Royal Ascot Day 2 is headlined by a solitary Group 1 by way of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but what a contest it looks on paper.
All Group 1 races are to be run for a prize of £250,000 at Royal Ascot 2020 after a disrupted season, with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes usually the richest prize on offer all week, being run for £750,000 in 2019.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is run over a trip of one mile and two furlongs and has seen some of racing’s stars claim the prize, with the like of Oujia Board, Poets Word, Highland Reel and last year’s winner Crystal Ocean just a few on the illustrious honours list.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes Tip
JAPAN
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Japan heads the betting and will be a warm favourite to win this for his handler who last won it in 2017 with Highland Reel. Japan was last seen finishing fourth in the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe, after racking up a series of wins, including his only start at Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. The standout on form.
He is very much the one to beat if running to the level he has shown on each of his last 5 starts. There are question marks over the remainder of the field, with any further rainfall bringing the soft-ground-loving Addeybb in to play and Headman and Lord North the likely improvers, but they look up against it here against Japan.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes Runners
ADDEYBB
Won the Listed Wolferton Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting before finishing runner up to Magical in the Champion Stakes in October. Will welcome every drop of rain, with his best form on slower ground, but he advertised his well-being with a pair of Group-1 wins in Australia over the winter. Yet to breakthrough at Group-1 level in Britain however.
HEADMAN
Stepped up from handicap company last season with a pair of Group-2 wins in France, before finishing 3½ lengths behind Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes when last seen. Still unexposed after just 7 career starts, a likely improver but will need to be if he’s to win this.
BARNEY ROY
Former St James’s Palace winner and hinted he may have rediscovered his former self over at Meydan this winter, winning a pair of Group 1 & Group 2 races over nine-furlongs in style. While his former best would put him in the mix, he was 8th in last year’s Queen Anne, and form from Meydan should always be taken with a pinch of salt back in Britain.
LORD NORTH
He has shown marked improvement over the last 12-months with his rating rocketing from 98 to 116. Won the Group-3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes on his latest start, and while clearly still improving, this looks a tough assignment and perhaps a bridge too far.
MEHDAAYIH
The only filly in the lineup and fifth in the Champion Stakes in behind Addyebb when last seen. She looks to have work to do to reverse that form if encountering similar conditions but did run Deidre close in the Nassau Stakes last year. This looks tougher.
BANGKOK
An overly exuberant sort that has often gotten away with it at lower levels than this. Not seen in Group-1 company since the Derby last season where he finished 12th of 13 and looks likely to struggle once again returning to warmer waters.
Key Prince of Wales’s Stakes Trends
- 12 of the last 12 winners have been aged 4 or 5
- 11 of the last 12 winners have come from the top three in the betting
- 9 of the last 10 winners have been rated 119 or higher
Japan is the only runner to fit the bill in all three of the key trends of the past 12 winners. Rivals Barney Roy and Addeybb are aged 6 and the remaining four rivals Headman (115), Lord North (112), Mehdaayih (113), and Bangkok (114) not meeting the requirement of being rated 119 or higher.
Trends Pick: Japan
Ascot Draw Bias
With just seven in line to go to post in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, there won’t be any real draw bias, as there often isn’t on the round course, with the pace being more of a factor in these races, due to Ascot’s relatively short home straight.
Royal Ascot Prince of Wales’s Stakes Free bet Offers
Get a head start with your Royal Ascot bets by signing up to a bookmaker account and claiming a free bet. With at least seven races each day, bookmaker free bets can come in handy and during Royal Ascot, firms will be competing with one another for the best offer. We have selected the best offer for our Day 2 Royal Ascot tips below, or you can view our free bets page for all the latest offers and free bets.
Bet on Royal Ascot with up to £100 in Bet Credits courtesy of Bet365. Simply sign up through the link to receive the welcome bonus.
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