The Windsor Castle Stakes is a listed contest run over 5f. It takes place at 17:35 on Wednesday 21st June, which is the second 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

9⁽¹⁷⁾

313

Hackman

J: James Doyle

T: Hugo Palmer

9-5

£130,000 yearling; stepped up from his Newmarket debut when making all in a five-runner Chester maiden (5f, soft) last month; ran to a similar level when third of ten in Sandown Listed event (5f, good) a fortnight later, finishing a length behind World Of Darcy; others look stronger.

1⁽⁶⁾

Action Point

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-5

Sent off a warm favourite when making a winning debut at Kempton (5f, AW) in April, but beaten just over 2l by Maximum Impact in a conditions event over C&D (good) last month; no obvious reason why he should reverse the placings and he looks up against it; stable won this in 2018.

18⁽²⁴⁾

1350

Myconian

J: Tom Marquand

T: Amy Murphy

9-5

Made a winning debut at Saint-Cloud (4.5f, very soft) in March but has not built on it in three starts since, beating just one home in the Woodcote at Epsom (6f, good to firm) latest; tongue-tie now added to the blinkers he wore last time; could be considered only if the ground turned soft.

20⁽⁹⁾

Sergeant Wilko

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-5

Beaten a neck on Musselburgh debut (5f, good to soft) in April and built on that when winning a Thirsk maiden (5f, soft) a fortnight later; Bombay Bazaar finished 4l behind him last time and although that rival has improved plenty since, that form makes him a contender even though he would have something to prove on good or faster ground; stable won this in 2012.

2⁽²⁾

Alabama

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-5

Well bred but a beaten favourite both starts, finishing third of six on his Cork debut (5f, soft to heavy) in April and fourth of eight at the Curragh (6f, good) a fortnight ago; probably capable of better and blinkers are now given a go, but Ryan Moore prefers stablemate Johannes Brahms.

15⁽¹³⁾

Maximum Impact

J: Kevin Stott

T: Alice Haynes

9-5

106

Not sure quite what he achieved when winning a five-runner Leicester novice (5f, heavy; flag start) by 12l in April, but he looked useful when beating Action Point by just over 2l in a conditions event over C&D (good) last month; connections now reach for a tongue-tie, but he looks a big player provided his middle draw doesn't prove a negative.

22⁽¹⁰⁾

Sir Bolton

J: David Egan

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

9-5

155,000euros yearling who made a promising debut at Yarmouth (5f, soft; 5-4) in April, finishing second past the post (promoted to first having been carried markedly left); open to improvement but needs it and it's probably significant that Kevin Stott deserts him for Maximum Impact.

7⁽²¹⁾

Fusterlandia

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Richard Hannon

9-5

135,000gns yearling; beaten a neck at Leicester (6f, good to firm) in May and went down by less than a length behind Bombay Bazaar in a good conditions event at Beverley (5f, good to firm) 11 days ago; 4lb worse off with that rival, however, and Kevin Stott sides with Maximum Impact.

12⁽¹⁵⁾

Johannes Brahms

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-5

104

200,000gns yearling who was sent off 5-6 for his Naas debut (6f, good to yielding) last month but was forced to battle hard to come out on top; form doesn't look anything special, but no surprise if he takes a big step forward from that and he's respected for stable that has won this race three times since 2015; middle draw could be an issue, however.

19⁽¹⁾

221

Scoops Ahoy

J: Jason Watson

T: David O'Meara

9-5

Runner-up at Beverley (5f, good to soft/soft) in his first two starts and probably didn't need to improve in order to justify short odds in a five-runner Hamilton maiden (5f, good to firm) seven days ago; has plenty more on his plate.

5⁽¹²⁾

311

Bombay Bazaar

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

9-5

104

Progressive in three starts, winning his last two over 5f at Beverley (good to soft/good to firm) including a valuable conditions event 11 days ago when he beat Fusterlandia by just under a length; more will be needed again to win this, but very much suited by a stiff 5f and frame material if his draw doesn't prove a problem; stable won this in 2010.

3⁽³⁾

Barnwell Boy

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

9-5

107

5-1 for his Goodwood debut (6f, good) under Oisin Murphy last month and most impressive in making all and pulling just over 4l clear of a subsequent winner; looks a speedy type and should have no problem with the drop to a stiff 5f, so high on the list.

26⁽²⁶⁾

World Of Darcy

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: K R Burke

9-5

Made a winning debut at Pontefract (5f, good) last month, beating a subsequent dual winner; no match for a hugely impressive stablemate in Sandown Listed event (5f, good; Hackman third) 22 days later but that was a useful effort, after which he was immediately nominated for this; major contender for yard enjoying a wonderful season with its 2yos.

13⁽⁵⁾

524

Lieutenant Rascal

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: George Scott

9-5

Has shown ability in all three starts, latest when fourth of eight in first-time blinkers (now removed) behind Ganesha in a Hamilton maiden (5f, good to firm) three weeks ago; unlikely to be troubling the principals here; stable also runs Seven Questions.

23⁽⁸⁾

Supersonic Man

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-5

100

22-1 when fourth of five behind River Tiber on his Naas debut (5f, good) last month, but improved to win a conditions event at Tipperary (5f, good) nine days later; will need to step up again but that's quite possible and he shouldn't be passed over at all lightly.

21⁽²³⁾

Seven Questions

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: George Scott

9-5

Showed promise despite greenness when fourth of 14 on his Redcar debut (5f, good to firm; behind Hala Emaraaty and Big Evs) last month and improved when neck second of eight at Yarmouth (5f, good to firm) ten days later; will need to take a huge step forward to mix it at this level though.

10⁽²⁰⁾

Hala Emaraaty

J: Kieran O'Neill

T: Alice Haynes

9-5

£14,000 2yo (April) who made £150,000 on Monday; narrow winner of both starts, a Ripon maiden (5f, soft) and a Redcar novice ( 5f, good to firm) where he just got the better of Big Evs with Seven Questions back in fourth; faces a much stiffer task here and stable fields a stronger candidate in Maximum Impact.

17⁽⁷⁾

Muqtahem

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

9-5

Fair form on debut when third of seven at Hamilton (5f, good; Lieutenant Rascal second) last month and stepped up from that when making all in a Pontefract novice (6f, good to firm) seven days later; still looked green but plenty more will be needed from him in order to figure in this company.

25⁽¹⁸⁾

Up The Manor

J: Colin Keane

T: Jack Jones

9-5

11-1 and knew his job when beating his 13 rivals on debut in a Doncaster novice (5f, good) last month; open to improvement but he needs to step forward considerably and runner-up has since been beaten in a seller.

24⁽²⁵⁾

Two Tribes

J: Hayley Turner

T: Richard Spencer

9-5

Both starts over 6f on the AW, finishing second of six at Wolverhampton last month but faring no better when fourth of ten at Lingfield 15 days ago; switch to turf, drop in trip and application of cheekpieces will need to have a dramatic effect.

16⁽⁴⁾

Mayo Neighs

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

9-5

11-1 when narrowly making a winning debut at Bath (5f, firm; third has won since) last month; improvement likely but it will be needed if he is to make his presence felt here.

8⁽¹¹⁾

Ganesha

J: Rowan Scott

T: Phillip Makin

9-5

18-1 for Hamilton debut (5f, good to firm) three weeks ago but overcame greenness to get up and win by half a length; form boosted by the subsequent wins of the second and fifth and a stiff track evidently suits, but he will need to take a big step up to come out best in this field.

4⁽¹⁹⁾

Big Evs

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Appleby

9-5

17-2 for last month's Redcar debut (5f, good to firm) and showed plenty of ability in being beaten half a length into second of 14 behind Hala Emaraaty; 3lb worse off with the winner and although likely to win races in due course, it probably won't be this one.

11⁽¹⁶⁾

Inquisitively

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ollie Sangster

9-5

22-1 for his Windsor debut (6f, good to firm) last month and made a bold bid from the front, but was just worn down; subsequent wins by the third and fourth have given the form a boost and a drop to 5f shouldn't be an issue given the speed he showed, but he needs to improve a good deal to figure.

14⁽¹⁴⁾

Magnificent Match

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Robert Eddery

9-5

April foal by Goken; 11,000euros yearling; 30,000gns (May) 2yo; half-brother to French 1m7f-2m5f chase winner Magic Magician; dam French 1m 2yo winner (RPR 99), half-sister to useful French winners Black Rose (1m2f), Kappelman (5.5f/1m 2yo) and Bleu Azur (1m7f-2m5f jumps); faces a mountainous task on debut.

NR⁽²²⁾

Fandom

T: Wesley A Ward

9-5

104

170,000gns yearling who could hardly have been more impressive when making all in a maiden special weight by nearly 7l at Keeneland (5.5f, firm) in April; stable won this race in 2009 and 2014 but this representative finished only 11th of 20 when 11-1 in the Coventry Stakes here (6f, good; made most in his group) on Tuesday.

RACING POST TIP

World Of Darcy

Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last eight runnings and Johannes Brahms looks the pick of his two contenders, but whether his middle draw is an advantage remains to be seen as nine of the last ten runnings of this have been won by horses drawn close to one of the flanks. A centre-field draw may also be an issue for Maximum Impact and Bombay Bazaar, both of whom hold solid claims otherwise. Barnwell Boy made a big impression when winning on his Goodwood debut and is berthed next to the far rail, so he is very much one to consider but preference is for Karl Burke's WORLD OF DARCY who is drawn against the stands' rail. The yard is enjoying a cracking season with its juveniles and although this colt was no match for stablemate Elite Status in the National Stakes at Sandown last time, that was still a fine effort. Sergeant Wilko and Supersonic Man are others to note, as would be US challenger Fandom if bypassing Tuesday's Coventry Stakes and coming here instead.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

YEAR	WINNER [DRAW]	AGE	WGT	SP	TRAINER	JOCKEY
2022	Little Big Bear [2]	2	9-5	9/4	Aidan O’Brien, Ireland	Ryan Moore
2021	Chipotle [1]	2	9-3	22/1	Eve Johnson Houghton	Charles Bishop
2020	Tactical [20]	2	9-3	7/2F	Andrew Balding	James Doyle
2019	Southern Hills [24]	2	9-3	7/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2018	Soldier’s Call [22]	2	9-3	12/1	Archie Watson	Daniel Tudhope
2017	Sound And Silence [12]	2	9-3	16/1	Charlie Appleby	William Buick
2016	Ardad [1]	2	9-3	20-1	John Gosden	Robert Havlin
2015	Washington DC [6]	2	9-3	5/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Hootenanny [25]	2	9-3	7/2F	Wesley A Ward	Victor Espinoza
2013	Extortionist [28]	2	9-3	16/1	Olly Stevens	Johnny Murtagh
2012	Hototo [18]	2	9-3	14/1	Kevin Ryan	Phillip Makin

Key race stats

By a sire with a stamina index of 6.5f-8.1f, 9/10
Lost maiden tag, 8/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 97, 7/10
Ran two or three times, 8/10

Other factors

Fillies won five in a row (1996 to 2000), but only one has placed in the last ten years.
No winner was RPR top-rated, while seven were between 7lb and 14lb off top.

What happened last year?

The betting suggested Little Big Bear was the one they all had to beat and so it proved – but only just. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Little Big Bear was sent off the 6-5 favourite after finishing a neck second on his debut and a Naas maiden over this trip on his last start before Royal Ascot. He was driven into the lead by Ryan Moore on the far side of the track, but the market leader had to work hard as Rocket Rodney flew home on the near side, ultimately going down by only a neck. Little Big Bear stepped up to six furlongs after the Windsor Castle Stakes and routed a good field in a Group 1 on his final start of the season.

Windsor Castle Stakes

18:10 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats

What happened last year?

All Races