The Wednesday of Royal Ascot holds the feature Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes right in the middle of the card proceeded by three Group 2’s and immediately followed by the Royal Hunt Cup, a heritage handicap.
Lots of household names find themselves on the honours roll across this card and I’ve looked at the last 10 years to establish what it typically takes to land each race.
Queen Mary Stakes
- ALL of the last 10 winners placed Top 2 last time out
- 9 of the last 10 winners had at least 1 win
- 8 of the last 10 winners won last time out
- 8 of the last 10 winners came from stall 14+ (the others came from stall 1 and stall 10)
- 8 of the last 10 winners last ran 25 or more days ago
- 6 of the last 10 winners came from the first two in the betting (both profitable blind)
“Will have placed Top 2 last time out but preferably won. Likely to have last run 25 or more days ago, preference to being drawn in stall 14 or higher and respect the first 2 in the betting.”
Last 10 Winners
- 2025 – True Love
- 2024 – Leovanni
- 2023 – Crimson Advocate
- 2022 – Dramatised
- 2021 – Quick Suzy
- 2020 – Campanelle
- 2019 – Raffle Prize
- 2018 – Signora Cabello
- 2017 – Heartache
- 2016 – Lady Aurelia
Queens Vase – (was run over 2m but last 9 runnings at 1m6f)
- ALL of the last 9 winners had NOT run at Ascot
- ALL of the last 9 winners had 1 or 2 career wins
- ALL of the last 9 winners came from the first 3 in the betting (only 2nd favs profitable blind)
- 8 of the 9 winners last ran 44 days ago or less
- 6 of the last 9 winners had their furthest win between 10f and 12 f
“Won’t have run at Ascot, will have either 1 or 2 career wins and will come from the first 3 in the betting. Probably last ran 44 days ago and has their furthest win at 10f-12f.”
Last 9 Winners
- 2025 – Carmers
- 2024 – Illinois
- 2023 – Gregory
- 2022 – Eldar Eldarov
- 2021 – Kemari
- 2020 – Santiago
- 2019 – Dashing Willoughby
- 2018 – Kew Gardens
- 2017 – Stradivarius
Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
- ALL of the last 10 winners did NOT come from the lowest 4 stalls
- 9 of the last 10 winners were 4yos
- 9 of the last 10 winners had raced that season
- 9 of the last 10 winners had won at mile (6 on multiple occasions 1 unraced at a mile)
- 8 of the last 10 winners had won 4 or more races
- 7 of the last 10 winners had NOT won a race that season (two were unbeaten)
- 7 of the last 10 winners had placed on their last run
- 6 of the last 10 winners had won a Group race
“Will not been drawn in the lowest 4 stalls, likely to be a 4-year-old who has run this season, has won at a mile and has won 4 or more races in their career.”
Last 10 Winners
- 2025 – Crimson Advocate
- 2024 – Running Lion
- 2023 – Rogue Millennium
- 2022 – Saffron Beach
- 2021 – Indie Angel
- 2020 – Nazeef
- 2019 – Move Swiftly
- 2018 – Aljazzi
- 2017 – Qemah
- 2016 – Usherette
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
- 9 of the last 10 winners had won at 10 furlongs
- 9 of the last 10 winners were Irish Bred
- 9 of the last 10 winners had an OR of 117+
- 8 of the last 10 winners placed Top 3 last time out
- 8 of the last 10 winners were NOT sent off favourite
- 7 of the last 10 winners came from the first three in the betting (tiny profit blind)
- 7 of the last 10 winners had won that season
- 6 of the last 10 winners had run at Ascot (only 2 had won)
“Has won at 10f, is Irish bred, has an OR of 117 or higher and placed Top 3 last time out but probably isn’t the favourite. Preferably has run at Ascot and has won this season.”
Last 10 Winners
- 2025 – Ombudsman
- 2024 – Auguste Rodin
- 2023 – Mostahdaf
- 2022 – State Of Rest
- 2021 – Love
- 2020 – Lord North
- 2019 – Crystal Ocean
- 2018 – Poets Word
- 2017 – Highland Reel
- 2016 – My Dream Boat
Royal Hunt Cup
- ALL of the last 10 winners were aged 4 or 5 (89 others have tried)
- 9 of the last 10 winners were rated no higher than 103
- 9 of the last 10 winners carried between 9-0 and 9-5
- 9 of the last 10 winners had run that season
- 8 of the last 10 winners were NOT the favourite (the last two were)
- 8 of the last 10 winners were 4yo’s
- 8 of the last 10 winners had 3 or more career wins
- 7 of the last 10 winners at least placed last time out (3 won)
- 7 of the last 10 winners were drawn either 4-11 or 20+
- 7 of the last 10 winners had run at Ascot
“Will be aged 4 or 5, not rated higher than 103 and carrying between 9-0 and 9-05. Has run this season, with 3 or more career wins, has run at Ascot and is drawn either 4-11 or 20+.”
Last 10 Winners
- 2025 – My Cloud
- 2024 – Wild Tiger
- 2023 – Jimi Hendrix
- 2022 – Dark Shift
- 2021 – Real World
- 2020 – Dark Vision
- 2019 – Afaak
- 2018 – Settle For Bay
- 2017 – Zhui Feng
- 2016 – Portage
Kensington Palace Stakes (introduced in 2021)
- ALL of the 5 winners were priced 10/1+
- ALL of the 5 winners last ran 31 days ago or less
- ALL of the 5 winners were drawn in stall 8 or higher
- ALL of the 5 winners were aged 4
- 4 of the 5 winners had exactly one win that season
- 4 of the 5 winners did NOT win last time out
“Will be sent off at least 10/1, last ran 31 days ago or less, drawn in stall 8 or higher, will be aged 4 and preferably has exactly 1 win this season but did NOT win last time out.”
Winners
- 2025 – Miss Information
- 2024 – Doha
- 2023 – Villanova Queen
- 2022 – Rising Star
- 2021 – Lola Showgirl
Windsor Castle Stakes
- 9 of the last 10 winners last ran in the last 26 days
- 9 of the last 10 winners had no more than 2 runs
- 8 of the last 10 winners were NOT sent off favourite
- 7 of the last 10 winners had won a race
- 7 of the last 10 winners finished in the Top 2 last time out
- 6 of the last 10 winners were either the highest in the highest two or lowest two stalls
“Will have run in the last 26 days, has no more than 2 runs and has won a race. Placed Top 2 last time out, probably isn’t the favourite and bonus if drawn highest or lowest 2 stalls.”
Last 10 Winners
- 2025 – Havana Hurricane
- 2024 – Aint Nobody
- 2023 – Big Evs
- 2022 – Little Big Bear
- 2021 – Chipotle
- 2020 – Tactical
- 2019 – Southern Hills
- 2018 – Soldiers Call
- 2017 – Sound And Silence
- 2016 – Ardad