The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a race open to horses of three-year-old and up. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards (2,406 metres). The race was previously known as the Bessborough Stakes and was named after John Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough who was Master of the Buckhounds on three occasions in the 19th century.
The first race under the original name was a five-furlong race for two-year-olds run at Royal Ascot in 1914. The title was later bestowed on a mile-and-a-half handicap race at the same meeting. In 1999 the race was renamed in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The name Duke of Edinburgh Stakes had previously been used for a two-year-old race run at Ascotin autumn whose winners included the future Champion Hurdler Sea Pigeon. The race has been won by horses who have gone on to win at Group level, including Blueprint Young Mick and Fox Hunt. Let’s go through the runners ahead of the race and see which horses offer the best Royal Ascot odds on the market.
Aikhal
Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Set to make his seasonal reappearance here and runs for the first time since leaving Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle. He showed no appetite for a trip as far as this previously and despite winning a Group Three race at the Curragh last year he looks to have it all to do off top weight. He runs for new connections who you can never rule out at this meeting and he could go well for a while before fading. There will be more to come from him in time.
Jack Darcy
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Jockey: Mohammed Tabti
Was beaten out of sight when last seen on his seasonal reappearance at Goodwood last month. The limit of his stamina seems to be ten furlongs so this will stretch him and despite dropping back into handicap company others look to be better treated.
Teumessias Fox
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Certainly performing at the top of his game at the minute and comes here in search of a hat-trick of wins. Success came at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance and he followed that up with an even better performance at Newmarket next time. Andrew Balding typically finds at least one handicap for the taking at this meeting and Oisin Murphy has plenty of experience on this four-year-old gelding. They have to be high on any shortlist.
Lucander
Trainer: George Baker
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Slowly finding his way back to form and was a solid third at Epsom last time out when beaten in a handicap by Sheer Rocks. He has to conclusively prove that he stays this far and he needs to take another step forward.
Live Your Dream
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Has generally been a model of consistency for Saeed Bin Suroor and his only disappointing effort came at Newmarket last season when well beaten in the Cesarewitch. He made a good start to the season with another fine run at Haydock in a handicap behind Cumulonimbus. He stays a lot further than this so expect plenty of use to be made of his proven stamina. One of the likelier contenders.
Okita Soushi
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Made his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown where he finished fifth behind Yashin last month in a Group Three. This is a big drop in grade for the five-year-old and whilst also proven over further, he has won at this trip before too. He recorded back-to-back wins at Dundalk back in February and he ran well at this meeting last season in the Copper Horse Handicap where he finished third to Get Shirty. Fully entitled to come on for the run and has Ryan Moore in the saddle. Joseph O’Brien has seemingly turned a corner with his horses and it’s hard to discount his chances.
Global Heat
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Has been beaten in two similar handicaps this season finishing fifth on both occasions at Goodwood and Haydock. Ultimately he has paid the price for his consistency but is trying to win off a career-high mark. Perfectly entitled to run his race again but is likely to find at least a few treated much better.
White Wolf
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Was only just touched off in a Class 2 handicap at Chelmsford last time when beaten a head by Misty Dancer. He is still only lightly raced and on evidence seen to date, this trip may just ebb away at his stamina in the closing stages. Kevin Stott rides for the first time and the pair should run their race.
Nagano
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: David Egan
Making his comeback here following nearly two years off the track. He has made the frame in five out of his six starts including picking up three wins in the process. If he is ready to roll at the first time of asking he could go particularly well, but chances are he might just need this. Regular pilot David Egan is back on board and not fully discounted.
Tyson Fury
Trainer: Richard Spencer
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Has returned to a favourable-looking mark but he really needs to show dramatic improvement on what we saw last time. He was beaten well over 20 lengths by Forest Of Dean at Newcastle back in January, but a return to turf could well bring out the best in him. Hard to recommend as a betting proposition today but should find life easier going forward.
Al Nafir
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Will Buick
Returned to winning ways at Newmarket when last seen out in the autumn beating stablemate Wild Crusade. There have been a couple of subsequent winners to have come out of that race since including the re-opposing Haunted Dream, Paradias, Sheer Rocks and Simply Sondheim. The yard has had a few disappointments at this meeting already this week but he has the ability to turn that on its head.
Maksud
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Was well beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Chester when seen off by the likes of Pride Of America. Whilst he is fully entitled to come on for that run, he will need to. He is trying to win this off a career-high mark and that will make life even more difficult.
Moracana
Trainer: Sheila Lavery
Jockey: Robbie Colgan
A smart five-year-old who is proven in handicaps at this level and has even won a listed race. Whilst her run was a little disappointing last time, she loves ground as fast as this. Sheila Lavery has her horses ticking over nicely and she could well get involved.
Max Mayhem
Trainer: Kevin Phillipart De Foy
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
Something was clearly bothering him when he trailed in some thirty-five lengths behind Sheer Rocks at Epsom last time. Prior to that, he was a comfortable winner of the Rosebery Handicap at Kempton off what was near a career-low mark. If his trainer can get him back to what he is naturally capable of he could go close, but there are big clouds hovering over whether he has recovered from that last outing.
Haunted Dream
Trainer: Ed Dunlop
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Has been in the form of his life of late but the only other time he ran here he was beaten by twelve lengths so that is worth bearing in mind. He returned from a six-month break at Chelmsford racecourse last time and made a successful winning reappearance when beating Simply Sondheim. Daniel Muscutt is back in the saddle today though and he has won on the grey gelding twice before. He gets this trip well and should make a decent account provided he has learned how to handle the track.
HMS President
Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
As tough and consistent as they come and returned to winning ways at Newmarket last month when beating Adjuvant and Torcello. The form of that race is working out very well with the runner-up going on to win next time out as too did the fourth-placed Geremia as well as First Emperor and Cemhaan. He is off a three-pound higher mark but he gives the impression that he has the class to get him over that. He has to be on the shortlist here.
Aimeric
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: James Doyle
Has won three of his last five starts including on his seasonal reappearance at Doncaster following more than six months off the track. He beat Apparate by a neck and he should have strengthened up for that run. He stays further than this trip and remains far from exposed. Four-year-olds have a great record in this race and he has to be considered.
Ajero
Trainer: Kim Bailey
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Still remains on a career-high mark despite showing relatively little on each of his last two starts. The yard is not renowned for scoring big handicap successes on the flat, so with doubts over his current form, he is readily passed over here.
Stay Well
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Jason Hart
Is now without a win since October 2021 and he remains still harshly treated by the handicapper. He hinted at a slight return to form behind Savvy Knight at Kempton last time, but he does need to take another step forward here. The booking of Jason Hart does catch the eye though and at the foot of the weights, they could well get involved.
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes Betting Tips
If fully over whatever problems have kept him away from the track, the horse I am most interested in is Nagano. He has been a model of consistency for Roger Varian and David Egan and looks sure to go well if fully wound up to go.
There is any amount of dangers though and top of the lot is the unexposed Aimeric. Four-year-olds who won last time out have a good record in this race and he should also improve for that run.
Teumessias Fox has a similar profile and Andrew Balding has been in red-hot form all year. Oisin Murphy will give this four-year-old every assistance from the saddle and they too are entitled to go well.
1. Nagano @ 10/1 e/w with Bet365 bonus code
2. Aimeric @ 10/1 with Bet365
3. Teumessias Fox @ 4/1 with Bet365
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
