The Buckingham Palace Stakes is a handicap run over 7f. It takes place at 18:10 on Thursday 22nd June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2023. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

12⁽²⁵⁾

518-53

Documenting

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

9-7

100

115

Retains his form really well and a close fifth in a similar C&D race to this last July (good to firm; drying ground a help) shows he could still play the game at the top table; while a win looks unlikely he could go well at a price.

9⁽⁸⁾

978-50

Accidental Agent

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

9-8

101

117

Effective on most surfaces; has a fine record on this track and he gave Vafortino a run for his money off 8lb higher in the Victoria Cup over C&D last May; not impossible that he will rise above his recent form, including here last time out, but an unlikely winner.

29⁽²⁾

32240-

Redarna

J: Neil Callan

T: Dianne Sayer

9-0

114

C&D winner who also has form at 1m on this track; popped up at a big price on his return at Thirsk last April but this reappearance could hardly be more demanding.

27⁽²²⁾

0-6121

Spanish Star

J: David Probert

T: Patrick Chamings

9-1

114

Heroic 8yo who has been a great advertisement for his trainer; incredibly, he seemed to run his best race yet when winning at Epsom 20 days ago (7f, good to firm; has won on all surfaces) but his defeats on this track have come in lesser races than this; others look more likely.

8⁽¹⁴⁾

-81762

Bopedro

J: Jason Watson

T: David O'Meara

9-8

101

113

Suited by big-field handicaps at 7f and 1m in Ireland and was a staying-on eighth in the Hunt Cup here for previous trainer in 2022; first win for this yard when successful at Newmarket in April (1m, good to soft; has won on good to firm) but needs improvement on overall handicap form.

23⁽⁹⁾

354-01

Ropey Guest

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

9-2

113

The court jester of these races as he is rarely a win bet yet has often distinguished himself at this level, finishing second in this race 12 months ago (good to firm) and later close up over C&D in September (good to soft); down the field on reappearance in the Victoria Cup but the worm turned at Goodwood last month where he won cosily; place chance again.

11⁽³⁰⁾

052304

Spirit Of Light

J: James Doyle

T: Ian Williams

9-7

100

115

Both wins in UAE and down the field in both C&D handicaps, including this one last summer; however he showed what can be done when a close third, after being slightly checked, to the subsequent Victoria Cup winner and Vafortino at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) in April; needs to show he can act on this track but might not be far away back at 7f.

14⁽³⁾

112-32

Biggles

J: Ryan Moore

T: Ralph Beckett

9-7

100

114

Unraced on good to firm; has won on good and soft; a role model in 7f handicaps, winning five in the last two years and right up to his best when runner-up in the Victoria Cup over C&D in May; this mark will take some overcoming but Ryan Moore is up for the first time so you never know.

19⁽¹⁰⁾

081-36

Baradar

J: Kevin Stott

T: George Boughey

9-4

113

Best on soft and heavy and down the field on good to firm in this race last June; won on yard debut over 7f at Doncaster in November but he couldn't improve on his third in the Lincoln in April when sixth in the Victoria Cup over C&D in May (soft; first-time tongue-tie, retained); up against it.

4⁽¹⁹⁾

01-323

Vafortino

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

9-10

103

116

Mid-division in this race last year but had won the Victoria Cup over C&D previously (good) and was a creditable third in the same race (soft) last time out; however, his favourable mark is a thing of the past and Benoit De La Sayette no longer claims 3lb.

3⁽²⁶⁾

1726-2

Rhythm Master

J: P J McDonald

T: James Horton

9-10

103

114

Finished fourth in the Group 3 Jersey over C&D in 2021 (soft; acts on good); had few chances in handicaps but he did win on debut at this level last June (AW) and ran right up to his best on Polytrack reappearance in March; needs new skills in this race.

10⁽¹¹⁾

-56811

Warrior Brave

J: W J Lee

T: Ross O'Sullivan

9-7

100

112

Had a spell when things didn't go too well but refitting blinkers may have made a difference when winning his two recent starts in Ireland (about 6f, good); asked a much bigger question back up the weights in his first attempt at 7f.

28⁽¹⁶⁾

00-800

Rhoscolyn

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

9-0

123

Some way off his best form this year and he didn't seem entirely happy on the Epsom camber at the recent Derby meeting (acts well at Goodwood); however, this honest 5yo is well suited by strongly run races at 7f, as seen by his strong-finishing third in this race 12 months ago (good to firm); his weights chance is there for all to see off 10lb lower.

21⁽¹²⁾

76-513

Northern Express

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael Dods

9-4

114

Ahead of his mark when winning at York last June (7f, good) but had every chance when fourth in a similar race to this over C&D in July; has taken another step forward over 1m of late, arguably unfortunate not to add to Thirsk win (soft) when a fast-finishing third to Croupier at York; now needs to prove equally effective back at 7f on this track.

6⁽⁶⁾

42-041

Montassib

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-9

102

118

Things didn't unfold quite as they might have when favourite for this race last year but he still ran well in fifth and another sound effort followed in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket (both on good to firm; has won on soft); rather becalmed in subsequent starts but his defeat of Star Of Orion at Newmarket in May (7f, good) was more like it; can still do better.

20⁽¹⁷⁾

194-35

Percy's Lad

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

9-4

114

Often leads; started the 2022 season with two wins at about 1m (good to firm/good) but vulnerable since winning at Chester in August and is too high in the weights to attract attention for a race like this.

17⁽¹⁸⁾

/11203

Unforgotten

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

114

Sparingly raced and first six runs on the AW, showing progressive form in 1m handicaps; modest first attempt on turf in April (good to soft) but his latest third, on good ground at Newbury, was more reassuring; proven stamina can stand him in good stead back at 7f and he should have more to give for top yard.

13⁽¹³⁾

520-53

Silent Film

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Ian Williams

9-7

100

113

Four wins up to February 2022 but he eclipsed them all form-wise with a fine second in another big C&D handicap in September (good to soft); fared less well on this track next time and is rather an unknown quantity back from a break for new yard following a £120,000 sale this month.

26⁽²⁰⁾

/15416

The Gatekeeper

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Charlie Johnston

9-1

113

Had course form as 2yo; missed 2022 but in good form this year, winning twice at 7f (AW and good), albeit with his latest sixth behind Montassib at Newmarket leaving him with something to prove in this stronger race.

15⁽²³⁾

151-01

Croupier

J: William Buick

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-6

116

Copes with good to soft at a push but suited by good or quicker and the AW, the one defeat in 7f and 1m handicaps under those conditions coming after a layoff; only just made it at York in May but a strongly run 7f might well be in his repertoire; not done with from a handicapping viewpoint.

22⁽¹⁾

059-40

Great Max

J: David Egan

T: Alice Haynes

9-4

114

Won 2yo debut on good to firm, then third in the Listed Chesham (7f, soft) at this meeting; never really got his bearings as 3yo and has not done enough for new yard in 2023 to be fancied today; cheekpieces fitted.

16⁽²⁹⁾

08-570

Toimy Son

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

9-6

109

Three wins in France, the latest a 7f Listed event on good to soft last May (the other wins at 6f on soft and heavy); has not yet come up to any sort of scratch for new yard, including in the Victoria Cup over C&D in May; first-time headgear needs to be a massive help.

7⁽²⁸⁾

901-78

Totally Charming

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

9-8

101

118

Unable to do himself justice in the Hunt Cup over 1m here last June, after coming into the race in fine form (on AW/good ground), but he ended the year with an impressive 7f win at Doncaster (heavy); slow to find form in 2023, including when favourite for the Victoria Cup here in May, but there should be a nice prize in him at some stage; yard won the race in 2022.

18⁽⁷⁾

6131-1

Lir Speciale

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

9-4

113

Winner of 6f events on turf (maiden and a handicap); has improved for 7f since and best effort when returning from a break and being gelded to win in good style on Kempton AW in May; up 7lb but is on the rise for his leading yard; one of the more interesting ones.

25⁽¹⁵⁾

226410

Tylos

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-2

111

Front-runner; excelled himself when beating Gorak by a wide margin in a four-runner race at Leicester in April (7f, heavy) but back to earth with a bump when fading in the Victoria Cup over C&D since; high in weights now.

1⁽²⁷⁾

172214

Gorak

J: James McDonald

T: Charlie Fellowes

9-12

105

107

Two 7f handicap wins (soft and good to firm) this year but he sabotaged his handicap mark by finishing a close fourth in a recent Group 3 and will do well to play a part off 22lb higher than his latest success in May.

5⁽⁴⁾

7/1114

Kingdom Come

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Clive Cox

9-9

102

118

Missed the Victoria Cup here because of soft ground but highly progressive at 7f on Kempton AW previously, giving weight to a subsequent big winner in April; the race didn't unfold in his favour when upped to 1m at Newbury in May but he remains one to be interested in.

2⁽²⁴⁾

202025

Witch Hunter

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Richard Hannon

9-10

103

112

Had some good results on the AW in recent months but a narrow defeat in a 6f conditions stakes cost him dear from a weights perspective and it would be surprising if he broke his turf duck in this top handicap.

24⁽²¹⁾

072-79

Spangled Mac

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Boughey

9-2

115

Has course form at 6f; five wins at up to 7f in 2022 but he exhausted the handicapping options later in the year and this is a more competitive race than he's used to; tongue tied at Meydan early in 2023 but not today.

RACING POST TIP

Montassib

His draw on the flank was a hindrance to MONTASSIB in this race 12 months ago but he still put a up a good show in fifth considering he also didn't get the clearest of runs and the 5yo can add to his smart win over Star Of Orion at Newmarket last time out. The AW improvers Kingdom Come (second choice), who will be happier back at 7f after running over 1m on turf last time out, Lir Speciale and Unforgotten are all capable of big runs while Ropey Guest, who has enriched each-way punters several times in these races, can have another say following his Goodwood win. The handicapper has extended an olive branch to Rhoscolyn whose third in this race last June puts him on the premises, while Croupier is progressing and can go well back down to 7f. Biggles, Vafortino and Northern Express are other contenders along with Totally Charming who shouldn't be written off despite disappointing here in May.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	Inver Park [2]	4	9-1	12/1	George Boughey	Ben Curtis
2021	Highfield Princess [31]	4	8-11	18/1	John Quinn	Jason Hart
2020	Motakhayyel [26]	4	9-3	14/1	Richard Hannon	Jim Crowley
2014	Louis The Pious [29]	6	9-4	33/1	David O’Meara	Silvestre De Sousa
2013	Lightning Cloud [32]	5	8-13	25/1	Kevin Ryan	Neil Callan
2012	Eton Forever [11]	5	9-8	14/1	Roger Varian	Neil Callan
2011	Manassas [29]	6	9-0	12/1	Brian Meehan	Martin Dwyer
2010	Treadwell [6]	3	8-10	14/1	Jamie Osborne	Fergus Sweeney

Key race stats

At least one top-three finish within last three starts, five winners in last five runnings
Winner at Class 2 level at least, 4/5
Officially rated 92 to 99, 4/5
Carried no more than 9st 4lb, 4/5
Aged four or five, 4/5
Won or placed in a handicap with at least 20 runners, 4/5

Other factors

Two winners had yet to score at the trip.
All five winners were priced between 14-1 and 33-1.

What happened last year?

Won in 2021 by star mare Highfield Princess, George Boughey and Ben Curtis teamed up for Royal Ascot glory this time with Inver Park. Sent off at 12-1, the five-year-old came with his run on the far side rail, mounting a strong challenge and scoring by a length. Plenty of rank outsiders filled the places, with 40-1 shot Ropey Guest in second, 33-1 chance Rhoscolyn in third and 16-1 shot Chiefofchiefs finishing fourth.

Buckingham Palace Stakes

18:10 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races