All eyes will be on Ascot Racecourse this weekend as Britain’s most prestigious open-age flat race takes centre stage. A high-quality field will go to post to contest the 2026 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with a huge purse of £2 million up for grabs in Britain’s joint-richest race on the flat.
Reigning champion Calandagan will be back to defend his crown, as the French raider bids to become the first horse since Enable to win back-to-back editions of the King George.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Schedule 2026
While the feature on Saturday is the main attraction, the King George forms only part of the two-day Ascot meeting in mid-July. Alongside group races, there will be competitive handicaps and a few listed contests across the weekend.
Friday July 24: Opening Day
Ascot’s card on Friday only whets the appetite ahead of a busy Saturday afternoon of racing. A Fillies’ Novice Stakes kicks off the action on 24 July at 14:20, with unbeaten runners such as Ash Tree and Blue Flight likely to dominate the betting.
The Listed Pat Eddery Stakes is the highest quality race on the card this Friday, with the progressive Silver Dominion likely to be hard to overlook for the Oliver Cole team.
Large, competitive fields are expected for the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (15:30), Sodexo Live! Handicap (16:05), Chapel Down Handicap (16:40), and Sodexo Live! Fillies’ Handicap (17:12).
Saturday July 25: King George Day
An eight-race card makes up a busy afternoon for the King George. The competitive Bulteel Maiden Stakes kicks off the action, with colts and geldings that have made one start or less involved. The Moet & Chandon International Handicap will likely feature a big field of runners at 14:55, while the Ascot Shop Handicap (16:10), Betfred Handicap (16:45), and Whispering Angel Handicap (17:20) round off the card.
The opening group race on Saturday is the Group Three Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes at 13:45. Dark Issue, trained by Richard Hannon, will be expected to be competitive over course and distance after finishing fourth in the G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot. Alta Regina and Moonrise are also respected, while the unbeaten Glorious Game is still improving.
Next up is the Group Three Valiant Stakes at 14:20. Touleen will have William Buick aboard after her excellent second behind Precise in the G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Saffie Osborne is chasing a second straight big winner on Saturday with the hugely progressive Secret of Life for Ralph Beckett. The three-year-old was last seen beating a talented field by two lengths on her first start over a mile in the Listed Coral Distaff.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Preview
Saturday will be all about one of Britain’s most famous races, as the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is due off at 15:35. A distance of a mile and four furlongs will be covered by a world-class field, with a purse of £2 million up for grabs.
Calandagan is the obvious starting point for Francis Graffard, who has won the last two editions of the race. The French raider will aim to emulate Enable and win the prestigious race in successive years. The five-year-old is the top-rated runner in the field, and he bounced back to winning form by landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the start of the month. It is easy to put a line through his no-show on ground softer than ideal in the G1 Coronation Cup.
Benvenuto Cellini is one of three Aidan O’Brien runners in the race, and is the expected mount of Ryan Moore. The Frankel colt bounced back after being declared a non-runner in the G1 Epsom Derby to win the Irish equivalent convincingly last month, finishing nearly two lengths clear of Christmas Day.
Kalpana was second in this race 12 months ago, but she holds a respectable record at Ascot, including when beaten a short head in the G2 Hardwicke at the Royal meeting last month. Bay City Roller looks a progressive contender for trainer George Scott after winning the G1 Coronation Cup. However, all of the colt’s best form has come on softer ground.
Japanese raider Masquerade Ball is the most interesting entry for Takashisa Tezuka. The four-year-old was beaten a head by Calandagan in the G1 Japan Cup, and was only a length behind Romantic Warrior on his sole start this season in the G1 QEII Cup.
King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Meeting: Best Bets
G3 Valiant Stakes: Secret Of Life
The second of the group races is the G3 Valiant Stakes, run over a mile. Touleen has been frustrating this term, making her easy to oppose. Instead, Secret Of Life looks like the progressive contender set to take this step up in grade in her stride.
Horses aged three have won two of the last three editions of the race, and it was hard not to have been impressed by the Ralph Beckett filly when she strode clear on her step up in trip at Sandown earlier this month. Progressive based on figures, and is likely to improve in a more hotly run race.
Moet & Chandon International Handicap: Extremely Zain
Extremely Zain looks like a group horse in a handicap this Saturday. The three-year-old has progressed rapidly for the William Haggas yard this season, winning both starts over six furlongs since being transferred from the all-weather to the turf.
He improved once again on his latest start at York, when overcoming traffic problems to still put a two-length margin between himself and his rivals. Will likely get slightly further over time, but he is still well ahead of the handicapper off a mark of 101.
G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes: Calandagan
Graffard has trained the winner of the race in the last two years, while horses aged three have won just two of the last eleven editions. Therefore, Calandagan’s striking record at Ascot (1-2-1-1) makes him hard to oppose. The French raider was electric in this race 12 months ago, and followed up with a success in the G1 Champions Stakes, beating the world’s highest-rated horse, Ombudsman.
Bar his no-show on soft ground, Calandagan has been dominant once again this season, having already won the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Factors to Consider for the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
It is always worthwhile to assess the trends before the biggest races on the British calendar, and the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is no different. You can find the key stats below:
- Previous Winning Experience: Horses that have a proven winning record over a mile and four are a must this weekend, with all 13 winners since 2013 boasting this form edge.
- Official Ratings: As one of Britain’s most prestigious races, it is unsurprising that ten of the last 12 victors have held an official rating of 118 or higher.
- Proven Group 1 Horses: Horses that have previously won at the highest level must be respected, with ten of the last 12 winners having won a Group One before landing the King George.
Keep Up To Date With TonyBet
TonyBet is the place to wager on the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with all Ascot races covered. Extra places will be offered on some of the large-field handicaps, while competitive odds are assured for all group races throughout the week.
18+ | Play Responsibly | gamblingtherapy.org | T&Cs Apply
