to be reeled in late in the day; a 2lb nudge is easy to stomach and dropping back to 1m6f could work given the cruising speed he showed at Chester.

16⁽¹¹⁾

429-23

Incensed

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Amanda Perrett

9-6

106

It wasn't a strong Listed race in which she finished third at Goodwood (1m4f, good) in May and the steady pace casts further doubts about that form; the handicapper saw fit to raise her 5lb and that spells danger in this competitive race back up in trip.

12⁽³⁾

337-36

Aeronautic

J: John R Velazquez

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-9

108

Still looked a bit wet behind the ears when beaten under 4l into fifth in this 12 months ago (7-1) and has raised his game subsequently, notably when only just missing out in a 1m6f handicap at Glorious Goodwood and posting another placed effort at Meydan during the winter (1m4f, good); absent since below par in a Group 3 there in February; should have freshened up since with this presumably the plan; interesting.

14⁽⁷⁾

971-32

Sing Us A Song

J: James McDonald

T: Ralph Beckett

9-9

109

Record of 3-9 overall and going the right way in handicaps, finishing a clear second (from the front) over 1m4f at York (good) last time behind a sharp Haggas improver whom he'd beaten over 1m6f on final run last season (good to soft; first run after gelding operation); this return to 1m6f has to be a good thing; respected.

11⁽⁹⁾

514-94

Green Cape

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-10

104

Only 1-10 for Andre Fabre, the win gained over 1m3f on good to soft last summer; has had only two races for current stable and ran fairly well in the face of a stiff task in an Abu Dhabi Listed assignment in February latest (1m4f, good; wore tongue-tie; admittedly perhaps flattered from the front); it wouldn't be a bolt from the blue should he feature in the finish.

5⁽¹⁵⁾

41637-

Hallelujah U

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

9-12

100

109

Ran surprisingly well to finish so close in last year's Queen's Vase over C&D but perhaps flattered by that given subsequent defeats (Group 3 and a strong handicap); gelded prior to tailing off on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham in November and absent since; the return of cheekpieces is no bad thing.

4⁽¹²⁾

4353-1

Daiquiri Bay

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

9-12

100

110

After just the solitary run as 2yo he made steady progress last season and delivered a clear personal best when reeling in the front-running Gamrai in a 1m4f Newmarket handicap at the Guineas meeting (good to firm; first run since gelded) on reappearance; up just 4lb and this return to a longer trip won't bother him; hard to knock.

8⁽²⁾

124-12

Gamrai

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-11

110

Late developer who ran once as a 2yo; the waves made last season have gathered scale in handicaps this year, as he backed up his comfortable AW win (1m3f) with a length defeat by Daiquiri Bay at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; led for the most part); he clearly needs to find more again (off 2lb higher) to gain his revenge on the winner but these Gosden runners have a tendency to get better and better; the stable has won this twice since 2021.

15⁽¹⁰⁾

400-41

Ernst Blofeld

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Hamad Al Jehani

9-8

108

His form eventually ran cold for the Gosdens last season but he's back on the up for his new yard, following his pleasing comeback at Newmarket with a decisive win at Kempton where he swept by late on (1m4f, AW); has low enough mileage to believe he'll cope fine with a 7lb rise and, despite not being Wathnan's first string on jockey arrangements, he's one to consider.

10⁽¹⁴⁾

1321-1

Valiancy

J: James Doyle

T: William Haggas

9-10

106

Made his debut just over a year ago; firmly on the upgrade when signing off last season with a handicap win at Haydock (1m6f, good; first-time cheekpieces) and following up on his reappearance at Hamilton (1m5f, good; no headgear) where the narrow margin of victory masked his superiority (he overcame trouble); he's up a further 8lb but the improvement could keep coming; James Doyle prefers him over Wathnan's other pair; big player.

RACING POST TIP

Aeronautic

Ante-post punters have been all over Valiancy, the chosen one for James Doyle from three entries for owners Wathnan Racing, and he could easily be the best handicapped of these. However, there's no shortage of alternatives and AERONAUTIC might be closer to the finished article now than he was when fifth in this 12 months ago, and he returns a fresh horse having been rested since contesting a Group race at Meydan in February. Gamrai could find the improvement that he'll need, though Daiquiri Bay was so strong late on when beating him fair and square at Newmarket that this return to 1m6f should benefit Alan King's gelding enormously.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

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Past Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	French Master [7]	4	9-7	5/2F	John & Thady Gosden	James Doyle
2024	Belloccio [14]	6	9-7	4/1	Willie Mullins	William Buick
2023	Vauban [7]	5	9-8	EvensF	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2022	Get Shirty [7]	6	9-6	16/1	David O’Meara	Daniel Tudhope
2021	Amtiyaz [9]	4	9-1	33/1	John & Thady Gosden	Hollie Doyle
2020	Fujaira Prince [16]	6	9-4	3/1F	Roger Varian	Andrea Atzeni

Key race stats 2026

Key trends

Aged five or six, 4/5
Official rating of 99 or higher, 4/5
Carried 9st 6lb or more, 3/5
In the top two in the betting, 3/5
Won last start, 2/5

Other factor

Willie Mullins-trained runners in the five-year history of this race have recorded form figures of 5121, winning the last two editions with Vauban and Belloccio.

What happened in the Copper Horse Stakes last year?

Wathnan Racing sealed a double on the opening day courtesy of French Master. The lightly raced four-year-old arrived on the back of a win at Goodwood and was sent off the 5-2 favourite. He sported first-time blinkers and took a keen hold. James Doyle’s mount found plenty when asked for his effort, though, and beat another progressive handicapper in Caballo De Mar by two and a half lengths. His victory means three of the six runnings of the Copper Horse Stakes have been won by the favourite.

Copper Horse Stakes Handicap

18:10 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Past Winners

Key race stats 2026

What happened in the Copper Horse Stakes last year?

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