The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is one of five championship contests run on British Champions Day. It takes place over 1m on the straight course, just like the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but unlike that race, is open to horses aged three and over as opposed to four.

Run since 1955, the race has been fortunate enough to host some of the greatest ever flat horses. The likes of Brigadier Gerard, Dubai Millennium and Frankel all appear on the roll call of illustrious honours.

The 2026 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes takes place at Ascot on Saturday 17th October at 3.20pm. Here is our tip for the race, along with the full racecard, the key trends and the latest betting offers.

2026 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Tips

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri is our tip for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The former National Stakes winner was hampered when fifth in the Sussex Stakes and then bounced back to win the Celebration Mile at Goodwood by three and a half lengths. This is his final run before he retires to stud, and he looks overpriced in an open renewal.

15:20 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Group 1)

Zavateri

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Result

5th 12/1

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Favourites Runners & Form

Eleven runners go to post for the 2026 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and it looks one of the most open renewals in years.

Charlie Appleby’s supplemented Talk Of New York heads the market after winning the Joel Stakes. French 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques le Marois winner Rayif and top-rated Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad are close behind, while Queen Anne winner Ten Bob Tony, Marois runner-up Zeus Olympios and Park Stakes winner More Thunder all have chances.

Check out the runners, riders and latest odds for the 2026 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes below.

15:20 Ascot

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Group 1)

• Going Good
• Distance 1m 0f 0y
• Class Class 1
• Race Type Flat Turf
• Surface Turf
• Runners 11
• Win Time 1m 39s

Prize Money

• 1st £623,810
• 2nd £236,500
• 3rd £118,360
• 4th £58,960
• 5th £29,590
• 6th £14,850

GG Edge Standard Compact

Win% is implied from the betting forecast

1st 10 (8) 4 tips Talk Of New York W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

3/1 (Won)

J: William Buick T: Charlie Appleby

OR: 120 RPR: 130 Form: 311321

GG Racing Score 64% Ability 8/10 Draw — Jockey 7/10 Trainer 4/10 Course 3.6/10 Distance 7.8/10

2nd 4 (3) 2 tips Ten Bob Tony W: 9st 6lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

7/1

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Ed Walker

OR: 121 RPR: 130 Form: 811442

GG Racing Score 49% Ability 8/10 Draw — Jockey 1/10 Trainer 2/10 Course 5.7/10 Distance 4.4/10

3rd 9 (1) 3 tips Rayif W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

10/1

J: Christophe Soumillon T: F-H Graffard

OR: 120 RPR: 130 Form: 13-151

GG Racing Score 63% Ability 8/10 Draw — Jockey 4/10 Trainer 5/10 Course — Distance —

4th 8 (6) Needle Match W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

150/1

J: Cieren Fallon T: William Haggas

OR: 106 RPR: 112 Form: 1-4027

GG Racing Score 16% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 7.5/10 Course — Distance 0.6/10

5th 11 (9) 2 tips Zavateri OUR TIP W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

12/1

J: Charles Bishop T: Eve Johnson Houghton

OR: 118 RPR: 128 Form: 4-2551

GG Racing Score 35% Ability 3.5/10 Draw — Jockey 5/10 Trainer 0/10 Course — Distance 5.6/10

6th 2 (5) Docklands W: 9st 6lb Age: 6 yo Colt

33/1

J: Billy Loughnane T: Harry Eustace

OR: 115 RPR: 125 Form: -13768

GG Racing Score 56% Ability 1/10 Draw — Jockey 9/10 Trainer 6/10 Course 10/10 Distance 6.7/10

7th 3 (4) More Thunder W: 9st 6lb Age: 5 yo Colt

15/2

J: Tom Marquand T: William Haggas

OR: 119 RPR: 129 Form: -22451

GG Racing Score 44% Ability 5.5/10 Draw — Jockey 6/10 Trainer 7.5/10 Course 1.4/10 Distance 0.6/10

8th 6 (11) 2 tips Gstaad W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

7/4

J: Ryan Moore T: A P O’Brien

OR: 125 RPR: 132 Form: -21223

GG Racing Score 83% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 9.5/10 Course 7.9/10 Distance 2.2/10

9th 1 (7) Dancing Gemini W: 9st 6lb Age: 5 yo Colt

100/1

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle T: Roger Teal

OR: 114 RPR: 126 Form: -64556

GG Racing Score 17% Ability 2/10 Draw — Jockey 2/10 Trainer 1/10 Course 0/10 Distance 3.3/10

10th 5 (10) 1 tip Zeus Olympios W: 9st 6lb Age: 4 yo Colt

12/1

J: Clifford Lee T: K R Burke

OR: 119 RPR: 129 Form: -33412

GG Racing Score 58% Ability 5.5/10 Draw — Jockey 3/10 Trainer 3/10 Course 7.9/10 Distance 10/10

11th 7 (2) 1 tip Hawk Mountain W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

33/1

J: Colin Keane T: A P O’Brien

OR: 116 RPR: 128 Form: -12367

GG Racing Score 62% Ability 3.5/10 Draw — Jockey 8/10 Trainer 9.5/10 Course 3.6/10 Distance 8.9/10

Non-runners

Rogue Diplomat, Bow Echo, Cercene

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£21.20
Straight Forecast	£24.10
Tricast	£191.03
Trifecta	£110.70

Selections

D Express:

Zeus Olympios

Daily Mail:

Ten Bob Tony

Daily Mirror:

Talk Of New York

Daily Record:

Rayif

LAMBOURN:

Ten Bob Tony

NEWMARKET:

Talk Of New York

POSTDATA:

Talk Of New York

RP RATINGS:

Gstaad

SPOTLIGHT:

Zavateri

TOPSPEED:

Hawk Mountain

Telegraph:

Talk Of New York

The Guardian:

Rayif

The Star:

Zavateri

The Sun:

Rayif

The Times:

Gstaad

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Racecourse 

Though it can host races over 1m on the round course too, the straight course is utilised for this contest. This is the same track used for the Queen Anne Stakes and every handicap hosted over 1m at the royal meeting.

The race is open to any horse aged three and upwards, and can be contested by both colts and fillies. The Classic generation has dominated of late, but horses aged five have also been victorious in the last decade too.

In big-field races, the pace bias can actually help those held up, while the track bias is only recognisable come the time of the race, with it varying between the stands and far side. However, depending on how many runners turn up, smaller fields can lead to front runners dominating.

Betting Strategies for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Champions Day is one of the last flat meetings of the season, making it a good time to win some final bets on the level. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes can be betted on in numerous ways.

Each Way

33/1 shot Bayside Boy would have rewarded win backers as well as those betting each-way in 2022, but in recent years, 14/1 shot Facteur Cheval finished runner-up in 2023, while Lady Bowthorpe was a 40/1 third in 2021. Had bettors backed these horses each-way, guaranteeing money back for those finishing in the places as well as if they won, they would have returned healthily in profit.

Non Runner No Bet

This race is well prescribed from an early stage of the flat season. However, few of those early entries will actually turn up on the day. Some horses may be priced up at odds which are too tempting, but backing them with NRNB terms can ensure you do not lose out fully.

Without the Favourite

The 2015 edition was a great renewal for those who backed the runner-up in the “without the favourite” market. The winner was French great Solow, who scored at 11/10, but the runner-up, Belardo, was a 33/1 shot, and would not have traded too much shorter in the without the favourite stakes.

Are There Any Specific Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Betting Offers?

Here are the latest betting offers from our recommended bookmakers ahead of British Champions Day at Ascot.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Trends & Historic Data

Here are the key Queen Elizabeth II Stakes trends from the last ten runnings to consider before you bet.

• 6 of the last 10 winners were three-year-olds, and six run this year
• Only 3 of the last 10 favourites have won
• 3 of the last 10 winners started at 10/1 or bigger, including Bayside Boy (33/1) and last year’s 100/1 winner Cicero’s Gift
• Francis-Henri Graffard won it with The Revenant in 2020 and runs Rayif
• Aidan O’Brien last won the race with Minding in 2016 and runs top-rated Gstaad

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Past Winners