The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is the feature contest at Royal Ascot on Wednesday afternoon, with five runners expected to line up in the Group 1 contest. Our expert editor has provided a runner-by-runner guide and gives their verdict, alongside BetUK‘s exclusive Royal Ascot offer, where new customers can claim £50 In Free Bets when placing a £10 bet.
Bay Bridge (Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore) 5/4
Rapidly-improving colt who was a perfect 4 from 4 last season for connections. Continued where he left off with an authoritative victory in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown on seasonal reappearance, thumping a strong field by five widening lengths. Half-brother won on good to firm ground during his career so quicker ground shouldn’t be an inconvenience to him and is clearly the one they all have to beat.
Lord North (John & Thady Gosden, Frankie Dettori) 13/2
Strode clear of Addeybb to land this prize back in 2020 and has proven to be a globe-trotting force in his recent starts. A respectable fourth in the 2020 Breeders Cup Turf at Keeneland was followed by back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Dubai Turf over in Meydan. No match for William Haggas’ Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh back in May, but holds course figures of 2-2-1-0 and is capable of playing a part in the finish.
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Shahryar (H Fujiwara, C Demuro) 10/3
Classy Japanese colt who brings useful form to the table on his first outing on British soil. Produced a career-best effort when fending off the strong challenge of Yibir in the Dubai Sheena Classic at Meydan back in March. May not be best suited by a drop back to ten furlongs, but handles fast ground well and the international raider could be set to run another big race here.
State Of Rest (Joseph P O’Brien, S M Crosse) 6/1
A four-time winner for connections, however, his best form has come overseas. Landed the Group 1 Invitational Stakes at Saratoga last August before narrowly prevailing in the Australian Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Returned this season with his third Group 1 victory, this time in France, taking the Prix Ganay Stakes in comfortable fashion. Finished ahead of Lord North in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month and is likely to can confirm that form once more.
Grand Glory (G Bietolini, M Barzalona) 8/1
French raider who has seemingly improved this season, winning her opening two starts as a six-year-old. Comfortably accounted for Listed rivals on seasonal return at Longchamp in April before returning to that venue the following month and producing a similar display, this time at Group 3 level. Outsider of the field will have to improve again back at the highest level and isn’t sure to be suited by the quicker ground (seven of her eight wins have come with soft/heavy in the description).
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Verdict
BAY BRIDGE will bid to follow in the hoofprints of Poet’s World, who landed the Brigadier Gerard and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute back in 2018. The son of New Bay appears to be a Group 1 winner in the making and is improving at a rate of knots for top connections. The four-year-old colt defeated some talented performers on his seasonal return at Sandown and will be expected to strut his stuff on the grandest stage of all on Wednesday afternoon. The drop back in trip poses a slight question mark for Japanese rider Shahryar, so State Of Rest is taken to chase home Sir Michael Stoute’s runner after recently finishing ahead of John & Thady Gosden’s Lord North.
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