Ascot Stakes
Handicap, Ascot 17:00 £120,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 2
Tweet Tuesday 16th June 2026

The Ascot Stakes has become one of the defining handicaps of the Royal Meeting, a searching two-and-a-half-mile test that invariably attracts a fascinating blend of Flat stayers and dual-purpose performers. In recent years, the race has developed a distinctly Irish flavour, and the 2026 renewal looks no different, with no fewer than 13 of the runners hailing from across the Irish Sea.

Unsurprisingly, much of the focus centres on Reaching High, who returns to the scene of one of last year’s most frustrating stories. Sent off at the head of the market for Willie Mullins and the King and Queen, the gelding never enjoyed the clear passage required in a steadily-run contest and saw his challenge repeatedly thwarted by traffic problems before finishing with running left in him.

Connections have resisted the temptation to run him since, instead bringing him back twelve months later from the same handicap mark in the hope of putting the record straight. Given Mullins’ exceptional record in staying handicaps and the regard in which the horse is held, it would come as little surprise were he to make amends for last year’s misfortune.

The biggest challenge may once again come from a powerful Irish contingent headed numerically by Joseph O’Brien, who is responsible for seven of the entries. Among them, Puturhandstogether stands out after an authoritative victory in the 2025 Irish Cesarewitch, a performance that advertised both stamina and an aptitude for major staying handicaps.

Few trainers prepare horses for these marathon contests better than O’Brien, and Puturhandstogether arrives with the profile of one capable of progressing beyond handicap company should he continue on his current trajectory.

Another to command serious respect is Westminster Moon, representing Tony Martin. A high-class performer during 2024, he returned to something approaching his best with an encouraging effort last month and possesses the experience and proven staying ability that often prove invaluable in races of this nature.

Henry de Bromhead, who enjoyed success in this contest twelve months ago, could rely on Tim Toe. Although still relatively inexperienced, the gelding has shown enough promise to suggest he could develop into a major staying force. Whether that potential is fully realised this early in his career remains the key question, but his upside is undeniable.

The Ascot Stakes has a habit of rewarding patience as much as raw ability. Tactical positioning, luck in running and the capacity to produce a sustained challenge over the final half-mile are all crucial ingredients in a contest where margins are often measured in inches despite the extended trip.

For Reaching High, the race offers an opportunity to erase the memory of last year’s hard-luck story and finally justify the confidence that surrounded him. Off the same handicap mark and with unfinished business at Ascot, he has every chance to write a very different ending.

Yet with Puturhandstogether representing a formidable Joseph O’Brien team, Westminster Moon bringing proven class and Tim Toe offering untapped potential, the Ascot Stakes once again promises to be one of the most compelling and competitive handicaps of the entire Royal Meeting.

Ascot Stakes Handicap
£120,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 210y, Class 2
20 runners
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

Ascot Stakes Winners