UK Horse Racing Tips

Queen Anne Stakes

Established, as the Trial Stakes, in 1840, the Queen Anne Stakes is run over a mile and, since 2003, open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2003, at which point it was closed to three-year-olds. The most famous winner is undoubtedly Frankel who, in 2012, won by 11 lengths and, in so doing, achieved the highest rating in the history of Timeform.

King’s Stand Stakes

Established, as the Queen’s Stand Plate – a shortened version of the existing Royal Stand Plate – in 1860, the King’s Stand Stakes is run over 5 furlongs and open to horses aged three years and upwards. The race was renamed following the ascession of King Edward VII in 1901 and upgraded to Group 1 status in 2008.

St. James’s Palace Stakes

Established in 1834 and upgraded to Group 1 status in 1988, the St. James’s Palace Stakes is run over a mile and restricted to three-year-olds. As such, it is often contested by horses that ran in the 2,000 Guineas or the Irish or French equivalents.The roll of honour includes Tudor Minstrel, Brigadier Gerard and Frankel, to name but three.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes

Re-introduced to the Royal Ascot programme, in its current form, in 1968, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is run over a mile and a quarter and open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2000, when it was also closed to three-year-olds.

Gold Cup

Arguably the highlight of the Royal Meeting, the Gold Cup was established in 1807, making it the oldest race of the week. The race is run over two and a half miles and open to horses aged four years and upwards. Notable winners include Sagaro, Yeats and, most recently, Stradivarius.

Commonwealth Cup

A recent addition to the Ascot programme, the Commonwealth Cup was established in 2015, at the expense of the recently-reinstated Buckingham Palace Stakes. Restricted to three-year-olds, excluding geldings, the race is run over 6 furlongs.

Coronation Stakes

Established in 1840, the Coronation Stakes is, effectively, the fillies’ equivalent of the St. James’s Palace Stakes and was upgraded to Group 1 status at the same time. It is often contested by fillies that ran in the 1,000 Guineas or the Irish or French equivalents.

Diamond Jubilee Stakes

Last, but by no means least, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes is run over 6 furlongs and open to horses aged four years and upwards. The race was established, as the All-Aged Stakes, in 1868 and has also been known as the Cork and Orrery Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes during its history. The race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2002 and closed to three-year-olds in 2015.

Comments are closed.