The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a handicap run over 1m4f. It takes place at 16:25 on Friday 21st June, which is the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2024. 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

11⁽²²⁾

2/24-1

Bague d'Or

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

9-3

112

Did well upped to 1m6f in 2022, including a win here; absent 391 days before good second to Marhaba The Champ at York (1m4f) last August and a very solid record in handicaps, particularly on good or good to firm, was bolstered with a 1m6f win at Newmarket on 2024 reappearance; 5lb rise demands better still but he needs respect.

20⁽¹³⁾

/23-22

Ziggy

J: Tom Marquand

T: Harry Eustace

9-0

113

Unraced on firmer than good; 451 days off before this season and returned with two seconds, latterly at Epsom (1m4f) on Derby Day; remains well treated judged on his AW exploits two winters back.

12⁽¹⁵⁾

11-38

Party Central

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

9-3

108

Useful hurdler who won last year on first two Flat starts; Tuesday's never-nearer eighth of 16, beaten about 5l, in the Copper Horse here (1m6f, good to firm) was clearly her best form on the Flat, but it showed that more is needed and did not suggest that this shorter trip would help.

5⁽¹¹⁾

7217-5

Safecracker

J: William Buick

T: J P Murtagh

9-8

101

111

In career-best form last summer, notably when a strong finish saw him take a good handicap at the Curragh (1m4f, good to firm); made a promising reappearance behind Crystal Black over 1m2f four weeks ago and should be primed for a good run today.

19⁽⁹⁾

9/115-

Sheer Rocks

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

9-0

114

Gelded before 1m4f wins at Ascot (soft) and Epsom (good to firm; comfortably) on first two starts last season; close fifth at Haydock in July; not seen since but he can clearly go well fresh and needs a second look.

4⁽¹⁷⁾

3/250/

Mandoob

J: Sean Levey

T: Brian Meehan

9-10

103

Lightly raced 6yo; had wind surgery before a very good front-running second in C&D Listed race (good) in May 2022, followed by two lesser efforts that summer; had further wind surgery that November but not seen since; 714-day absence has to prompt caution but the 2022 reappearance run means he is not ruled out completely.

3⁽⁴⁾

131-11

Crystal Black

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard Keane

9-10

103

112

Unraced on officially firmer than good; sank in the weights initially last term but has now won four of his last five starts and went close in the other, all at the Curragh; first and third of those wins were 1m but the other two were gained with late challenges at 1m2f, first for a big prize last September and then getting there in the nick of time four weeks ago when runner-up Deakin got first run on him; on a major roll and and although this is his first run beyond 1m2f in his 18th race, he looks bred to stay.

13⁽⁶⁾

2104-1

Sea King

J: Luke Morris

T: Harry Eustace

9-3

112

3-10 in handicaps, with a career best to win from off the pace at Ripon (1m4f, soft) in April on reappearance this term despite a troubled passage; back up 3lb but the ground (unraced on good to firm since a 2022 win) poses the bigger question.

1⁽¹²⁾

11127-

Kolossal

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-12

105

112

Formerly trained in Germany and has won five of her 16 races, including a hat-trick (one Listed race and two Group 3s) over 1m2f-1m4f in Germany/Italy last May-July; sold for 200,000euros last December; needs to resume in peak form in this handicap and was 12-1 when getting loose before her intended British debut at Lingfield nearly six weeks ago.

10⁽⁷⁾

6019-0

Marhaba The Champ

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Kevin Ryan

9-3

113

Scored twice on good to firm at York last season, latterly when upped to 1m4f at the Ebor meeting; ran poorly elsewhere on his other three starts (two on good to firm) last term, gelded after final outing, and did not show much when second favourite back at York last month; that's a worryingly hit-and-miss record but at least the ground should suit.

7⁽¹⁰⁾

1310-6

Cumulonimbus

J: Hollie Doyle

T: George Baker

9-4

113

Progressed into useful handicapper on turf for Charlie Fellowes, winning three times from the front (1m4f/1m2f) in cheekpieces last summer; sold for 150,000gns in October and the AW may have provided an excuse in January on only run since; tongue tied first time that day but without cheekpieces, which now return; has also now had wind surgery; probably needs a career best.

8⁽¹⁶⁾

/670-6

Epic Poet

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

9-4

111

French 1m2f Listed win in 2022; well beaten for the Meades last year in Listed race, Group 3 and a top handicap; gelded before the latter; fetched 48,000gns in October and never-dangerous sixth of 16 in handicap at York (1m2f, good) five weeks ago was a step back in the right direction; not proven over this far (one attempt last term) but very well handicapped on 2022 form.

NR⁽¹⁴⁾

55-510

Teumessias Fox

T: Andrew Balding

9-12

105

113

Has gained all three of his handicaps wins over 1m4f, the most recent at Kempton (comfortably off 6lb lower) in January; flopped at Newcastle in March on his only run since, reviving memories of how his initial 2023 form (two wins) was not repeated in that campaign, starting when 15th of 18 as favourite for this race on good to firm.

NR⁽¹⁾

/2512-

La Yakel

T: William Haggas

9-7

100

112

Lightly raced 5yo; C&D winner in 2022 and went close here last July on 2023 reappearance, both on good to soft; career-best form last autumn on his latest two runs but they were over 1m2f on soft and he was withdrawn once last summer when the ground was good to firm.

17⁽⁸⁾

42-903

Struth

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Charlie Johnston

9-1

114

Versatile tactically and on ground; won at Chester (1m4f) last May on seasonal debut; 0-13 since and with rather a mixed record form-wise, but he was back near his best when third at Haydock 13 days ago; cheekpieces (absent last time but worn on previous seven starts) return; case can be made.

14⁽²⁾

11-612

Fairbanks

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-1

115

Big improver when upped in trip and visored last summer, winning turf handicaps over about 1m4f at Haydock, Leicester and Goodwood, the last two of which were on good to firm; another significant step forward when making all in good style at Newcastle (AW) this May, followed by a good second at Hamilton (1m5f, good) 19 days ago, so he is firmly in the mix.

18⁽⁵⁾

-53525

Vaguely Royal

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-1

113

Wore cheekpieces over 2m/1m6f last four starts, running well in three; that includes when back to turf over 1m6f the last twice but others are more convincing for race of this nature, including as he's back at 1m4f.

21⁽³⁾

703-11

Tony Montana

J: David Egan

T: Michael Bell

9-0

112

Well beaten facing stiff task at this meeting last year, his only run on good to firm; best efforts were the wins at Chester and Windsor on his two starts this season, both over about 1m2f on good; the latter was in a blanket finish but the last-gasp nature of his win gives some encouragement for this second crack at 1m4f off 2lb higher.

9⁽²¹⁾

4411-2

Deakin

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-4

112

Hit form when winning a Roscommon maiden and Thurles handicap last autumn, both over about 1m4f on softer than good once cheekpieces were enlisted; always prominent and quickened on 2f out at the Curragh (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) on reappearance, only to have Crystal Black collar him on the line but that was a promising start to his 4yo campaign.

16⁽¹⁸⁾

431-2

Ethical Diamond

J: Ryan Moore

T: W P Mullins

9-1

118

Fetched 320,000gns after winning a 1m4f maiden at Limerick last June; juvenile hurdling career came up well short but he looks a better fit for the Flat, pipped in a handicap at Leopardstown (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) last month and that form has been boosted; he has more to give and looks a leading contender.

15⁽¹⁹⁾

23412-

Shadow Dance

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

9-1

115

Twice turned over at short odds but he left that form behind when upped to 11.6f for a clearcut win at Haydock (good; unraced on firmer) last September on handicap debut; travelled up best and kept on well when close second of ten in valuable handicap at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) in October; gelded since and raised 6lb but he looks just the sort to make further progress.

RACING POST TIP

Shadow Dance

It's easy to see why Ethical Diamond has been made the clear favourite, with last month's Flat return containing so much promise, but the reappearing SHADOW DANCE could also be a horse to follow this season. They are relatively lightly raced and bring striking potential. Crystal Black was first, Deakin second and Safecracker fifth when they met over 1m2f at the Curragh four weeks ago and, while all three are respected, the positions may be reversed this time. Fairbanks is another who should go well.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Okita Soushi [9]	5	9-9	9/1	Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Candleford [18]	4	8-12	11/2	William Haggas	Tom Marquand
2021	Quickthorn [19]	4	9-3	7/2F	Hughie Morrison	Oisin Murphy
2020	Scarlet Dragon [12]	7	9-2	33/1	Alan King	Hollie Doyle
2019	Baghdad [12]	4	9-8	7/2F	Mark Johnston	Ryan Moore
2018	Dash Of Spice [14]	4	9-3	7/2F	David Elsworth	Silvestre De Sousa
2017	Rare Rhythm [19]	5	9-2	20/1	Charlie Appleby	William Buick
2016	Kinema [19]	5	9-4	8/1	Ralph Beckett	Fran Berry
2015	Arab Dawn [21]	4	9-2	6/1J	Hughie Morrison	Richard Hughes
2014	Arab Spring [12]	4	9-10	11/4F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Achieved best RPR in a Class 2 or 3 handicap, 10/10
Drawn in double figures, 9/10
Aged four or five, 9/10
Top-three finish last time, 7/10 (six won)
Officially rated between 96 and 102, 7/10

Other factors

Five of the last ten winners started favourite, including one joint-favourite.

What happened in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last year?

OKITA SOUSHI was third in the Copper Horse the year previous, and stays 2m, so he really needed a strong gallop at this trip. That’s exactly what the race provided, and he proved game in delivering his challenge down the outside. Hms President, was also suited by the race’s pace scenario and had every chance back in trip off a career-high mark. Live Your Dream, back in cheekpieces, got across from a wide draw and stuck on well into third.

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

16:25 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes last year?

All Races