The St James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 contest run over a mile. It takes place at 16:20 on Tuesday 20th June, which is the first 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

2⁽⁷⁾

31-284

Charyn

J: David Egan

T: Roger Varian

9-2

109

124

Group 2 scorer as a 2yo; has finished second in the Greenham, eighth in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas this season; useful colt but those three defeats give him something to find with several of today's rivals and also expose his limitations to some extent.

4⁽⁵⁾

41-345

Galeron

J: James McDonald

T: Charles Hills

9-2

109

123

Bagged the Goffs Million at the Curragh last September; ran well in the 2,000 Guineas (150-1 fourth) and Irish 2,000 Guineas (16-1 fifth) last month, keeping on from rear both times; however, he looks just below the top tier and is well down the pecking order in this field.

9⁽⁴⁾

152-39

Royal Scotsman

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Paul & Oliver Cole

9-2

115

129

Good third in the Coventry on this card last year and almost collared Chaldean in the Dewhurst having finished strongly; did well to finish third in the 2,000 Guineas on reappearance having failed to settle, received an early bump and mostly raced away from the first two (fared best of the high-drawn runners); disappointing favourite in the Irish version since but has clear possibilities if bouncing back.

6⁽³⁾

117-12

Isaac Shelby

J: William Buick

T: Brian Meehan

9-2

114

129

Failed to beat a rival in last year's Dewhurst; solid record otherwise and bounced right back in the Greenham at Newbury (7f, soft; scored comfortably) on reappearance, then ran well in the French Guineas at Longchamp (1m, very soft; close second); Group 2 winner on fast ground last July; brings Classic form and the possibility of further improvement, so he's a must for the shortlist.

1⁽¹⁾

111-U1

Chaldean

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Andrew Balding

9-2

119

132

Unseated rider at the start, having been bumped, in the Greenham on seasonal debut; very progressive in his completed races and was one of the leading 2yos last year, culminating in Dewhurst win (on good going; held on from strong-finishing Royal Scotsman); successful in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (on soft ground) most recently, sticking on well having raced prominently as usual; goes about his business in a straightforward and genuine manner; leading player.

5⁽⁹⁾

122-10

Indestructible

J: Kevin Stott

T: K R Burke

9-2

111

124

Creditable second behind Chaldean in a couple of major 2yo races when trained by Michael O'Callaghan, then went one better in the Craven at Newmarket on debut for Karl Burke; form dipped (finished only tenth) in the 2,000 Guineas and that effort leaves a dent on his profile.

8⁽⁸⁾

51-111

Paddington

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

116

132

Patently well treated off 97 in notable handicap at Naas (7f, heavy) on seasonal debut, then followed up in Listed grade; took another step up the ladder in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh (1m, good) where he was driven out for 2l success and took his overall form figures to 51111; fast-improving colt who should continue to do well; trainer has won this race eight times; strongly respected.

3⁽²⁾

1-11

Cicero's Gift

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

9-2

109

124

Highly promising colt who is unbeaten in three races, latest at Goodwood (1m, good to soft) where he quickened smartly to win a conditions stakes in impressive fashion and gave the firm impression he's a top-level performer in the making; other outings came on soft/AW; pedigree suggests he'll be effective on good/faster; exciting contender, given the potential he brings.

7⁽⁶⁾

1-51

Mostabshir

J: Jim Crowley

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

108

121

Perhaps needed his reappearance run in the Craven; that defeat is flanked by impressive novice performances, latest at York (1m, good to firm; made all) where he showed a bright turn of foot to quicken clear inside the final 2f and record a very useful RPR; has style and substance (form stacks up nicely); very interesting back up in class, with further progress on the cards.

RACING POST TIP

Paddington

Fast-improving PADDINGTON, who has gone from handicap success to Classic glory in the space of two months, is taken to extend his winning sequence. The way he's going, further progress looks on the cards. Progressive Chaldean is the biggest danger on the figures and commands major respect but it's by no means a two-horse affair, with several other colts having good credentials. Cicero's Gift (third choice) and Mostabshir are very promising, while Isaac Shelby and Royal Scotsman also can't be ruled out.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2022	Coroebus [2] (IRE)	3	9-2	10/11	William Buick	Charlie Appleby
2021	Poetic Flair [7]	3	9-0	7/2F	J S Bolger	Kevin Manning
2020	Palace Pier [6]	3	9-0	4/1	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Circus Maximus [1]	3	9-0	10/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2018	Without Parole [2]	3	9-0	9/4F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Barney Roy [4]	3	9-0	5/2	Richard Hannon	James Doyle
2016	Galileo Gold [7]	3	9-0	6/1	Hugo Palmer	Frankie Dettori
2015	Gleneagles [5]	3	9-0	8/15F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Kingman [7]	3	9-0	8/11F	John Gosden	James Doyle
2013	Dawn Approach [5]	3	9-0	5/4F	J S Bolger	Kevin Manning
2012	Most Improved [15]	3	9-0	9/1	Brian Meehan	Kieren Fallon

Key race stats

Rated within 7lb of RPR top rated, 8/10 (five were top-rated)
From the first three in the market, 8/10
Had won or placed in a Group 1, 7/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 130, 7/10
Had finished in the first three in a 2,000 Guineas, 6/10

Other factors

Winners who had run in a Guineas finished 121121 at Newmarket and 1122 at the Curragh. Last year’s winner Poetic Flare also ran in the French Guineas (sixth) – the first since Excellent Art in 2007 (fourth).
Four winners had run in the British and Irish Guineas, with all making the frame in both.
Without Parole in 2018 and Palace Pier in 2020 (both trained by John Gosden) are the only two winners not to have run in a Group 1 that season since Shavian in 1990.
Aidan O’Brien has won eight of the last 22 runnings.

What happened last year?

Coroebus joined an elite group when winning the race in a thrilling finish under William Buick last year. He became the sixth horse since 2010 to win this Royal Ascot race after landing the 2,000 Guineas, joining the likes of Frankel, Dawn Approach, Gleneagles, Galileo Gold and Poetic Flare on that illustrious roll of honour.

St James's Palace Stakes

16:20 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races