Headlining the second day of Royal Ascot on Wednesday, 18 June is the 1m 2f Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes of 2025 for older horses. Nine runners including a filly supplemented for the race take part.
Two French and as many Irish horses are in amongst those, meaning half the field travels from overseas for a shot at the almost £600,000 first prize. Chief among those is Los Angeles for the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable, who also runs Continuous as a pacemaker.
Re-opposing Tattersalls Gold Cup runner-up Anmaat representing Owen Burrows and Shadwell Estates takes the Irish Derby hero on again. Jerome Reynier steps Facteur Cheval up in trip after running some big races in defeat over a mile on previous visits to the UK.
Also crossing the Channel from France is Map Of Stars for Francis-Henri Graffard and Wathnan Racing. Godolphin rely on Ombudsman, who lost his unbeaten record on reappearance for the John & Thady Gosden stable.
Owner Jeff Smith rolls the dice and added Andrew Balding’s See The Fire to the Prince Of Wales Stakes in 2025 following an impressive success against fellow females at York. Karl Burke runner Royal Champion and Certain Lad from the Jack Channon stable are outsiders completing the line-up.
With springtime form in Ireland looking the key to understanding this contest, horse racing betting sites do favour those from the Tattersalls Gold Cup meeting again. We asked our experts to take punters through the field, so you can see what each of the nine in it have done.
Prince Of Wales Stakes 2025 Runners Guide
1. Anmaat
- Sire: Awtaad
- Dam: African Moonlight
- Damsire: Halling
- Age: 7
- Draw: Stall 8
- Jockey: Jim Crowley
- Trainer: Owen Burrows
- Official Rating: 123
- Form Figures: 2/132112/111/21/151-2
- Notable Wins: 2022 Prix Dollar, 2023 Prix d’Ispahan, 2024 Champion Stakes
Pulled off 40/1 shock in the Champion Stakes over course and distance here in October. Hasn’t always been easy for connections to keep sound, but ran really well when conceding race fitness and runner-up to Los Angeles in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on reappearance latest. Can come on for his first outing of campaign and versatile as regards ground. Respected.
2. Certain Lad
- Sire: Clodovil
- Dam: Chelsey Jayne
- Damsire: Galileo
- Age: 9
- Draw: Stall 9
- Jockey: George Bass
- Trainer: Jack Channon
- Official Rating: 112
- Form Figures: 11345316/564010421/134022106/2803/730062511/421221-36
- Notable Wins: 2020 Strensall Stakes, 2024 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte
Veteran with alternative entry in Wolferton Stakes on the opening day of the Royal meeting. That is more his level than the Prince Of Wales Stakes in 2025 as exposed and vulnerable to younger levels at this level. Beaten by Anmaat last season and Map Of Stars this spring. Discounted.
3. Continuous
- Sire: Heart’s Cry
- Dam: Fluff
- Damsire: Galileo
- Age: 5
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: Wayne Lordan
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 110
- Form Figures: 11/382115/513009-39594
- Notable Wins: 2023 Great Voltigeur Stakes, 2023 St Leger, 2024 Royal Whip Stakes
Possible pacemaker for stable companion Los Angeles again after similar duties at Epsom latest. This trip not much good in practice as he won the St Leger a couple of seasons ago. Must go forward over this shorter distance, but others have more speed. Easy to disregard.
4. Facteur Cheval
- Sire: Ribchester
- Dam: Jawlaat
- Damsire: Shamardal
- Age: 6
- Draw: Stall 4
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Trainer: Jerome Reynier
- Official Rating: 120
- Form Figures:
- Notable Wins: 2024 Dubai Turf
Dual runner-up in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on the Straight Mile here. Concerns about if he’s in the same form now, however, based on winter campaign in Middle East. Stays nine furlongs, but the extra one of the Prince of Wales Stakes in 2025 is an unknown. Seems better with some cut in the ground.
5. Los Angeles
- Sire: Camelot
- Dam: Frequential
- Damsire: Dansili
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 5
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Official Rating: 123
- Form Figures: 11/1311439-11
- Notable Wins: 2024 Irish Derby, 2024 Great Voltigeur Stakes, 2025 Mooresbridge Stakes, 2025 Tattersalls Gold Cup
Won both of his starts this season so far at home in Ireland. No stranger to travelling, however, and fine third in the Arc last autumn. Fought back when headed by Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup latest and confirmed form of previous run with White Birch. Ballydoyle has won this three times since 2017. Looks the one to beat.
6. Map Of Stars
- Sire: Sea The Stars
- Dam: Bateel
- Damsire: Dubawi
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 2
- Jockey: James Doyle
- Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- Official Rating: TBD
- Form Figures: 1/141-112
- Notable Wins: 2025 Prix d’Harcourt
He’s very good!
Map Of Stars proves a cut above in the Prix d’Harcourt and looks set for bigger and better things for James Doyle and @GraffardRacing! pic.twitter.com/R7nxBy7Ern
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 6, 2025
Progressing through the grades nicely. Landed Group 3 and Group 2 before chasing home Sosie in Prix Ganay latest. Winner has gone in again at Group 1 level since. Held by Ombudsman on last season’s form. Interesting contender in the Prince Of Wales Stakes of 2025 for big spending owners and ambitious trainer.
7. Ombudsman
- Sire: Night Of Thunder
- Dam: Syndicate
- Damsire: Dansili
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 1
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainers: John & Thady Gosden
- Official Rating: 117
- Form Figures: 1111-2
- Notable Wins: 2024 Prix du Prince d’Orange
Undefeated run came to an end for this colt when Almaqam got the better of him in a Sandown Group 3 on reappearance latest. Entitled to come on for that run, however, but will need to upped in grade. Stable has three wins in this since 2014. Unexposed and worth a crack at this level.
8. Royal Champion
- Sire: Shamardal
- Dam: Emirates Queen
- Damsire: Street Cry
- Age: 7
- Draw: Stall 6
- Jockey: Clifford Lee
- Trainer: Karl Burke
- Official Rating: 115
- Form Figures: 1/39/414319/5132/6201-14
- Notable Wins: 2023 Wolferton Stakes, 2025 Winter Derby
Just a neck behind Almaqam in a different Sandown Group 3 to Ombudsman on his return to turf latest following a fruitful winter on the All-Weather. Autumn campaign in Australia suggests he has plenty to find at this level, but one of the only Prince Of Wales Stakes 2025 runners to have won over course and distance after his 2023 Wolferton success during this fixture.
9. See The Fire
- Sire: Sea The Stars
- Dam: Arabian Queen
- Damsire: Dubawi
- Age: 4
- Draw: Stall 3
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Official Rating: 119
- Form Figures: 123/0542135-51
- Notable Wins: 2024 Strensall Stakes, 2025 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes
See The Fire is different class in the £160,000 @ABE_Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes! @yorkracecourse @oismurphy | @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/QIWpEExBph
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 15, 2025
Both career Group wins at York including a rout against fellow females latest. Supplemented for this race off the back of that. Beaten three lengths in fifth by Anmaat over course and distance in the Champion Stakes in the autumn. Another for the shortlist, given connections’ outlay, but does has to prove herself at this level.
Prince Of Wales Stakes 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
It’s very hard to look past LOS ANGELES, who really toughed things out in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. He battled back when challenged by Anmaat and is the younger horse. White Birch’s defections also makes his task easier, for all the Shadwell runner rates a big threat.
With question marks over the French horses and Almaqam missing, the supplemented See The Fire also enters into it, if she can replicate York form at Ascot. Ombudsman hasn’t had much racing, but his form must go up a notch in this company if he wants to get in amongst them.
