The Norfolk Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 5f. It takes place at 14:30 on Thursday 18th June, which is the third 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⁽²¹⁾

Underdog

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Richard Spencer

9-3

Hails from a yard in ripping form and he played his part when making a winning debut, despite having to run with one of his shoes missing, at Sandown (5f, good) just eight days ago; coincidentally his sire Perfect Power won this race in 2021 having also scored eight days beforehand; a likely outsider who needs considering.

18⁽⁴⁾

Where Love Lives

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

9-3

Favourite when making all at Thirsk on debut in April and stuck to his guns when winning Sandown's Listed National Stakes (also 5f, good; Mr Macartney an eye-catching sixth) three weeks ago; Sandown second ran a screamer in the Coventry on Tuesday; considered for a yard that's won this race before.

15⁽⁷⁾

Star Prospect

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-3

Produced a good burst to beat Carry The Flag and win going away at the Curragh (soft) on April introduction but could manage only an odds-on third at Naas (also 5f, good; raced freely) one month later; that race was a bit of a mess and there's a strong suspicion this one will set up better; halved in price yesterday (20-1 to 10-1); holds notable future entries and he's interesting from a yard that is having a fairytale week.

6⁽¹⁹⁾

Force Noir

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

9-3

Odds-on both starts; only just denied by Wednesday's Windsor Castle fourth on debut at the Curragh (heavy) in March and made no mistake when scooting in at Naas (also 5f, good) six weeks later; subsequently left Robson Aguiar (still in same ownership); first-time blinkers sound a note of caution on this first start since; otherwise respected.

2⁽¹²⁾

Blake's Monarch

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ivan Furtado

9-3

Gave it a good go when just pegged at Wolverhampton (AW) on his debut but weakened to finish sixth at Chester (also 6f, good) 19 days later; drop to 5f might help but he has bundles to find.

9⁽⁹⁾

134

New Yorker

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

All starts at 5f; odds-on when winning on his debut at Dundalk (AW) in April but he let favourite backers down in a big way on his turf debut the following month and again could beat only one home at Naas (also good) a fortnight later; hood goes on.

7⁽²⁾

4176

Mr Macartney

J: Ray Dawson

T: Oli Rix

9-3

Beat 11 others to pick up Leicester maiden (good to firm) in April on second start; only sixth of eight in a Listed event at Sandown (again 5f, good) last time but that doesn't tell the whole story, given he bungled the start before coming home well; runner-up that day filled the same position in Tuesday's Coventry; might be the sort to go well at wild odds; visor added.

3⁽¹³⁾

212

Carry The Flag

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

108

Chased home Star Prospect at the Curragh (soft) in April but made odds-on backers sweat when just coming out the right side of a three-horse photo at Naas (also 5f, good) three weeks later; up to 6f when good second to Great Barrier Reef in Curragh Group 3 last time and that form looks all the better after his conqueror won the Coventry on Tuesday; drop back to this stiff 5f is unlikely to be an issue and he commands great respect from a stable that's won this four times, including last year.

16⁽⁵⁾

Tribeca

J: Donagh O'Connor

T: Robson De Aguiar

9-3

Made most when scoring at Navan (6f, good to yielding) on his April debut; second and third have won since, as has the fourth, who went in at 33-1 in the Windsor Castle on Wednesday; sire Blue Point couldn't get enough of this place and there's plenty to like about this son.

11⁽¹⁰⁾

Persian Spring

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Hannon

9-3

Set the standard and didn't need to improve a great deal from his debut when taking 15-runner York novice (6f, good) last month; not far off the top of the list on RPRs and holds a Group 1 entry, so can't be passed over lightly in the hands of a trainer who won this in 2014.

14⁽¹⁷⁾

Sovereign Glory

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

9-3

Built on encouraging debut when off the mark at Bath (5f, firm) last month; that bare form will need improving on.

21⁽¹⁵⁾

Through The Years

J: John R Velazquez

T: Wesley A Ward

9-0

103

Probably should have won on her debut at Keeneland in April and was long odds-on when making no mistake, breaking the track record in the process, at Aqueduct (also 5.5f, firm) last month; looks a typical speedball for a US yard that's won the Norfolk twice, including with this one's sire in 2013; one of three intriguing Wesley Ward fillies.

20⁽¹¹⁾

Fanshell Beach

J: James McDonald

T: Wesley A Ward

9-0

106

Hit the line strongly to make a winning debut over 4.5f on dirt at Churchill Downs in USA in April; trainer reportedly confident the filly will adapt to turf but jockey bookings might suggest she's third best of the yard's three-pronged attack.

1⁽¹⁾

Agamemnon

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Richard Hughes

9-3

Big chunk of improvement on his second start when winning comfortably at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) last month; Oisin Murphy retains the ride and this return to turf is unlikely to pose a problem; draw on the wing is probably unhelpful but he can't be readily dismissed.

10⁽¹⁶⁾

Orthodox

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

9-3

Warm in the market before he won going away at Salisbury (5f, good) on his debut last month; mixed messages on that form but his respected yard won this race in 2012 and he's open to improvement.

4⁽⁸⁾

El Floridita

J: Rowan Scott

T: Nigel Tinkler

9-3

Attracted some support at big odds on his May debut and proved those nibbles were on the right lines when bagging a Redcar maiden (5f, good to firm) nine days later; this is a radically different test, though; sold for £100,000 on Monday.

5⁽⁶⁾

Flight Signal

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-3

101

£180,000 breeze-up purchase who left an odds-on shot trailing when impressively taking five-runner Bath novice (5f, good to firm) on his debut four weeks ago; likely to build on that and he could be anything.

19⁽³⁾

Ez Tina

J: Juan J Hernandez

T: Wesley A Ward

9-0

104

Big filly who clocked a good speed figure when making all on Woodbine's Tapeta (5f) on her introduction in Canada last month; impressed quite a few observers that day and, alongside stablemate Through The Years, she's a fascinating contender.

8⁽¹⁴⁾

Mussab

J: Colin Keane

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

9-3

Stable has fond memories of this race, having won it in 2021 and 2022, and this colt recorded an encouraging first go when third at York (6f, good) four weeks ago; that bare form leaves him with work to do but this drop to 5f is unlikely to pose a problem.

12⁽²⁰⁾

Savage Mariner

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hugo Palmer

9-3

Finished runner-up to a 400,000gns breeze-up purchase at Leicester (6f, good to firm) 25 days ago; goes up in grade and down in trip for this second start and will need to step forward; a big market mover yesterday.

13⁽¹⁸⁾

Social Symbol

J: William Buick

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-3

£145,000 breeze-up purchase who defied some market weakness to go in first time at Ripon (5f, good); third has won since and William Buick takes over; yard won this in 2019 and he's one of a few interesting outsiders.

RACING POST TIP

Star Prospect

Wesley Ward runs three fillies, headed by Ez Tina and Through The Years, who provide a fascinating extra dimension to this year's Norfolk and it would be no surprise if they made an impact. Carry The Flag (second choice) almost certainly will but it's well worth giving another chance to his Curragh conqueror STAR PROSPECT, who was undone by a messy race last time but promises to be suited by this test. Flight Signal, Tribeca and Where Love Lives are firmly in the picture, while Social Symbol, Underdog and Mr Macartney are likely outsiders who need a second look.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

No offers to show

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Charles Darwin [15]	2	9-3	8/13F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2024	Shareholder [4]	2	9-3	12-1	Karl Burke	James Doyle
2023	Valiant Force [5]	2	9-3	150/1	Adrian Murray	Rossa Ryan
2022	The Ridler [2]	2	9-3	50/1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2021	Perfect Power [10]	2	9-1	14-1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2020	The Lir Jet [1]	2	9-1	9/2	Michael Bell	Oisin Murphy
2019	A’Ali [9]	2	9-1	5/1	Simon Crisford	Frankie Dettori
2018	Shang Shang Shang [4]	2	8-12	5/1	Wesley A Ward	Joel Rosario
2017	Sioux Nation [2]	2	9-1	14/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	Prince Of Lir [10]	2	9-1	8/1	Robert Cowell	Luke Morris

Key race stats 2026

Key trends

Won within last two starts, 8/10
Top-three finish last time, 8/10 (six won last time out)
Adjusted RPR of at least 100, 7/10
Beaten on debut, 6/10 (all exceptions once-raced winners)

Other factors

Six winners had scored over 5f.

Six fillies have run in the last decade, finishing 901560.

What happened in the Norfolk Stakes last year?

Charles Darwin confirmed himself as one of the best juveniles around with a dominant display in the Norfolk Stakes. Sent off the 8-13 favourite, Ryan Moore’s mount was prominent throughout and quickened up smartly to win by two and a quarter lengths. Aidan O’Brien’s two-year-old was rated the best winner of the Norfolk in the past ten years. Godolphin’s Wise Approach and US raider Sandal’s Song filled the places

Norfolk Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2026

What happened in the Norfolk Stakes last year?

All Races