King George V Stakes 2026
The King George V Stakes is one of the strongest three-year-old handicaps of Royal Ascot week. Run over 1m4f on good to firm ground, this is a race where stamina, progressive form, handicap scope and the ability to produce a strong finishing effort all matter.
This year’s renewal looks deep, with the trends headed by Al Azd and Cannes, who both achieved a perfect 15/15 match. The wider Turf Talk model also brings Joulany, Into The Light, Tierra Del Toro, Heyzoom, Believed and Arc Ole Ole firmly into the picture.
Key King George V Stakes Trends
- Recent Winning Form: 20/20 winners had won within their last 2 starts.
- Class Profile: 20/20 winners had not achieved their highest placing in a Group 3, Listed race or Class 5-6 event.
- Last-Time Market: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 12/1 last time out.
- Career Profile: 20/20 winners had 2-5 career placings.
- Recent Form: 19/20 winners had placed within their last 2 starts.
- Market Position: 18/20 winners were within the first 10 in the betting.
- Speed: 18/20 winners had achieved a TS of 70+ in their last 5 starts.
- Rating: 17/20 winners held an official rating of 88+.
- Last Win Field Size: 17/20 winners won in a field of 5-16 runners.
The pure trends shortlist is headed by Al Azd and Cannes, who both achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match. Believed, Joulany, Atomic City and Tierra Del Toro are next best on 14/15, while Arc Ole Ole, Heyzoom, Enceladus, Into The Light and Dial Me In all sit on 13/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends % | Rating | RPR/TS | Class | Speed | Recent | Trainer | Going/Profile | Key Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Azd | 100% | 254 | 112 / 97 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, highest RPR in the field, strong Topspeed figure, proven on good to firm and Roger Varian yard is in excellent form. | Latest run was below his best, so he needs to bounce back from that effort. | Main selection |
| Joulany | 93% | 251 | 109 / 106 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Best Topspeed figure in the race, strong 14/15 trends match, Ralph Beckett angle and very solid RPR/TS balance. | Still a maiden this season and has not quite finished the job recently. | Main danger |
| Into The Light | 87% | 248 | 109 / 94 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Charlie Appleby and William Buick, strong recent placed profile, good RPR and likely improver over this trip. | Only 13/15 on trends and short enough in the market. | Shortlist |
| Cannes | 100% | 245 | 99 / 81 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, Joseph O’Brien runner and the right progressive handicap profile. | Raw RPR and Topspeed figures are lower than the main ratings horses. | Trends danger |
| Heyzoom | 87% | 243 | 104 / 91 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Owen Burrows yard is in excellent form, recent win and appealing light-weight profile. | Needs improvement on RPR to match the best in the race. | Major player |
| Tierra Del Toro | 93% | 241 | 108 / 88 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ? | Strong 14/15 trends match, Ralph Beckett/James Doyle angle and solid RPR profile. | Carries weight and needs a stronger speed figure. | Place chance |
| Believed | 93% | 239 | 104 / 83 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | 14/15 trends match, Oisin Murphy booked, comes here off a win and has a good tactical profile. | RPR/TS figures need improving and J P Murtagh yard form is quiet. | Each-way possible |
| Arc Ole Ole | 87% | 237 | 107 / 95 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✗ | ✓✓ | Progressive recent winner with strong RPR/TS balance and a low weight. | Trainer form is weak in the supplied data and this is much deeper. | Value possible |
| Genchev | 73% | 236 | 109 / 97 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ? | Strong RPR/TS, Colin Keane booked and G M Lyons yard is operating at a very high strike-rate. | Only 11/15 on trends. | Interesting outsider |
| Waterford Castle | 67% | 234 | 110 / 98 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | △ | ✓ | Strong ratings profile and a good Topspeed figure. | Only 10/15 trends and remains winless from several attempts. | Needs more resolution |
| Dial Me In | 87% | 233 | 109 / 98 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ? | Good RPR/TS profile and Joseph O’Brien has several live runners. | Needs to reverse recent placed efforts. | Possible |
| Guildmaster | 53% | 228 | 105 / 82 | ✓✓ | ✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ? | Gosden runner with top weight and some back-class potential. | Weak trends score and must bounce back from latest run. | Opposable at the weights |
Key: ✓✓✓ strong positive, ✓✓ positive, ✓ acceptable, △ slight concern, ✗ negative, ? unknown or limited data.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final filter brings this down to Al Azd, Joulany, Into The Light, Cannes, Heyzoom, Tierra Del Toro and Believed.
Al Azd comes out on top because he has the perfect trends profile, the highest RPR in the field and a strong Topspeed figure. Roger Varian is in excellent form and this looks the sort of race where a horse with his blend of class and handicap profile can take a major step forward.
Joulany is the main danger on the clock. He has the strongest Topspeed figure in the race, a very solid RPR and comes from the Ralph Beckett yard, which has a good recent record in this race.
Into The Light is respected for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He is likely to be popular, and while he is only 13/15 on the trends, his profile still makes plenty of appeal.
Cannes is the other perfect trends match and must be respected, but he needs to step forward on the ratings compared with the main selection.
King George V Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Al Azd 10/1
Al Azd is the Turf Talk selection after achieving a perfect 15/15 trends match and topping the field on Racing Post Ratings.
He also has a strong Topspeed figure, proven good-to-firm form and represents a Roger Varian yard in excellent form.
2. Joulany 11/1
Joulany is the main danger on the figures.
He has the best Topspeed rating in the field, a strong RPR, and his profile suggests this step up in trip could bring out more improvement.
3. Into The Light 9/2
Into The Light completes the top three.
The Charlie Appleby and William Buick combination is respected, and he has the right sort of progressive profile, but the price is short enough compared with a few with stronger trends/rating value.
Turf Talk Verdict
Al Azd is the selection, with Joulany the strongest ratings and Topspeed danger. Into The Light is respected for Appleby and Buick, while Cannes is the trends danger as the other perfect 15/15 match.
Final Selection
Al Azd
The trends, ratings and final filter point towards Al Azd as the strongest Turf Talk play in the 2026 King George V Stakes.
1st: Al Azd 10/1
2nd: Joulany 11/1
3rd: Into The Light 9/2
Trends Danger: Cannes 8/1
Final note: in the King George V Stakes, stamina, handicap position, draw, pace and whether these unexposed three-year-olds truly improve for 1m4f can make a major difference.
