Tuesday 16 June 2026 5:42 pm
Ombudsman won last year’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes
WEDNESDAY’s Group One feature at Royal Ascot, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (4.20pm), sees one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the week.Last year’s winner OMBUDSMAN takes on Arc victor Daryz, in a classic England versus France match up and there shouldn’t be much between these two brilliant horses when it comes to the wire.Ombudsman was a ready two-length winner of this contest 12 months ago and went on to add more Group One honours to his CV when taking the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor Festival.He began this season with a good win in the Dubai Turf and then returned to domestic action when winning the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown last month.Giving away a seven-pound penalty there was no mean feat and it should have left him ready for a strong defence of his crown.John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old will certainly need to be at his best against Francis-Henri Graffard’s Daryz.Following his Arc success, when narrowly getting the better of Minnie Hauk, he has returned with two foot-perfect displays this season, winning two Group Ones at Longchamp in the Prix Ganay and Prix Aga Khan IV.He’s won seven of his nine starts to date, and is clearly right out of the top drawer.His one real disappointment came at York last season, when finishing last behind Ombudsman, but he got worked up in the preliminaries and it’s probably worth excusing that effort.A bigger concern may be the ground at Ascot, which is expected to be good-to-firm and, with most of his best form on soft, is probably faster than he would like.These conditions are ideal for Ombudsman though, and that tilts the argument in his favour, so I’m in his camp at 11/8 with Star Sports.The improved Almaqam and last year’s star three-year-old filly Minnie Hauk deserve favourable mentions in a fantastic renewal, but on all known form both have a bit to find with the top two.The day begins with 28 juvenile fillies scorching the turf over Ascot’s five-furlong straight in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm).There are a host of well-regarded fillies in here, with the likes of Senorita Bonita, Victorious, Wild Blossom and Alta Regina all taking winners on debut.However, the presence of three American-trained fillies might change the complexion of this race.More and more American horses are coming to Ascot these days, particularly to contest the sprints where they often have a speed advantage over their British and Irish rivals.After blazing a trail from the stalls, often the question is whether they can maintain it over Ascot’s stiff five furlongs.The Thomas Morley-trained MORE CHAMPAGNE was an impressive winner on debut at Keenland in April, beating Wesley Ward’s Shining Moment by over six lengths.She pulled away in the closing stages over five-and-a-half furlongs and that extra stamina could prove crucial here.Shining Moment reopposes, while Celtic Dispute also lines up, with all three drawn middle-to-high, and they will dominate the early stages, but it might be More Champagne, under a master in Johnny Velazquez, that sticks around longest at the finish.At 12/1 with Star Sports, she looks a good each-way play, and another that could be overpriced is Paddy Twomey’s VELOZEE.She won her first two starts over five furlongs at the Curragh, but disappointed when upped to six furlongs last time.Back at five, she could arrive late on the scene, and looks too big a price at 22/1.POINTERS WEDNESDAYMore Champagne e/w 2.30pm AscotVelozee e/w 2.30pm Ascot Ombudsman 4.20pm Ascot
