Setting The Scene: A Proper Fillies' Showpiece

Now look, I know what you're thinking — Tom, you're a jumps man, what in the name of Cheltenham are you doing previewing a flat race in late September? Fair point. But even a dyed-in-the-wool National Hunt obsessive like myself can appreciate a well-crafted Group 3 on a Friday afternoon, especially when the quality in the field is as tasty as what's on offer here at Newbury.

The Princess Royal Stakes — sponsored by Betway and worth a healthy £95,000 — is one of those late-season flat races that genuinely matters. Run over a mile and four furlongs, it's a proper test of stamina and class for fillies and mares, and it often throws up a form line that reverberates through the autumn. With twelve declared and the going reported as Good, Good to Firm in places, conditions are fair and the track should ride beautifully. This is a race where quality tends to out, and on Friday, there's plenty of it to sift through. Check out the full Newbury racecard for all the details.

The Main Contenders: Who's Got The Goods?

Inis Mor (No. 7) — Ryan Moore / David Menuisier

Right, let's start where we have to — with the highest-rated filly in the field. Inis Mor tops the ratings at 110 and carries the 3yo weight allowance of 8-12, which on Good to Firm ground over a mile and four furlongs is a significant advantage. David Menuisier is a trainer who knows exactly what he's doing with a talented filly, and getting Ryan Moore in the saddle tells you everything you need to know about how seriously connections are taking this. She's a course winner, she's got a rating ten pounds clear of the next three-year-old, and Moore doesn't take rides he doesn't fancy. She's the one they all have to beat. Draw 7 is perfectly fine — middle of the track, no dramas, just point her and go.

Prizeland (No. 8) — Oisin Murphy / Andrew Balding

If there's a filly who can give Inis Mor a proper race, it's Prizeland. Rated 108, she's a distance winner and Andrew Balding has been in cracking form. Oisin Murphy is as good as it gets when the ground is on the quicker side — he rides Good to Firm like a man born to it. Drawing stall 1 is interesting; on a track like Newbury it's not a death sentence by any means, and Murphy is smart enough to find a position early. She's the clear second string in the market and deserves to be. Don't dismiss her.

Coedana (No. 3) — Connor Beasley / Edward Bethell

Now here's where it gets interesting. Coedana is the highest-rated older filly in the race at 105, and Edward Bethell has been quietly building a very impressive training record. She's a distance winner, Connor Beasley is a capable pilot, and drawing stall 12 on the wide outside could actually suit if she gets a nice bowl around. My concern is whether she can concede ten pounds in real terms to Inis Mor on this ground — that's a significant ask. But she's the most dangerous of the older brigade and I wouldn't be leaving her out of any each-way calculations.

Brielle (No. 1) — Silvestre De Sousa / David O'Meara

David O'Meara has two in this race, and Brielle is the more fancied of the pair. She's a course and distance winner — that combination at Newbury over 1m4f is worth its weight in gold — and Silvestre De Sousa is a man who knows this track intimately. Rated 101, she's got plenty to find on the ratings against the top three-year-olds, but her course form is a genuine asset. The tongue tie goes on, which can sharpen a filly up considerably. She's not my selection but she's a live each-way shout at the right price.

Francophone (No. 5) — James Doyle / Charlie Johnston

Charlie Johnston's five-year-old mare Francophone is a course winner and James Doyle is always worth respecting when he takes a booking in a race like this. Rated 100, she's competitive in this grade and the Good to Firm ground shouldn't inconvenience her. She sits in the middle of the draw at stall 6, which is just fine. My honest assessment? She's a solid each-way type rather than a winner, but if the pace collapses and it turns into a sprint finish, she could nick a place without too much trouble.

Frances Ethel (No. 4) — Tom Marquand / William Haggas

William Haggas sending out a six-year-old mare is never something you ignore — the man doesn't waste entries. Frances Ethel has no form flags listed which is a touch concerning, but Haggas and Tom Marquand are a combination that consistently punches above its weight. Rated 97, she needs to improve but the Haggas factor alone keeps her on the radar. I'd want to see her price before committing either way.

Going, Draw and Conditions: What Matters Here

The Good, Good to Firm in places surface at Newbury is about as fair a test as you'll get in late September. Newbury's mile and four furlongs is a proper galloping track — no sharp bends, no tight turns, just honest, relentless galloping that finds out any horse who's not truly staying the trip. Stamina pedigrees matter enormously here, and the three-year-olds carrying 8-12 have a real advantage over the older brigade on 9-5.

As for the draw, Newbury over this trip is relatively draw-neutral. Stall 1 (Prizeland) and stall 2 (Brielle) are fine — there's no significant rail advantage at this distance. Stall 12 (Coedana) is the widest and could mean she covers extra ground, but Beasley is experienced enough to compensate. In short, don't get too hung up on the draw here — it's about the horse, not the stall number.

Value Picks and Each-Way Angles

The value in this race, if there is any, sits with the older fillies who can potentially be found at bigger prices than their chances merit. Here's how I'd break it down:

  • Brielle — course and distance form is a genuine edge; worth an each-way interest at the right price
  • Coedana — best of the older brigade on ratings; each-way at 12+ would be fair
  • Francophone — place chance at best, but James Doyle doesn't waste his time
  • Without Prejudice — Gosden filly, William Buick up, course winner at 92 — could be well handicapped if Gosden has found improvement; dark horse

That last one — Without Prejudice — is worth a mention. Rated just 92 and drawn stall 3, she's the outsider of the Gosden pair but William Buick taking the ride on the lesser-fancied runner is the kind of thing that makes you raise an eyebrow. Keep her in mind for each-way purposes.

Tom's Verdict: Selection and Conclusion

Right, cards on the table. Inis Mor is my selection for the Princess Royal Stakes, and I'm not going to dress it up as some heroic each-way punt or a value discovery — she's simply the best filly in the race. Rated 110, course winner, Ryan Moore booked, Good to Firm ground that should suit, and carrying just 8-12 against older fillies on 9-5. The weight-for-age allowance in late September is meaningful, and Menuisier has her in the form of her life.

If you want each-way value to go alongside, Brielle is the one I'd side with — course and distance form is hard to argue with, and De Sousa knows Newbury like the back of his hand. But the winner, I'm fairly convinced, is wearing the number 7 saddlecloth.

It's not often a jumps man gets to tip a flat race with any confidence, but there are days when the answer is staring you in the face clear as a dry Cheltenham morning. Friday at Newbury is one of those days. Back Inis Mor, enjoy the racing, and I'll see you back here when the jumps season really gets going.

Best of luck — Tom O'Brien, Paddock Punter

Who Is The Favourite For The Princess Royal Stakes (Sponsored By Betway) 2026?

Based on ratings and market expectation, Inis Mor (No. 7, trained by David Menuisier and ridden by Ryan Moore) is the clear ante-post favourite. Rated 110 — the highest in the field — and a course winner, she ticks every box. Prizeland (108, Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) is expected to be the main market rival. Check the Newbury racecard for live prices closer to race time.

Does The Draw Matter In The Princess Royal Stakes At Newbury?

Over a mile and four furlongs at Newbury, the draw is largely inconsequential. The track is wide, galloping and fair, with no significant bias towards low or high stalls at this distance. Horses drawn in stalls 1 through 12 all have an equal chance of winning, provided they have the class and stamina to see out the trip. Focus on form and fitness rather than stall position in this one.

What Is The Prize Money For The Princess Royal Stakes 2026?

The Princess Royal Stakes (Sponsored by Betway) at Newbury on 25 September 2026 carries a total prize fund of £95,000. It is a Class 1, Group 3 contest open to fillies and mares aged three years and older, run over one mile and four furlongs. It represents a significant prize in the autumn flat racing calendar and often attracts high-quality middle-distance fillies looking for one final Group-level success before the end of the turf season.