The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a handicap run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:40 on Friday 19th June, which is the fourth 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

17⁽⁵⁾

73-535

Teumessias Fox

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-5

113

6th, 15th and 11th in his three 1m4f handicaps at this meeting; 11-week break is not a concern but slow starts have become an unwelcome habit and he's proved far more potent on AW than turf in recent years, so probably won't be able just yet to exploit what should be a favourable mark.

1⁽¹¹⁾

6-2937

Burdett Road

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

9-12

105

111

Won 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2023 and has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, but edged down the weights as a result and this drop back in trip can help.

14⁽³⁾

3220-2

Insanity

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

9-6

114

C&D winner who mostly ran well last season and did so again when second at Pontefract (1m2f) on reappearance this April; each-way chance if he can avoid trouble from an inside stall.

NR⁽¹⁵⁾

P31-63

Plage De Havre

T: Andrew Balding

9-9

102

116

10lb higher than when winning a valuable 1m4f handicap at Haydock (good; probably acts on good to firm) last July in great style; that was his final race last season but he put up a bold show when third at York five weeks ago and should be primed for another.

2⁽¹²⁾

44846-

Ambiente Friendly

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

9-12

105

109

His second in the 2024 Derby is feeling pretty distant now and on latest outing he was second of four in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham; hooded throughout that hurdles campaign and sometimes on Flat, but that is now replaced by cheekpieces; this is also his first ever Flat handicap.

NR⁽²¹⁾

180-17

Dain Ma Nut In

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

9-6

108

Exuberant and game front-runner who scored twice over 1m2f at York (good/good to firm) last summer, including at their big meeting, and he also won one of his three races in Bahrain in the winter; absent four months and whether he can stretch his stamina to 1m4f (he didn't at 1m3f on latest start) looks a major doubt.

12⁽⁷⁾

230557

Military Academy

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

9-7

100

111

1m4f AW Listed winner for the Gosdens but he left that yard under a cloud in the autumn; rediscovered some form at 1m2f on AW last winter but reverted to lesser efforts on his four outings this spring.

3⁽¹⁰⁾

547/4-

Mondo Man

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

9-12

105

Free-going sort but the efforts to make a success of him over hurdles finally paid off this year with his front-running win in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March; smart in Group races on the Flat in 2024 and May 2025, one to consider seriously in this first Flat handicap.

8⁽²²⁾

803-16

French Duke

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Hamad Al Jehani

9-9

102

112

Sixth and eighth off lower marks in 1m4f handicaps at the last two Royal Ascots (good to firm) for Roger Varian; won over 1m4f at Meydan in January on debut for new trainer, followed by a lesser show at Abu Dhabi in February; usually a free-going sort, so he's likely to bide his time in rear before trying for a late challenge; most form suggests he won't succeed with it.

10⁽⁸⁾

3229-3

Hopewell Rock

J: James Doyle

T: George Boughey

9-8

101

119

Lightly raced 4yo who's without a handicap win but has mostly progressed in defeat, with the exception on heavy going; came from last to third in eight-runner race at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) seven weeks ago for a promising reappearance and the two ahead of him filled the same positions over 1m6f here on Tuesday; changed hands since and has a major chance.

13⁽⁹⁾

/706-0

Tuscan Hills

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

9-6

111

Lightly raced for three trainers and little seems to have gone right since he went 2-2 as a 2yo; the positives seem to be that he was considered worth a shot at the Dante and Derby last season, moves back up from 1m and away from heavy ground.

5⁽¹³⁾

2-4354

Emit

J: Ryan Moore

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-11

104

116

His 1m2f Group 3 run here (40-1) was the only blip from him last season; close second in 1m7f French Group 2 last October looks his best form but his handicap mark has fallen and plenty of ability remains; the biggest question may be whether this trip is now on the short side.

19⁽⁶⁾

-45001

Serengeti

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Mike Murphy

9-3

113

In his third yard since leaving Aidan O'Brien last autumn; third run for current trainer when upped to 1m2f and tongue tied first time at Windsor (good to firm) last month, starting 50-1 in a six-runner race but leading 1f out and narrowly holding off two challengers; back up just 1lb but this is another new trip and it's a vastly more competitive race.

16⁽¹⁹⁾

11-777

Nesthorn

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

9-6

109

2-5 in France for Francis Graffard; also scored in December in Bahrain for new connections but managed only seventh in his three subsequent runs there and, after 11 weeks off, has more to prove racing beyond 1m2f for first time.

18⁽²⁰⁾

-61647

Regal Ulixes

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

9-5

112

Well-beaten seventh in 1m4f Group 2 at this meeting on final run last year; won handicap at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) in February, has held his form and had possible excuses, while also appearing as if he's well worth another go at 1m4f, so he's given a second look despite needing overall improvement.

7⁽¹⁸⁾

3824-4

Nightime Dancer

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

9-9

102

113

Ran creditably last summer in the Derby and two 1m5f Group 3s, while coming up well short; absent 259 days before his fourth of eight on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; Hopewell Rock third) seven weeks ago, which was actually his best form and the first two also dominated a 1m6f handicap here on Tuesday, but he needs to build on that.

11⁽¹⁾

149-31

Opportunity

J: James McDonald

T: William Haggas

9-7

100

116

Off 11 months after tailing off in a Group 2 at this meeting last year; shaped promisingly on handicap debut over C&D on return and firmly in charge through the final 2f at Carlisle (1m3f, again good to firm) three weeks later; trying to avoid trouble in running from stall 1 looks a headache today but zero shock if the 8lb rise underestimates him.

9⁽⁴⁾

163-98

Omni Man

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-8

101

113

Creditable fifth in the 3yo handicap over 1m4f at this meeting last year, which he followed with a comfortable 1m4f win at Glorious Goodwood (8lb higher today); needs to resume his progress, having been a never-dangerous outsider this spring in 1m2f Group 3 and 1m Listed contest, but he looks far more interesting for this race.

4⁽¹⁷⁾

1231-1

Warrant Holder

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-12

105

115

Won in good style in a small field at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) last October in his second handicap; gelded and tongue tied when returning over 1m2f in 15-runner handicap at York (good; unraced on firmer) five weeks ago and he won that too, racing freely in mid-division before going on over 1f out to score by 1l; up 5lb and needs to settle better but clear potential still.

RACING POST TIP

Plage De Havre

Wathnan Racing have glaringly strong candidates in Opportunity and Hopewell Rock but the draw complicates the issue for Opportunity in particular, as he runs the risk of getting boxed in from stall 1. Mondo Man should go well returned to the Flat, having been the Imperial Cup winner over hurdles in March, while Omni Man is clearly one to note for Joseph O'Brien. The top two options, however, from wide draws, may be PLAGE DE HAVRE and Warrant Holder, and while the latter may bring the clearer potential, he also needs to settle better than he did at York last time, so preference is for the more experienced, but also progressive, Plage De Havre who's the mount of Oisin Murphy.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

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Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Ethical Diamond [7]	5	9-3	3/1F	W P Mullins	Ryan Moore
2024	Crystal Black [4]	6	9-10	11/1	Gerard Keane	Colin Keane
2023	Okita Soushi [9]	5	9-9	9/1	Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Candleford [18]	4	8-12	11/2	William Haggas	Tom Marquand
2021	Quickthorn [19]	4	9-3	7/2F	Hughie Morrison	Oisin Murphy
2020	Scarlet Dragon [12]	7	9-2	33/1	Alan King	Hollie Doyle
2019	Baghdad [12]	4	9-8	7/2F	Mark Johnston	Ryan Moore
2018	Dash Of Spice [14]	4	9-3	7/2F	David Elsworth	Silvestre De Sousa
2017	Rare Rhythm [19]	5	9-2	20/1	Charlie Appleby	William Buick
2016	Kinema [19]	5	9-4	8/1	Ralph Beckett	Fran Berry

Key race stats 2026

Key trends

Achieved best RPR in a Class 2 or 3 handicap or equivalent, 10/10
Drawn in double figures, 7/10
Aged four or five, 8/10
Won the race previously, 6/10
Officially rated between 96 and 102, 7/10

Other factors

Four of the last ten winners started favourite.

What happened in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last year?

Favourite backers were in clover as the well-backed Ethical Diamond wrote last season’s wrongs. Under the potent combination of Ryan Moore and Willie Mullins, he was settled in midfield and was unleashed in the straight to score. This subsequent Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner was hard to settle in 2024, but with the hood on this time he proved too good to win at odds of 3-1, winning by two lengths. This was his first start on the Flat since last season’s running, having run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April.

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

15:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2026

What happened in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last year?

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