The Race That Closes the Show

There's something deeply satisfying about the Ascot crowd still buzzing at 18:10 on the final Saturday of Royal Ascot week. The Queen Alexandra Stakes is the last race of the meeting — and at 2 miles 5 furlongs and 143 yards, it is the longest flat race run in Britain all year. It doesn't carry Group status, but don't let that fool you. This is a prestige event, a GBBPlus race worth £120,000, and the stayers who line up here are genuine specialists. You need a horse that stays every yard, handles a track that demands jumping ability-level stamina, and ideally has the class to quicken off a strong gallop. It's a race I've watched from the rail many times, and it never fails to deliver.

Thirteen go to post this year, and while the weights are level — conditions format, all carrying 9-4 bar the two four-year-olds on 9-3 — the ratings tell a clear story. There's a proper pecking order here, and the top of the market looks legitimate. Check out the full Ascot racecard for full form and market moves.

Key Contenders Assessed

Illinois (Rating 111) — The One to Beat

Aidan O'Brien sends over Illinois, a five-year-old colt drawn widest of all in stall 13, with Ryan Moore in the saddle. That combination alone commands respect. Illinois is the top-rated horse in the field at 111 and crucially carries the course winner flag — he's already proven he handles this track. Aidan O'Brien rarely runs a horse in the Queen Alexandra without genuine intent; he won this race with Torcedor back in the day and knows exactly what it takes. Moore will likely settle Illinois in midfield, let the race develop, and ask his question entering the straight. The Good to Firm ground suits — he's a horse who moves well on a fast surface. The wide draw is a minor inconvenience over this trip, not a dealbreaker. This is your market leader, and rightly so.

French Master (Rating 108) — The Gosden Danger

Trained by the Gosdens and ridden by James Doyle, French Master is a five-year-old with a rating of 108 and — like Illinois — has won over this course before. That course form is significant. Ascot's straight at this distance is relentless; horses who've done it before have a genuine edge over those who haven't. The Gosdens run a tight operation and don't send horses to Ascot for the fresh air. Drawn in stall 6, Doyle will have a clean run and can dictate or track the pace as he sees fit. At what will likely be a shorter price than his rating strictly warrants, French Master is the horse I'd most want onside if I were opposing Illinois.

Columbus (Rating 109) — Mullins' Best Chance

Willie Mullins has three runners here — Columbus, Le Destrier and Mr Hollywood — and it's Columbus who looks the stable's primary hope. Rated 109 and partnered by Colin Keane, this five-year-old has the second-highest rating in the field and draws well in stall 3. Mullins has been raiding the Flat staying scene with increasing success, and Keane is a rider who gets the best out of a galloping type over a distance of ground. The concern is whether Columbus has fully acclimatised to Good to Firm — many of Mullins' Flat raiders prefer a bit of ease. Worth respecting at the right price, but I'd want confirmation he handles this going before committing.

Le Destrier (Rating 106) — The Other Mullins Runner

A seven-year-old colt rated 106, Le Destrier gets William Buick from stall 7. Buick riding for Mullins is always an interesting combination — it signals the trainer is serious about this particular runner. Le Destrier has the experience of a seasoned campaigner, and at this trip, that matters. He won't be far away turning for home. I'd put him just below the top trio on ability, but Buick can manufacture a race-winning position from almost anywhere.

A Piece of Heaven (Rating 105) — Respect for O'Brien Snr

Joseph O'Brien sends over A Piece of Heaven, an eight-year-old gelding with Dylan Browne McMonagle booked. He's wearing a tongue tie (headgear: T) and drawn in stall 10. At 105, he's not without a chance, but at eight years old you need to see evidence he's retained his form — marathon specialists can go off the boil quietly. DBM is an exceptional talent and will give him every chance, but he's likely a place candidate rather than a winner at best odds.

Berkshire Sundance (Rating 96) — Balding's Each-Way Hope

Oisin Murphy takes the ride for Andrew Balding on Berkshire Sundance, rated 96. He's 15 points below the top of the market on official figures, which is a significant chunk over any distance, let alone this one. Murphy is a world-class jockey and Balding knows how to place a horse, but they'll need to find improvement on ratings to trouble the principals. Interesting each-way at a big price if the market drifts him out.

Going and Draw: What You Need to Know

The goingstick reading of 9 on the stands side indicates proper Good to Firm — quick ground, firm underfoot, and a premium on horses who travel smoothly and don't waste energy. Horses that need soft ground to show their best are at a disadvantage here. Stamina is still paramount at this trip, but the fast surface means the race will be run at a decent clip and the finish will be more of a test of class than a slog.

As for the draw — over 2m 5f 143y, the stalls position is largely irrelevant. Horses will find their positions naturally within the first half mile, and jockeys of this calibre know exactly how to place their mounts. Don't overthink it. Illinois being widest in 13 is a non-event over this trip.

Value Picks and Dangers

The two clear dangers to the market leader are French Master and Columbus. Both are proven at this level, both have top-drawer riders, and both have angles that make them interesting.

  • Illinois — top rated, course winner, Moore up. The selection.
  • French Master — course winner, Gosden/Doyle, excellent draw. Best alternative.
  • Columbus — Mullins/Keane, strong rating, going is the only query.
  • Le Destrier — Buick always dangerous, experienced stayer, each-way appeal.
  • Berkshire Sundance — big price, Murphy magic possible, outsider each-way play.

The horses I'm swerving entirely: Pivotal Days (rated 63, this is a bridge too far), Aajej (rated 77, similar story), and Carlton (rated 82, wearing a visor, Cieren Fallon does his best but the task looks enormous on ratings). David Egan on Dallas Star is worth a second glance — rated 101, no headgear, good draw in 4 — but I can't get him into the frame at a realistic price.

My Selection: Illinois

I'm not in the business of complicating things when the evidence points clearly in one direction. Illinois is the top-rated horse, has already won over course and distance, has the best jockey-trainer combination in the world, and the Good to Firm ground plays to his strengths. Ryan Moore will ride this race perfectly — he'll sit third or fourth, travel into it, and have first run on the field entering the straight. I expect French Master to push him close, but class tells at Ascot, and Illinois has it.

Selection: Illinois (E/W)

It's been a long Royal Ascot week. End it the right way.

Who is the Favourite for the Queen Alexandra Stakes 2026?

Illinois, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, is the clear market favourite for the 2026 Queen Alexandra Stakes. Rated 111 — the highest in the field — and a previous course winner at Ascot, he ticks every box for a race of this nature. French Master (108) and Columbus (109) are expected to be next in the betting.

Does the Draw Matter in the Queen Alexandra Stakes?

Over a distance of 2 miles 5 furlongs and 143 yards, the draw has virtually no bearing on the outcome. Horses settle into their natural running positions well before the race reaches a critical phase, and jockeys of this calibre — Moore, Buick, Doyle, Keane — are more than capable of overcoming any stall disadvantage. Don't let the draw influence your betting in this one.

What Going is Forecast for the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot?

The going is officially Good to Firm, with the goingstick reading 9 on the stands side — that's quick, genuine summer ground. Horses that prefer ease underfoot may find conditions against them. The fast surface rewards horses who travel efficiently and have the class to quicken in the straight, making it ideal for a horse like Illinois who moves well on a sound surface.