The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a handicap run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:40 on Friday 23rd June, which is the fourth 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

7⁽¹⁷⁾

136555

Global Heat

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-9

102

116

Found career-best form over 1m4f/1m6f at Meydan early this year but his two handicaps in Britain recently were back at his former level, suggesting that he will find others better treated.

16⁽¹¹⁾

220-21

HMS President

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

9-3

114

With same owners when stalwart of the Eve Johnson Houghton stable for the last four seasons; mostly highly competitive last term (including on good to firm) and has surged to new heights for new yard this year when second at Kempton (1m3f) and winning a valuable 16-runner race at Newmarket (1m6f, soft); up another 3lb but a leading contender.

10⁽⁷⁾

54/6-6

Tyson Fury

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Richard Spencer

9-7

100

103

No win since a C&D novice on soft ground in October 2020; peak ratings on good ground (ran respectably on his one go on good to firm) but he missed nearly all of 2022 and, after not shaping too badly on return, he bled and was tailed off when last seen in January; needs a career best.

4⁽²⁾

541593

Lucander

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: George Baker

9-10

103

113

Running well from off the pace for new yard; 2-4 on turf in Bahrain in the winter; three runs back in Britain, showing his best ever form when third of eight off this mark at Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago but others look better handicapped.

5⁽¹⁸⁾

1420/2

Live Your Dream

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-9

102

113

609 days off when co-second favourite for ten-runner handicap at Haydock (1m4f, good to firm) 13 days ago, in which he raced in touch and closed all the way to the line but was beaten half a length; wore cheekpieces on final two starts in 2021 (ran well over 2m2f first occasion) and they return today; a longer trip may be ideal.

9⁽¹³⁾

11612/

Nagano

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

9-7

100

115

Tends to race off the bridle before getting seriously competitive; would probably have gone close in the King George V Handicap over C&D (good to firm) two years ago but for major interference late on; continued his progress in two races at Goodwood (1m4f, soft-ground handicap and 1m6f Group 3) that summer but absent since; that poses the big question.

18⁽¹⁶⁾

103-90

Ajero

J: Jim Crowley

T: Kim Bailey

9-3

115

Switch to the Flat last year worked out well when he was second in this race on Flat handicap debut and won at Glorious Goodwood (1m1f, again on good to firm; 5lb higher today) next time; well held on both starts this year but latest was nevertheless a step back in the right direction; not dismissed.

6⁽⁹⁾

00-115

Okita Soushi

J: Ryan Moore

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-9

102

116

Only fourth start when third in the 1m6f Copper Horse at this meeting last year (good to firm); well beaten in two top races in his only other handicaps and odds-on when winning two non-handicaps on AW in February, not needing to be near his best; fifth in Group 3 five weeks ago won't be good enough either but he's 2lb lower than this time last year, so case can be made.

19⁽¹⁴⁾

955-83

Stay Well

J: Jason Hart

T: Hughie Morrison

9-3

114

Peak efforts on good or AW; looked back to his best when third of 14 at Kempton (1m4f, AW) on latest outing; hooded on last three; trainer has a good record in this race but three runs at Ascot have not brought out the best in this representative, most recently when ninth in this race last year.

14⁽⁵⁾

873-18

Max Mayhem

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

9-4

111

With Joseph O'Brien before this season; won useful handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW) when reappearing in April but tailed off when 4-1 at Epsom (1m4f, first run on good to firm) three weeks ago; question to answer after that.

15⁽³⁾

2213-1

Haunted Dream

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Ed Dunlop

9-3

113

Never-nearer third of 16 to Al Nafir in valuable race at Newmarket (1m4f, good; probably acts on good to firm) on final 3yo start; reliable and progressive, back with a bang to win over 1m2f on AW two months ago; up 2lb since but further success looks highly likely at some stage this summer.

NR⁽²⁰⁾

2547-5

Jack Darcy

T: Paul & Oliver Cole

9-11

104

111

Novice wins on first two starts; good fourth over 1m4f in Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood (1m4f, good to firm) and handicap at Newcastle (AW) in November; can pull hard and twice made the running, including when below form on Listed reappearance; delivering the career best he needs looks tricky.

8⁽⁴⁾

-20902

White Wolf

J: Kevin Stott

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-8

101

115

Short-headed at Meydan (soft) in January and Chelmsford (AW) 15 days ago, with the consolation that they were career-best form but both races were 1m2f; not so hot over 1m4f two and three runs back.

11⁽¹⁰⁾

/2561-

Al Nafir

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-7

100

114

Brother to top-class Ghaiyyath; ended last term in three handicaps, clear best of those efforts when winning a valuable 16-runner race at Newmarket (1m4f, good) in October by a neck; gelded and absent since; travelled strongly in that win, with the front two clear, so could have more to offer and needs a close look despite 10lb rise.

1⁽⁸⁾

16568-

Aikhal

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

9-12

105

111

Big career highlight while with Aidan O'Brien was winning Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, good) last June; no serious impact in his four starts afterwards, tried at 1m4f on first two occasions, so has questions to answer on this first run since sold for 150,000gns in October; tongue tied first time.

13⁽¹⁹⁾

190-14

Moracana

J: Robbie Colgan

T: Ms Sheila Lavery

9-4

112

Her two handicap wins last term came in 20 and 23-runner races at Leopardstown, the latter a big prize over 1m5f on soft (also acts on good, unraced on firmer); better form in two 1m4f Listed races this season, getting up in the final strides at Cork on first occasion, and she needs respect in the form of her life.

12⁽¹⁵⁾

5220-7

Maksud

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

9-6

115

Seven races, best form when runner-up off this mark at Glorious Goodwood (1m4f, good) in his first handicap; never figured over 1m2f at Chester on reappearance but worth a second look for trainer who won this race in 2003, 2010, 2015 and 2021.

3⁽⁶⁾

207-11

Teumessias Fox

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-11

104

119

Ran creditably in defeat twice over C&D (good to firm) last year, including at this meeting; gelded before proving a revelation when winning easily this season over 1m4f at Kempton (AW) and Newmarket (Guineas day); raised another 7lb but that may underestimate him.

17⁽¹⁾

1810-1

Aimeric

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

9-3

117

Rather mixed displays last term (well beaten twice over 1m6f at York) but had gelding and wind operations before justifying favouritism when he reappeared at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago; has had only seven races, so his 4lb rise could be offset by further improvement.

RACING POST TIP

HMS President

It was 2008 when this race was last won from a single-figure draw, by one who made all. Aimeric and Teumessias Fox look the most interesting candidates among those drawn low this time but preference is for something out a bit wider. HMS PRESIDENT is battle-hardened and in the form of his life, looking sure to run well again today. He gets the vote although the potential of his 4yo opponents in particular has to be feared, including from the Appleby-trained Al Nafir (second choice) who now gets his first opportunity this season to show his hand. Maksud, Haunted Dream and Moracana also need a positive mention.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
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
2013	Opinion [10]	4	9-0	8/1	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore
2012	Camborne [12]	4	9-4	11/2F	John Gosden	William Buick

Key race stats

Drawn in double figures, 10/10
Aged four or five, 9/10
Achieved best RPR in a Class 2 or 3 handicap, 9/10
Officially rated between 95 and 99, 8/10
Top-three finish last time, 8/10 (six won)

Other factors

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

What happened last year?

No winner of this race had emerged from a single-digit draw in the past decade and that played out again, with the first three home drawn in ten or higher, along with the fifth and sixth. Candleford, who was making his seasonal reappearance after a 219-day break, tore the field apart and scooted clear to win by six lengths, with handicap debutant Ajero back in second. Contact, who was seeking a hat-trick, did best of those held up to finish third.

Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

15:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races