King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026: Ascot's Richest Race Preview
Ascot rolls out its biggest midsummer showpiece on Saturday, July 25, when the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes fills the track with a genuine world class field. Ten horses go to post for a Group 1 worth £2 million guaranteed, and defending champion Calandagan is bidding to join the short list of horses who have won back to back runnings. Ascot's director of racing Nick Smith called this year's renewal a generational King George, and with raiders from Japan, a stacked Aidan O'Brien team and the reigning Coronation Cup winner all walking into the paddock, it is hard to disagree.
Calandagan Chases Back to Back Glory
Calandagan heads the betting at 7/4 best price with Oddschecker, and the case for him writes itself. The Francis Henri Graffard trained five year old won this race twelve months ago and has since gone on to beat Japan's best in the Japan Cup and add the Champions Stakes to his record, cementing his place among the best middle distance horses in training. He arrives on the back of a repeat win in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, the same race that launched his King George bid in 2025.
Graffard has now won this race in consecutive years, taking the 2024 renewal with Goliath before Calandagan struck in 2025. A third straight win for the yard would put him in rare company among King George winning trainers.
Bay City Roller and the Coronation Cup Form Line
Bay City Roller represents the most obvious form threat to the favourite. George Scott's four year old beat Calandagan by ten lengths when the pair met in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, a second career Group 1 for the horse and a result that cannot be waved away, even with the caveat that Calandagan was working through testing underfoot conditions that day rather than showing his true form. Bay City Roller's participation carries a question mark of its own. Sporting Life reports doubts over his run unless the Ascot ground eases from its current good to firm state, since it was that same testing turf at Epsom that brought out his best.
Benvenuto Cellini Leads a Stacked O'Brien Raiding Party
Benvenuto Cellini arrives off the back of Irish Derby glory, a victory that came after a controversial non-runner call denied him a crack at the Epsom Derby earlier in the season. Trainer Aidan O'Brien, a four time winner of this race, sends a four strong team to Ascot built around the Irish Derby hero, his three year old stablemate Action, Oaks and Irish Oaks heroine Minnie Hauk and last season's dual Epsom and Irish Derby winner Lambourn.
Japan's Double Barrelled Raid
Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg fly the flag for Japan, a country still chasing its first King George winner two decades after Heart's Cry finished third back in 2006. Masquerade Ball lost by a head to Calandagan in last November's Japan Cup before chasing home the brilliant Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong on his latest start, form that puts him squarely in the shake up. Wurttemberg steps up in trip after finishing a nose behind the winner in the Tenno Sho, and arrives with Oisin Murphy booked for his first ride on the six year old and his first attempt at winning this race.
Kalpana Seeks Revenge
Kalpana finished runner up to Calandagan twelve months ago and returns for another crack under Andrew Balding, with Colin Keane back on board. Rated 120, she has a strong record over course and distance and looks the biggest domestic threat to the O'Brien and Graffard yards among the home team.
The Full King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field
Ten horses hold their final positions for Saturday's race. Full connections and official ratings are set out below:
| Horse | Age | Trainer | Official Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | 3 | Aidan O'Brien | 111 |
| Bay City Roller | 4 | George Scott | 119 |
| Benvenuto Cellini | 3 | Aidan O'Brien | 114 |
| Calandagan | 5 | Francis Henri Graffard | 130 |
| Goliath | 6 | Francis Henri Graffard | 119 |
| Kalpana | 5 | Andrew Balding | 120 |
| Lambourn | 4 | Aidan O'Brien | TBC |
| Masquerade Ball | 4 | Takahisa Tezuka | 128 |
| Minnie Hauk | 4 | Aidan O'Brien | TBC |
| Wurttemberg | 6 | Hiroshi Miyamoto | 116 |
Betting the King George Through World Pool
As in previous years, the whole card at Ascot on King George Day is expected to be part of the World Pool, meaning bets from more than two dozen betting jurisdictions worldwide are commingled into a single pool alongside British punters. That typically means deeper liquidity, and for the bigger priced runners in this field, potentially sharper prices than a standalone UK market alone would offer. Every price referenced in this preview is fractional, in line with how the King George is bet in the UK.
Our Pick for the 2026 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Calandagan's class is not in question, and 7/4 for a horse of his profile is fair rather than generous given the strength of this field. But the form book says Bay City Roller beat him fair and square last time the pair met, and ground permitting, we like using him each way through the World Pool alongside a Calandagan win bet as the anchor of a small exotic play.
Ready to Bet the King George?
Get set for Ascot's biggest race of the summer with MyWinners. Bet on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and every other race on Saturday's card.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
