A total of 27 runners lined up for the 2026 edition of this late-season highlight. In a typically competitive renewal, the three-year-old Gavriel made his way to the head of the market. Representing five-time winner John Gosden, boasting a classy pedigree, and making only his second handicap start, he looked set to go well for Robert Havlin.
Fellow three-year-old Bourbon Blues came next in the market, with Ryan Moore an eye-catching booking for the Brian Meehan contender. While more exposed than Gavriel, he came close to scoring at Group level during his juvenile season and arrived on the back of a solid win at Doncaster.
The only other runner to start at a single-figure price was the Harry Charlton-trained five-year-old Hand Of God. Dropping in class from a Deauville Group 3, he had previously run a cracker to finish a close second in the John Smith’s Cup at York.
Others to note included Indalo and Erzindjan, who finished second and fourth respectively in the 2025 edition, and the Gosden second-string, Harmonics, who finished third in the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes last time. As the sole Irish entry in the field, Pierre Royal sought to register a first win for the Emerald Isle since 1999.
Result
- 1st – Pierre Royal 33/1, Jockey: Mikey Sheehy, Trainer: Adrian McGuinness
- 2nd – Crest Of Fire 25/1, Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: Jack Channon
- 3rd – Altareq 100/1, Jockey: Lauren Young, Trainer: Jim Goldie
- 4th – Gavriel 4/1F, Jockey: Robert Havlin, Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £103,080
- 2nd – £48,340
- 3rd – £24,180
- 4th – £12,080
- 5th – £6,040
- 6th – £3,020
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £43.50
- Tote Places – 1st – £7.20, 2nd – £5.80, 3rd – £24.50, 4th – £2.20
- Exacta – £1,244.20
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £737.83
- Trifecta – £71,762.30
- Tricast – £53,479.73
Recap
The runners split into two distinct groups when the stalls opened. Dwindling Funds and Salam Dubawi led the smaller group racing against the far rail. Around two-thirds of the runners gathered on the near side, with Harmonics setting the pace from Nizam and Thunder Run. The far side group held the overall lead at the end of the first furlong.
There was little change in the order as the runners passed halfway. Dwindling Funds set a solid gallop under Rhys Elliott to open up a half-length lead on the far side. Harmonics led the near side group but was now around three lengths behind the overall leader. Plenty of runners moved well at this stage, including the market leader Gavriel, who raced in mid-division on the near side.
With three furlongs to go, Harmonics increased the pace, seeing the near-side group close the gap to the runners on the far side. Thunder Run, Wanderlust, and Hand Of God moved up to join him, with Gavriel sitting sixth on his side of the track. Over on the far side, Dwindling Funds had competition for the lead from Crest Of Fire, Salam Dubawi, and Hard Endeavour.
Two furlongs from home, most of the jockeys were asking their mounts for more as the field fanned across the width of the track. Gavriel nosed into the lead on the near side, but the main action unfolded on the opposite side of the course. Irish raider Pierre Royal began to charge home alongside Crest Of Fire, with 100/1 chance Altareq also mounting a late challenge.
Inside the final furlong, Crest Of Fire looked to have won the battle, opening up a one-length advantage. However, the line didn’t quite come in time for the Jack Channon runner. In a desperately tight finish, a rallying Pierre Royal got up in the dying strides to score by a short head from Crest Of Fire, with Altareq a neck further back in third.
It was a first win in the race for Adrian McGuinness and Mikey Sheehy, and a first for Ireland since She’s Our Mare came home in front for Tony Martin in 1999.
Runners
- 1. Thunder Run – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
- 2. Hand Of God – SP: 17/2, Trainer: Harry Charlton, Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
- 3. Indalo – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Ray Dawson
- 4. Erzindjan – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Terry Kent, Jockey: Billy Loughnane
- 5. Hard Endeavor – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam, Jockey: David Egan
- 6. Bourbon Blues – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Brian Meehan, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 7. Asmen Warrior – SP: 16/1, Trainer: James Owen, Jockey: Marco Ghiani
- 8. Urban Lion – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Jack Channon, Jockey: George Bass
- 9. Pathein – Non-runner
- 10. Spanish Voice – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 11. Gavriel – SP: 4/1F, Trainer: John and Thady Gosden, Jockey: Robert Havlin
- 12. Crest Of Fire – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Jack Channon, Jockey: Tom Marquand
- 13. Shafdar – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: William Buick
- 14. Alcarath – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Alan King, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 15. St Anton – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Richard Hannon, Jockey: Joe Leavy
- 16. Harmonics – SP: 12/1, Trainer: John and Thady Gosden, Jockey: Shane Foley
- 17. Pierre Royal – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Adrian McGuinness, Jockey: Mikey Sheehy
- 18. Principality – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Harry Eustace, Jockey: Kaiya Fraser
- 19. Parole d’Oro – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Michael Bell, Jockey: Jack Nicholls
- 20. Spell Master – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Oli Rix, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 21. Nizam – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: Jack Dace
- 22. Wild Thoughts – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Richard Spencer, Jockey: Saffie Osborne
- 23. Zenor Storm – SP: 28/1, Trainer: William Haggas, Jockey: Harry Davies
- 24. Altareq – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Jim Goldie, Jockey: Lauren Young
- 25. Salam Dubawi – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Jim Goldie, Jockey: Olivia Tubb
- 26. First Ambition – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Michael Keady, Jockey: Nicola Currie
- 27. Wanderlust – SP: 150/1, Trainer: Iain Jardine, Jockey: Josephine Gordon
- 28. Dwindling Funds – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Jim Goldie, Jockey: Rhys Elliott
Non-Runners
Pathein (unsuitable ground).