15:40 Ascot
Good To FirmKing Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
- First Prize: £396970
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 1
- 26 runners
ITV
Runners: 26 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 007-09 CD
OR: 106
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
Won the Listed Windsor Castle at this meeting as a 2yo; some ups and downs since, with his second to Asfoora in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York (good to firm; first-time cheekpieces) last August showing what can be done on a good day; however, he needs to rise far above two heavy defeats this year.
Form: 151-02 CD
OR: 111
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
A massive improver in 2025 as he was still cleaning up in handicaps in the spring before nipping home to win this race (good to firm) from Frost At Dawn; down the field on first run since, at York in May, but he came on a ton to chase home Night Raider at Haydock (5f, good to soft) latest; likely to pull out the stops for another excellent effort.
Form: 2510-7 CD
OR: 117
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Colt
6f winner here last April; best form at that trip in Group 1s since, going down narrowly in the July Cup at Newmarket (good to firm) and later winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock (good) last September; beaten favourite at Goodwood (good to soft) in between when having a rare 5f run but this stiffer test at the trip and quicker ground will suit; needs extra all the same.
Form: 41-138 CD
OR: 109
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
One of his best domestic efforts when winning a C&D handicap last July; seemingly improved when successful in 5f Listed and Group 2 events at Meydan (yielding and good) in midwinter but has much more to do in this company.
Form: 213-37 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Gelding
Unraced as 2yo; made good progress in 2025, ending with a Listed third of ten over C&D (soft) but, after a satisfactory return in a similar race at Naas (good) in April, he was never involved in the Group 2 at Haydock won by Night Raider; aiming high today.
Form: 57-114 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
3-30 turf strike-rate doesn't do justice to his ability and he confirmed his recent improvement when a highly creditable fourth, again from the front, in a Group 2 at Haydock (good to soft; acts well on good) in May; this stiffer track and tougher opposition are likely to count against him.
Form: 160-49 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 6 yo Colt
Best form on sharp tracks; never better than for a Group 2 win at Goodwood (5f, good to soft) last August but well held in the Nunthorpe at York next time on his sole attempt at a Group 1 in Britain; has work to do.
Form: 450-11 D
OR: 112
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Turned his back on a brilliant AW career and, after some fruitless efforts on turf in 2025, as when fading into mid-division in this race, the switch has paid off handsomely since he was gelded, the usual front-running tactics working well at Newmarket (good to firm) before he showed he doesn't have to lead when arriving late for a cosy Group 2 win at Haydock (also 5f, good to soft) in May; this stiff 5f asks a question but he could achieve yet more.
OUR TIP
Form: 9423-4 D
OR: 116
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 7 yo Gelding
The latest in a long line of terrific Australian sprinters to grace this meeting; winless since impressing from the widest draw in a Group 1 at his native Ascot in late 2024 but he's run many fine races since, including in the Group 1 Everest (6f, good) last October when having second place taken from him only near the line; that would have been strong form even without the winner Ka Ying Rising, the world's top sprinter, and he should have the speed to hold his usual prominent position back over 5f; solid chance.
Form: 5560-2 CD
OR: 110
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 6 yo Gelding
Acts well on good or quicker; Listed winner over C&D; has had excuses for two Group 1 defeats at 5f in Britain, not ideally drawn in this race last June and checked in his run in the Nunthorpe at York in August, albeit still doing well in the latter in fifth of 17 to Asfoora; useful comeback at Newmarket in April when a close second to Night Raider; can be thereabouts.
Form: 121-30 CD
OR: 107
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Gelding
Ended 2025 with 5f Listed wins at Beverley (good to firm) and over C&D (soft) either side of a Group 2 second to First Instinct at Newbury; has a lot to find on those efforts and also on this year's runs for a new yard.
Form: 0/74-6 DBF
OR: 109
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Colt
Smart 5f form as 3yo included close third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York and a win in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (firm); just four runs since, best of those when fourth of 20 in this race last year when ending up away from the main action; went to stud after (that career is on hold for now) and needs his recent Carlisle reappearance to have brought him on plenty.
Form: 171-00 CD
OR: 113
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 7 yo Mare
Superb Australian mare who was produced to perfection to win this in 2024 (good to firm); her preparation didn't go well last year when only fifth but she later added two more Group 1 wins in the Nunthorpe at York and the Abbaye at Longchamp; well below best in two runs this year (without regular blinkers which now return with tongue-tie added) but the wet winter in Britain would have been a shock to her system and she's not at all ruled out.
Form: 81-615 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 6 yo Mare
Improved form when winning a 5f Listed race at Bath (good) in April; finished a creditable fifth of eight in a similar Carlisle race (good to firm) since but she's up a gum tree at this level.
Form: 5410-9 D
OR: 106
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Useful 5f form as a 3yo, inching forward again when gaining a narrow win over Shagraan in a Group 3 at Newbury (5f, good to soft; acts on good) last September; she was entitled to need the run behind Night Raider at Newmarket in April but a big advance on her form is needed.
Form: 430-08 D
OR: 106
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Has only ever won three races but there's no doubting how smart she is when getting good to firm ground, as when beaten by only American Affair in the 2025 running and a later third to Asfoora in the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York; it's easy to excuse two defeats in 2026 and look forward to another solid show.
Form: 152542 D
OR: 92
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Useful handicapper whose three wins have all come on the AW, most recently over 5f in January; faces a daunting task this time.
Form: 865-65 D
OR: 104
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 6 yo Mare
Had a brainstorm before this race last year when refusing to go in the stalls but she'd impressed the time before when winning a Group 2 at Haydock (5f, good); some respectable efforts in Group races over the last 12 months haven't suggested she'll be a serious threat this time.
Form: 10-745 D
OR: 101
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 6 yo Filly
Useful in 5f Listed races last year, finishing second at York (good to firm) in July and winning at Deauville (good) the following month, but hard to fancy on her Group-race form or 2026 efforts.
Form: 816-75 D
OR: 109
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Admirable close eighth of 20 in this last June (good to firm) considering she's well suited by good to soft or slower ground; showed her best colours when beating Rayevka to win Group 3 at Longchamp (5f, very soft) last September but will do well to improve on last year's run under these conditions.
Form: 26-561 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Ran a scorcher when coming from well back to finish third of 21 to Time For Sandals in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup here (6f, good to firm) last June; two defeats at Meydan this spring but she was impressive back over 5f in a Group 3 at Longchamp (soft) in May and this up-and-comer is expected by connections to improve for the return to quick ground; much respected.
Form: 411-21 D
OR: 108
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Successful over 5f in the very early days but three wins in her last four starts have all been over 6f, in Listed races at home and a Group 3 at Deauville; returns to this trip for the first time since beaten in a Listed event last July and others have much stronger claims.
Form: 137-58 CBF
OR: 109
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Her win in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (good to firm) at the Royal meeting last year was a big advance on previous form and, although she ran perfectly well back over 5f next time, when a close third to Jm Jungle in a Group 2 at Goodwood (good to soft), her overall form suggests she'll be found wanting on her first 5f run since.
Form: 133-73 BF
OR: 106
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Best 2yo form when dropped to 5f on final two starts, signing off with a close third of 12 in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (firm); he needed to progress as 3yo to have a chance today but that hasn't happened, so the first-time visor has a big job to do.
Form: 3-11
OR: 100
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Colt
Wide-margin winner of both 6f starts, on Lingfield AW and in a turf novice on that course; has potential but also a mighty task trying to cross the chasm into a Group 1 against the pros on first 5f run.
Form: 610-11 CD
OR: 110
W: 9st 1lb
Age: 3 yo Gelding
Best 2yo form over 6f, including when winning a valuable conditions race on this track; vulnerable over 5f then but speed tests at this trip have proved his forte in 2026, disposing of his rivals in two Listed races at Naas (good) quite impressively; intriguing contender back up in class.
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Betting Forecast
80/1 Aint Nobody, 8/1 American Affair, 16/1 Big Mojo, 66/1 Cover Up, 50/1 Getreadytorumble, 33/1 Jakajaro, 40/1 Jm Jungle, 7/1 Night Raider, 11/4 Overpass, 16/1 Rumstar, 66/1 Shagraan, 33/1 Starlust, 8/1 Asfoora, 150/1 Azure Angel, 66/1 First Instinct, 40/1 Frost At Dawn, 100/1 Heavenly Heather, 33/1 Mgheera, 66/1 Miss Attitude, 50/1 Monteille, 11/2 Rayevka, 33/1 Rosy Affair, 16/1 Time For Sandals, 100/1 Aspect Island, 33/1 Behike, 8/1 Mission Central
Verdict
It would be just great to see the 2024 winner Asfoora do herself justice once more and the hope is that the return of blinkers, which were a help last year, will see her put this year’s efforts behind her. However, this looks a stronger version than that in 2024, and also than last year’s when American Affair won from Frost At Dawn, and OVERPASS is taken to carry on the proud tradition of Australian sprinters at the Royal meeting. This stiff 5f shouldn’t be a problem, and he may in fact relish it, having run so well for a long way in the world’s most valuable turf race, the Everest, last October. Rayevka still has some hidden firepower to reveal over 5f and she can be the main danger ahead of Mission Central who has impressed in Listed races this year. Night Raider showed he can hoard his abundant speed when coming from off the pace to win at Haydock but this more demanding track will ask a different question. Rumstar was close behind him at Newmarket in the spring and is also worth a look, while Frost At Dawn also has a good run in her among those at big prices.[Emily Weber]