3:35 Ascot – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes brings together an exceptional field of established middle-distance champions and progressive younger horses.
Calandagan sets the standard on official ratings and Racing Post Ratings, while Kalpana brings the strongest current Topspeed figure. Three-year-old Benvenuto Cellini is the only perfect trends match, with Minnie Hauk also fitting the historical profile extremely well.
Key King George Trends
- Recent RPR: All of the last 20 winners achieved an RPR of at least 114 on their latest start.
- Career Experience: All 20 had contested between three and 17 career races.
- Market Position: All 20 started at 25/1 or shorter and all were within the first seven in the betting.
- Winning Margin: All 20 had previously won by at least half a length.
- Latest Performance: All 20 were beaten by no more than five and a half lengths on their latest start.
- Recent Victory: All 20 had won within their previous five starts.
- Stamina: All 20 had previously won between one mile two and a half furlongs and one mile six and a half furlongs.
- Recent Placement: All 20 had finished in the first three within their last three starts.
- Career Speed: Nineteen of the last 20 had achieved a career Topspeed figure of at least 100.
- Age: Eighteen of the last 20 winners were aged five or younger.
- Career RPR: Seventeen of the last 20 had achieved a career RPR of 121 or higher.
Benvenuto Cellini is the only 15/15 trends match. Calandagan, Kalpana and Minnie Hauk each score 14/15, with Goliath close behind on 13/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends | Rating | RPR / TS | Profile | Speed | Trainer/Jockey | Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calandagan | 14/15 | 472 | 136 / 123 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Clear top-rated horse, defending champion, three wins from four at Ascot and six wins from nine over the distance. F-H Graffard and Mickael Barzalona are both in excellent form. | Faces a deeper field than last year and does not hold the perfect trends score. | Main Selection |
| Kalpana | 14/15 | 454 | 131 / 129 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Highest current Topspeed figure in the field, course-and-distance winner and four-time winner over the trip. She arrives after another strong performance and receives 3lb from the males. | Winless from two starts on the going and was beaten as favourite last time. | Main Danger |
| Minnie Hauk | 14/15 | 443 | 133 / 111 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Outstanding RPR profile, three wins from five over the trip and receives a valuable 3lb allowance. She has repeatedly performed to a high level in elite company. | Yet to win at Ascot and Wayne Lordan is preferred to Ryan Moore. | Strong Place Chance |
| Benvenuto Cellini | 15/15 | 436 | 128 / 124 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Only perfect trends match, two wins from three over the trip, receives a substantial weight allowance and owns the second-highest Topspeed figure. Ryan Moore takes the ride. | Faces older horses for the first time and lacks Ascot experience. | Major Three-Year-Old Threat |
| Goliath | 13/15 | 421 | 129 / 112 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Won this race in 2024, has seven wins from 16 starts over the distance and represents the same in-form stable as Calandagan. | Only one win from five on the going and was beaten on his latest start. | Proven Course Threat |
| Masquerade Ball | 12/15 | 407 | 134 / 75 | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Second-highest RPR in the field, four wins from nine on the going and arrives after a sequence of consistent high-class performances. | No win from two starts over the distance, lacks Ascot experience and his available Topspeed figure is considerably below the principals. | Classy but Unproven |
| Lambourn | 8/15 | 389 | 124 / 99 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Three-time winner over the distance and William Buick is riding at an exceptional strike rate. His best RPR of 127 confirms he has top-level ability. | Weak trends score, no win from three starts on the going and well below his best last time. | Needs to Rebound |
| Wurttemberg | 6/15 | 368 | 123 / — | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Three wins from 20 starts on the going, consistent RPR profile and Oisin Murphy is in strong recent form. | No win from two starts at the trip, no Ascot experience, limited Topspeed evidence and the weakest trends profile. | Difficult to Assess |
| Action | 7/15 | 357 | 120 / 92 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Receives a large weight allowance and has previously achieved a Topspeed figure of 116. | Yet to win over the distance, below the required level on recent ratings and has one of the weakest trends scores. | Others Stronger |
Key: ★★★★★ excellent, ★★★★☆ strong, ★★★☆☆ fair, ★★☆☆☆ below ideal, ★☆☆☆☆ concern.
Final Turf Talk Filter
Calandagan is the clear standard-setter. His official rating of 130 is the highest in the field, his current RPR of 136 is also the best and his course record reads three wins from four appearances. He won this race last year and arrives after another top-class victory.
Kalpana emerges as the greatest danger through her exceptional Topspeed figure of 129. She is proven over the course and distance, receives 3lb from Calandagan and has repeatedly produced elite-level performances.
Minnie Hauk brings an extremely strong RPR profile and remains open to further improvement. Her three-from-five distance record is a major positive, although her stable jockey arrangement is less compelling than Benvenuto Cellini’s.
Benvenuto Cellini is the trends horse. He is the only 15/15 match and receives 11lb from Calandagan. His RPR and Topspeed figures already place him within striking distance of the older horses, making him a major threat if taking another step forward.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Calandagan 6/4
Calandagan is the Turf Talk selection.
He is the defending champion and holds the strongest official rating and RPR in the field.
His record of three wins from four at Ascot and six wins from nine over the distance makes him the most complete runner in the race.
2. Kalpana 6/1
Kalpana is the main danger.
She owns the highest current Topspeed figure and is already proven over this course and distance.
The 3lb allowance from Calandagan gives her a realistic chance of reversing their raw ratings difference.
3. Benvenuto Cellini 5/1
Benvenuto Cellini completes the top three.
He is the only perfect 15/15 trends match and receives a substantial weight allowance from the older horses.
With a Topspeed figure of 124 and Ryan Moore booked, he may still have enough improvement to bridge the remaining ratings gap.
Turf Talk Verdict
Calandagan receives the vote as the established champion with the strongest all-round ratings, course record and distance profile. Kalpana is the most dangerous older rival thanks to her outstanding speed figure and course-and-distance form. The progressive three-year-old Benvenuto Cellini is the most interesting alternative after achieving a perfect trends score and receiving a major weight allowance. Minnie Hauk and former winner Goliath complete a formidable group of leading contenders.
Final Selection
Calandagan
1st: Calandagan 6/4
2nd: Kalpana 6/1
3rd: Benvenuto Cellini 5/1
Other major contender: Minnie Hauk
