King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes: runner-by-runner guide

What is your favourite memory of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes? It is fair to say this race has one of the most impressive roll of honour lists which is littered with superstars, and a flick through the victors brings back some great memories, with a sensational battle between Enable and Crystal Ocean in 2019 a personal favourite.

The ground was described as good, good to firm in places on Thursday morning, with minimal rain forecast between now and Saturday, so the ground could dry out further yet. 

Despite the small field, it is certainly quality over quantity, with the top four in the ante-post market - Calandagan, Jan Brueghel, Kalpana and Rebel's Romance - all declared.

Below is a guide to the five contenders plus an early verdict. 

Trainer: Francis Graffard.

Odds: 7-4.

This French raider produced some strong efforts in defeat in Group One company after winning the 2024 King Edward VII Stakes, most notably when second behind City Of Troy in last year’s Juddmonte International, and although he finished runner-up four times in succession before easily winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time out, I don’t think you can knock his attitude, especially as he had excuses on occasions.

That victory, where he defeated Arc runner-up Adventure, should have him primed for this contest, and he looks set to face his Coronation Cup conqueror Jan Brueghel again. Connections will surely be hopeful he will reverse that form as the ground, and the race turning into a stamina test, would not have been ideal at Epsom considering he has a sharp turn of foot, and returning to quicker conditions at Ascot will be beneficial. 

Interestingly, his handler also believed he would come on for his Epsom exertions (first run for 62 days), and his latest effort suggests that may have been the case. 

He's certainly a leading contender here and could be tricky to defeat returning to the scene of his impressive Royal Ascot win. 

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.

Odds: 100-1.

Continuous set a strong gallop for Jan Brueghel to aim at in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, and will surely do the same at Ascot on Saturday.

This five-year-old has proved a shade disappointing since winning the St Leger in 2023, and has also acted as a pacemaker for other stablemates this season. With the likelihood of a small field, he should have no problem securing the lead, and it will be interesting to see how the tactical battle unfolds.

It would also be a big shock if he was somehow good enough to make all based on recent efforts, and this is a tough task against strong opposition. 

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.

Odds: 15-8.

Has looked a difficult ride on occasions, but there’s no doubting he’s a high-class performer, and last year’s St Leger winner arrives here following a career-best effort when winning the Coronation Cup. 

Aidan O’Brien’s charge improved bundles from his seasonal return there, with the step back up in trip suiting, and showed a brilliant attitude to defeat Calandagan, despite sweating up beforehand, and showcasing his slightly awkward demeanour again. 

He was also pricking his ears at the finish suggesting he had a bit left in the tank and was perhaps not in love with the track. That effort is therefore worth upgrading, and he’s only had six starts, so should have even more to offer. 

Returning to quicker ground on Saturday will not be a hinderance (he won on good to firm at Goodwood last year) and Continuous is again likely to turn this race into a test of stamina, which will suit Jan Brueghel more than Calandagan. 

The one to beat on ratings and arriving here following a 50-day absence is another positive based on his performance at Epsom after a similar break. 

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.

Odds: 13-2.

“I’ve got a picture of this fellow on my bedside table!”, said Charlie Appleby after Rebel’s Romance claimed Royal Ascot glory last time out, and it’s easy to see why this seven-year-old is a yard favourite given his exploits over the past few years. 

Godolphin’s globetrotter has scored seven times at the highest level, plus four times in Group Two company, in a career spanning six seasons, and has amassed over £10.8m in prize money racing across the middle east, Britain, Germany, Hong Kong and the US. 

He didn’t need to be at his best to win the Hardwicke Stakes when last seen, but the figures suggest that was arguably a career-best effort on home turf, and Al Riffa boosted the form when easily winning the Curragh Cup on Sunday. 

Will he be vulnerable to younger rivals? That is a question mark as he returns to Group One company, and could only manage third (beaten over five lengths) in this contest last year. He’s yet to win a Group One in Britain, and while he is a solid contender, he probably holds place claims at best. 

Trainer: Andrew Balding.

Odds: 4-1.

Improved 40lb as a three-year-old last year having won a handicap off a rating of 78 in April and ended her season with an impressive victory in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

Her seasonal debut in the Tattersalls Gold Cup this year was full of promise given she met traffic problems and was not given the hardest time once in the clear, so it was a shade disappointing she only fared slightly better in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes when attempting to concede 12lb to Betfred Oaks runner-up Whirl last time out.

Stepping back up in trip here should suit, and while she has coped fine with good ground on her past two starts, she would not want conditions to dry out too much.

The Arc is her main target this season, though, and I expect she is being brought along steadily to peak for that contest. She also has a bit to find with the other leading protagonists on ratings, but would not need to improve much more to be competitive, and is capable of playing a role in the finish at a venue that clearly suits.

Another fascinating clash between Calandagan and JAN BRUEGHEL is on the cards, but it is the latter who makes the most appeal in a race that should be run to suit thanks to stablemate Continuous being in the field.

A strong case can be made for the French raider reversing the Coronation Cup form, and it is no surprise he's just shading favouritism following an easy victory at Saint-Cloud since. However, Aidan O'Brien's charge was value for more than the winning margin suggests at Epsom, and could take another sizeable step forward, given his low mileage. 

He will surely make his challenge before Calandagan in the straight, and will be tough to pass once more having impressed with his attitude under pressure last time out.

Another promising run from Kalpana should prove an ideal stepping stone to the Arc, and while the admiral Rebel's Romance deserves another crack at landing his first British Group One, he will need a couple ahead of him in the market to underperform if he's to strike.