Royal Ascot Tuesday Queen Anne Stakes Day – Day One 15th June 2027

Race 1 - Queen Anne Stakes - 14:30

The Queen Anne Stakes is the prestigious opening event of Royal Ascot and is also part of the British Champions Series. It is a Group 1 race run over one mile, limited to horses aged four and over. The race was first run in 1840 as the Trial Stakes and was renamed in 1930 in order to honour Queen Anne, the founder of Ascot Racecourse.

Over the years, several horses have won the race more than once, including Flambeau, Toastmaster, Worcester and Dean Swift. Frankie Dettori holds the record for the most wins as a jockey, with seven victories, while Saeed bin Suroor is the most successful trainer, boasting the same number of winners. Sheikh Mohammed, holds the most wins as an owner with eight victories to date.

The Queen Anne Stakes has seen four-year-olds win most frequently, though occasional victories by five-year-olds and even six-year-olds have occurred. The race’s duration is typically around one minute and 40 seconds, with the exact time influenced by track conditions.  Last year the winner ran a time of 1:37.53 on good to firm ground.  Expect 10+ runners for this opening race usually, 9 ran last year.

Race 2 - Coventry Stakes - 15:05

The Coventry Stakes is a distinguished Group 2 horse race hosted at the prestigious Royal Ascot since its inception in 1890. It offers an exhilarating spectacle of speed and skill as talented two-year-old colts and fillies compete over a straight six-furlong track. Though not classified as a Group 1 race, the Coventry Stakes maintains its allure, attracting exceptional contenders and delivering captivating action. Renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien holds an iron grip on the race, boasting more victories than any other, solidifying his legacy in the sport. Equally remarkable is the legendary jockey Sir Gordon Richards, who clinched an impressive nine wins between 1932 and 1951.

Originally named in tribute to the ninth Earl of Coventry, a notable figure in the Royal Household, the race’s historical significance is intertwined with the esteemed Royal Family’s influence over Ascot Racecourse. Throughout its extensive history, the Coventry Stakes has provided a launchpad for future stars. Horses like Mill Reef, a past victor, have gone on to achieve great success in other prestigious races, further cementing the event’s reputation as a platform for emerging talents. There is plenty to enjoy about the Coventry Stakes, which is why it remains so popular with jockeys, trainers and racegoers alike.

The time of this race will vary depending on the ground but expect somewhere between 1:13 and 1:18.  This is a big field race too, good for an each-way bet, with an 80/1 winner in 2024.  In 2025 the second and third came in at 80/1 and 66/1 respectively too. Last year 21 ran.

Race 3 - King Charles III Stakes - 15:40

There are many races run during Royal Ascot week that are influenced by the weather, but few of them only exist because of it. The King Charles III Stakes, formerly the King’s Stand Stakes, began life as a race run over five furlongs owing to the fact that heavy weather meant that the Royal Stand Plate couldn’t be run over the usual two miles. Since then, the race has gone on to become one of the most important sprinting events run at Royal Ascot.

The race has a rich history, with its Group 1 status awarded in 1973, downgraded to Group 2 in 1988, and then reinstated as a Group 1 event in 2008.  It was renamed in 2023 to mark the 75th birthday of King Charles.

It is part of the Global Sprint Challenge, a series of international races held in Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Britain, with the King’s Stand Stakes being the fourth leg of the series. The race features weight requirements and allowances for mares and fillies to level the playing field. It attracts top-quality international competition, enhancing its prestige.

The King’s Stand Stakes remains a highly anticipated event during Royal Ascot week, offering thrilling sprinting action on the famous Ascot racecourse, with notable winners including Elbio, Equiano and Sole Power.  When Aidan O'Brien won this race with Mission Central in 2026 he completed the full set of winning every group one race at Ascot, astonishing.

In terms of the age of the winners this is a real mixed race, for example the last ten winners have been 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 7, 3, 5, 5, 3.  This is another race with a good field with 26 running in 2026.  Timing wise expect the race to last around the one minute mark, depending on the conditions.

Race 4 - St. James’s Palace Stakes - 16:20

The St. James’s Palace Stakes is an esteemed Group 1 flat horse race held annually during the renowned Royal Ascot meeting. Exclusive to three-year-old thoroughbred colts, the race takes place across just over seven furlongs on Ascot’s turf track. Established in 1834, it has garnered significant respect, attracting top-class horses globally. Named after St. James’s Palace in central London, the race stands as a premier event for promising three-year-old colts specialising in middle-distance races. Horses that have previously competed in prestigious events like the 2,000 Guineas, Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Irish 2,000 Guineas often participate.

Illustrious winners of the past include Brigadier Gerard, Rock of Gibraltar, and Canford Cliffs, whilst the undefeated Frankel not only triumphed in this race but also excelled in other major international events. Positioned as the fourth race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting, the St. James’s Palace Stakes commands attention. It draws global competitors and showcases the international allure of Royal Ascot. Managing to combine historical significance with Royal associations as well as intense competition, the St. James’s Palace Stakes captivates racing enthusiasts and adds excitement to the Royal Ascot meeting.

As with so many Ascot races now Aidan O'Brien leads the way with 9 winners to date, his first being in 200o and his latest in 2023.  All of those horses were owned by Sue Magnier so by default she is the most successful owner.  The best jockey is Michael Kinane who rode six winners between 1982 and 2004 - including O'Brien's first winner Giant's Causeway (2000) and Rock of Gibraltar (2002).

One of the smallest fields of the day for this race but still decent, six ran in 2026, for example.  If the weather is good and the ground is fairly firm then expect a time in the 1:37 - 1:40 area.

Race 5 - Ascot Stakes - 17:00

The Ascot Stakes, part of the Royal Ascot meeting, might not boast the same glamour as its more renowned counterparts, but its significance in the world of flat racing is undeniable. Dating back to 1988 as far as the modern records are concerned, this flat handicap race is a haven for stayers, covering an arduous distance of 2 miles, 3 furlongs, and 210 yards. Held on the opening day of Royal Ascot, the race caters to horses aged four and above. National Hunt trainers are drawn to the Ascot Stakes due to its extended distance, offering their runners a summer test of endurance.

The race's victors often continue their journey to the Queen Alexandra Stakes, creating an intriguing link between these two events that has seen dual winners more than a few times. A unique facet of the Ascot Stakes is its erratic winning times. In 2017, Thomas Hobson breezed through the course in 4 minutes and 17.62 seconds; a stark contrast to Jennies Jewel's 4 minutes and 34.70 seconds the previous year.

Trainers more associated with Cheltenham and jump racing like Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Henry de Bromhead and Jonjo O'Neill have tasted success in this race. A blend of stamina, a decent Official Rating and training strategies help to determine victory.

After the previous race we are back to another big field for this one, 20 running last time out with a 25/1 winner.  This race will last around 4:20 to 4:30 on decent ground.

Race 6 - Wolferton Stakes - 17:35

Run over one mile, one furlong and 212 yards, the Wolferton Stakes began life as a handicap race known as the Wolferton Rated Stakes. It was brought into the Royal Ascot roster in 2002 when an extra day was added to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. It is open to horses aged four and over and has been run as a conventional Listed race since 2018, which was the point at which it was decided that handicap races couldn't carry Listed status. It is open to horses aged four and over, with weight information of nine stone and five pounds, plus some allowances.

Fillies and mares are given an allowance of five pounds, for example, whilst those that have won Listed races are given a three pound penalty. Horses that have won Group 3 races receive a five pound penalty, whilst those who have won Group 1 or Group 2 events since the previous August can't run in the event. William Buick and Daniel Tudhope have both won the race more than once, whilst John Gosden is the event's leading trainer with 5 wins. Over the 15 races that took place between 2012 and 2026, only three horses won the event as favourites, whilst twelve horses had a rating of 102 or higher.

As with all races this week the field is often pretty close to its max size of 16, last year 16 horses started.  On bad ground the time might be in excess of 2:10 but usually the race is run in around 2:04.

Race 7 - Copper Horse Handicap - 18:10

Run over one mile and six furlongs, the Copper Horse Stakes is named after a statue of King George III on horseback that stands in Windsor Park, looking at the castle. The race itself as a handicap event, meaning that weights that are carried by the horses are assigned by the official handicapper, who bases that on their assessment of the ability of the participants. The winners to date have tended to have an official handicap of in the region of 100, with weights given accordingly. The race itself usually lasts for about three minutes, depending on the Going.

Added to the roster in 2020 in order to give both horses and jockeys more chance to run that season, the Copper Horse Stakes has remained on the list of events since then thanks to the decision of Ascot Racecourse to keep the extra day. It is tricky to use previous performances to judge the likely outcome of the event, with one winner having been absent from racing for nearly a year before coming back to run as the favourite and another enjoying just his second outing on turf when winning, having previously spent his time plying his trade on all-weather racing tracks.

What we do know is from the seven runnings to date three favourites have won, giving a strike rate of 43%.  Three of the seven winners have been aged six-years-old and all the victors in this race have had a rating of 95-101.  No jockey has yet won the race more than once and Willie Mullins and John & Thady Gosden are the only trainer to win twice as trainers.  This is another race that usually reaches the maximum field size of 16, indeed 16 ran last year.