Prince of Wales’s Stakes Tips: Daryz looks primed to land the prize

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the entire festival, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is the main event on Day 2 of Royal Ascot. Taking place on Wednesday, the 1m2f Group 1 is highly prestigious and it has a very illustrious roll of honour too.

This race was established in 1862, named after the holder of that title at the time, the future King Edward VII. It was originally open to three-year-olds and run over 1m5f. Halted after the war, it returned in 1968 and is now a Group 1 open to four-year-olds and upwards.

The 2026 renewal is set to be a cracker and a very competitive field has been declared. Here are our views on the day’s big race and we’ve selected our best bet and next best selection, in what looks like an unmissable event.

Horse Racing Odds

Overview

There’s a substantial prize fund of £1,000,000 on offer for this year’s race, and our big clash is between last year’s winner Ombudsman and the sensational French raider Daryz, who managed to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe back in October.

We have eight runners to take a look at here and provided they all make it to post, there will be at least three places on offer. One of the recent trends doesn’t necessarily bode well for market leader Ombudsman, as only two favourites have won in the last decade.

There should be a decent early pace on offer here, as Aidan O’Brien runs Mississippi River, presumably as a pacemaker for the Ryan Moore-ridden Minnie Hauk.

The market expects this to be a two-horse race, but some smart horses can pick up the pieces if one or both of the two well-fancied runners fail to fire for any reason.

French raider to land the spoils?

The last couple of seasons have been a dream for Francis-Henri Graffard and he has two of Europe’s best middle-distance performers in his yard. Globe-trotting superstar Calandagan can beat any horse on his day and DARYZ is the reigning Arc champion.

It’s always impressive when a three-year-old wins the Arc and it was a close call between him and Minnie Hauk, who is also in opposition here. That form is always going to be taken seriously and you would fancy him to go close once again if lining up to defend his crown.

Very impressive in a couple of starts this season, you can make the argument that the form isn’t exceptional, but they were both Group 1 contests, which he managed to win with plenty in hand. He has arguably shown more than Ombudsman this year and can come out on top.

Don’t dismiss the talented Minnie

Aidan O’Brien is always one to watch at Royal Ascot, especially in the biggest races, and MINNIE HAUK is more than capable of running a big race. The daughter of Frankel won the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks last season and the uncomplicated filly possesses loads of ability.

It’s easy to forgive her very below-par display in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time out and in truth, that effort has made her price much more attractive. She’s primarily a 1m4f horse and the lack of early pace ruined her chances, so Ryan Moore took it easy on her in the closing stages.

With a pacemaker also lining up, a proper end-to-end gallop could be on the cards and that will suit her down to the ground. Her narrow defeat in the Arc last October was a sensational effort for a three-year-old filly and there’s little between her and Daryz on that evidence.