Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips 2026 - Best Bets and Predictions for Wednesday
Royal Ascot 2026 Day 2 promises another thrilling afternoon of racing on June 17, led by the prestigious Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Key expert tips feature Galiyan in the Queen's Vase, each-way value bets on Celeron and Fifth Column, plus a big outsider, Pershaada, in the Queen Mary Stakes. The card includes Group level juvenile, fillies', and top-class handicap contests, with wide-ranging opportunities for savvy punters to profit from insightful selections across all age groups and race types.
- Free tips for day two of Royal Ascot 2026
- The Prince Of Wales's Stakes headlines a quality card at Ascot on Wednesday
- Galiyan, Kon Tiki and Gaga Girl feature in our day two selections
- Royal Ascot 2026 Day 2 Card
- 2:30pm Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes Tips
- 3:05pm Ascot - Queen's Vase Tips
- 3:40pm Ascot - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes Tips
- 4:20pm Ascot - Prince Of Wales's Stakes Tips
- 5:00pm Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup Tips
- 5:35pm Ascot - Kensington Palace Stakes Tips
- 6:10pm Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes Tips
- Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips Recap
- Royal Ascot Day 2 FAQs
Ascot Day 2 Tips
Royal Ascot 2026 continues with another cracking card on Wednesday, with the Prince Of Wales's Stakes headlining proceedings.
Along with the Group One feature, punters will sink their teeth into a range of juvenile races, pattern races and handicaps on Wednesday. Here are our free betting tips for day two of Royal Ascot 2026.
Royal Ascot 2026 Day 2 Card
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) 5f |
| 3:05pm | Queen's Vase (Group 2) 1m6f |
| 3:40pm | Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) 1m |
| 4:20pm | Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f |
| 5:00pm | Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) 1m |
| 5:35pm | Kensington Palace Stakes (Fillies' Handicap) 1m |
| 6:10pm | Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) 6f |
Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips - Wednesday 17th June 2026
2:30pm Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes Tips
Only one of the last 13 winners of the Queen Mary Stakes came from a single-figure stall, and that was Campanelle, who won the Commonwealth Cup the following season. That trend could be levelled out this year, as the top three in the market are drawn in stalls 10, five and seven, but it does fuel my desire to look for an each-way alternative, or two.
All of the leading players from last month's Marygate Stakes will line up in this Group Two. Love A Giggle got the better of ARMOR SUPREME (25/1) in a thrilling finish, and it's the runner-up who I want to side with here.
Diego Dias' filly tracked the front-running Princess d'Orange into contention, and was forced to switch towards the rail to pass the flagging leader. Love A Giggle enjoyed a smooth passage down the centre of the track, but it still took a photo to separate her and Armor Supreme as they crossed the line.
Rossa Ryan's mount has been drawn next to Princess d'Orange again, giving Armor Supreme the opportunity to track a familiar rival. I loved the battling spirit that Dias' filly showed at York, and she's capable of another big step forward.
I'm also struggling to understand why PERSHAADA (66/1) is available at such a price. Richard Hannon's filly won nicely at Goodwood on her third career start, having been beaten in two all-weather maidens by Lover Girl and Love A Giggle - both of whom have since proven themselves to be above-average juveniles.
Pershaada was dominant at Goodwood, surging into contention at the two-pole before comfortably holding Kentucky Rain at arm's length. Hannon's filly is one of the most experienced runners in the field, she remains open to plenty of improvement, and she's landed what could turn out to be a favourable draw in stall 23. Odds of 66/1 look far too big.
3:05pm Ascot - Queen's Vase Tips
I like both of the top two in the market for this Group Two, and with reservations about how well Limestone will handle quick ground, I've come down on the side of GALIYAN (5/2).
Andrew Balding's youngster was as green as grass when fourth behind Maho Bay on his racecourse debut at Newmarket in April. Galiyan was then heavily backed against hot favourite Joulany on his second outing at Chester, and produced a much more polished performance, striding clear of the market leader to win by a comfortable two lengths.
The Queen's Vase has been won by lightly raced three-year-olds in five of the last six seasons, and Galiyan's sire, Galiway, has produced plenty of top middle-distance and staying types. Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding teamed up to win this with Dashing Willoughby a few years ago, and recent quotes suggest that they hold this talented colt in extremely high regard.
3:40pm Ascot - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes Tips
Blue Bolt and Friendly Soul bring genuine Group One form into this year's Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, so it's easy to see why they're fancied. Connections of Catalina Delcarpio will fancy their chances, and the likes of Falakeyah and Jancis shouldn't be ignored at lengthy prices.
I thought KON TIKI (10/1) ran a cracking race behind Blue Bolt at Goodwood, considering it was her first start since last year's Royal Ascot. Jane Chapple-Hyam's filly travelled beautifully under Silvestre de Sousa, hitting the front with a furlong to travel before eventually being run down by the well-backed favourite.
Kon Tiki went into last year's Coronation Stakes unbeaten and was sent off at 17/2. Chapple-Hyam's star didn't travel in the early stages and sat last turning for home. Kon Tiki then started to make up ground, but found her path into contention blocked on two occasions and was eased down late on once the leaders had gotten away from her.
Billy Loughnane jumps into Kon Tiki's saddle on Wednesday, and Chapple-Hyam's filly is fully entitled to have improved for that first outing in almost a year. Fast ground suited her when she won the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes at York last term. She's not without a chance.
4:20pm Ascot - Prince Of Wales's Stakes Tips
Read our free guide to the 2026 Prince Of Wales's Stakes to find out who we've backed in Wednesday's feature.
Visit our Prince Of Wales's Stakes Live Stream page if you want to watch any race at Royal Ascot on a mobile or tablet.
5:00pm Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup Tips
Only four of the last 16 winners of this handicap have won from a single-figure stall, and most of the pace here seems to have been drawn in the middle to high stalls. I've picked out two to back at each-way prices, starting with FIFTH COLUMN (14/1) in stall 14.
John and Thady Gosden's gelding has already won some decent handicaps over a mile. Fifth Column struck in the Esher Cup at Sandown, the bet365 Mile during the July Festival, and the Sky Bet Mile Handicap at York last August.
Following a pipe-opener at Newbury in April, Fifth Column produced a career-best RPR on his most recent outing in the Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket, where William Buick's mount looked the most likely winner at the furlong pole before being outstayed by Erzinjan. Dropping back down in trip will definitely suit Fifth Column, and he's proven himself capable of landing a big handicap off this mark of 102.
On the stands' rail we find EBT'S GUARD (33/1), and William Muir's stable star looks significantly overpriced. Lewis Edmunds' mount ran well in this race 12 months ago from a poor draw in stall four, and went on to beat Cerulean Bay in the mile handicap during the Shergar Cup here at Ascot.
Ebt's Guard again proved his liking for this track with a valiant effort in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day, where he was beaten a neck by Crown Of Oaks, who was receiving six pounds from the runner-up. Muir & Grassick's five-year-old has shouldered 9-12 on both starts so far this season at Newbury, finishing a close fourth behind Classic last time out. Ebt's Guard will carry just 9-6 on Wednesday, and is well capable of challenging in this sort of handicap.
5:35pm Ascot - Kensington Palace Stakes Tips
In a tight contest, I'm going to roll the dice and back the French raider, GAGA GIRL (25/1), who'll provide Gerald Mosse with his first Royal Ascot runner since taking out his training licence.
Gaga Girl comes into this in good form, having won well at Compiègne in April. Christophe Soumillon then took the ride as Mosse's filly finished a very close second in a Listed race at Longchamp last month, running up to an RPR of 102.
The British handicapper has handed Gaga Girl an opening mark of 97, and both of her career wins have come on good ground in France, so I'm hopeful that she'll handle these conditions. Mosse was known as something of an Ascot specialist during his time in the saddle, and he's made a strong start to his training career. Soumillon keeps the ride, and a wide draw in stall 24 could prove advantageous.
6:10pm Ascot - Windsor Castle Stakes Tips
I've shied away from the inside rail for most of Wednesday's races. However, with plenty of pace drawn in the low stalls here, I'm quite keen to back CELERON (12/1) in stall seven.
Mick O'Callaghan's colt was an unfancied 18/1 shot when he made his debut at the Curragh two weeks ago. Jamie Powell's mount broke well and travelled comfortably alongside the front-running Tradewinds. For a while, it looked like Celeron wasn't going to quicken, but the penny dropped late on and Powell's mount stretched two lengths clear of his pursuers in the final 150 yards.
The runner-up that day, One Number, is also fancied for this race, so the form of that Curragh maiden looks strong. Celeron comes from a family of good sprinters, and Colin Keane has been booked to take the ride at Royal Ascot.
DANCE A JIG (20/1) is worth noting at a bigger price. Ralph Beckett's colt was slowly away and stumbled late on during his debut at Doncaster, but was still only beaten narrowly into second by one of Wednesday's rivals, A Bear Affair.
Rossa Ryan's mount then ran a lovely race behind Adaay Of Scarlett here at Ascot on Trials Day, where he looked outpaced with a furlong to travel, but battled back to push the favourite to within a neck. It's not uncommon for a maiden to win one of the juvenile races at Royal Ascot, and Dance A Jig looks likely to relish this step up to six furlongs.
Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips Recap
| Time | Track | Tip 1 (Price Taken) | Tip 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2:30pm | Ascot | Armor Supreme (25/1) | Pershaada (66/1) |
| 3:05pm | Ascot | Galiyan (5/2) | |
| 3:40pm | Ascot | Kon Tiki (10/1) | |
| 4:20pm | Ascot | Ombudsman (11/8) | |
| 5:00pm | Ascot | Fifth Column (14/1) | Ebt's Guard (33/1) |
| 5:35pm | Ascot | Gaga Girl (25/1) | |
| 6:10pm | Ascot | Celeron (12/1) | Dance A Jig (20/1) |
Royal Ascot Day 2 FAQs
When does Royal Ascot Day 2 take place?
The second day of Royal Ascot 2026 takes place on Wednesday, June 17. The first race is the Queen Mary Stakes at 2:30pm, with the final race scheduled to start at 6:10pm.
What races are run on Royal Ascot Day 2?
Royal Ascot Day 2 features a superb card headed by the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Other races on Wednesday include the Queen Mary Stakes, Queen's Vase, Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Royal Hunt Cup, Kensington Palace Stakes and the Windsor Castle Stakes.
What time does the Prince of Wales's Stakes start?
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is traditionally staged in the middle of the afternoon on Royal Ascot Day 2. The race is due to start on Wednesday at 4:20pm.
Where can I watch Royal Ascot Day 2 live?
Royal Ascot Day 2 will be shown live on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, while Racing TV will provide comprehensive coverage of every race from Ascot. Visit our website for live streaming information.
Verdict
Royal Ascot 2026 Day 2 Top Tips:
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