Hampton Court Stakes 2026
The Hampton Court Stakes is one of the most interesting three-year-old races at Royal Ascot. Run over 1m2f, it often rewards a horse with proven class, tactical speed, the ability to stay strongly and a profile that still has room for improvement.
This year’s renewal has a very clear trends horse in Endorsement, who achieved a perfect 15/15 match and also tops the field on RPR. However, the Turf Talk model also gives strong respect to Morshdi, Italy, Oxagon, Generic and Maho Bay.
The star-rating table below follows the same expanded format as the Britannia page, with trends, ratings, speed, trainer angles and overall profile all combined into one final view.
Key Hampton Court Stakes Trends
- Experience: 20/20 winners had run in 3-8 career races.
- Class Profile: 20/20 winners had not achieved their highest placing in a Group 1, Class 3 or Class 5-6 race.
- Season Profile: 20/20 winners had run in 3-8 races during the year.
- Market: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 33/1.
- Last Win Surface: 20/20 winners had not recorded their latest win on standard-slow, standard or fibresand.
- Going Experience: 20/20 winners had fewer than three runs on the going.
- Last Win Rating: 20/20 winners achieved an RPR of 84+ on their latest win.
- Last Time Class: 20/20 winners did not run in Class 3 or Class 5-6 company last time out.
- Debut Market: 19/20 winners were no bigger than 16/1 on debut.
- Season RPR: 17/20 winners achieved an RPR of 106+ during the season.
- Recent Form: 17/20 winners had placed within their last two starts.
- Last Time Margin: 16/20 winners were beaten no more than 3¾ lengths last time out.
The pure trends shortlist is headed by Endorsement, who achieved a perfect 15/15 match. Morshdi and Maho Bay are next best on 13/15, with Italy on 12/15. Generic, Oxagon and My Love Is King all score 11/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends | Rating | RPR/TS | Profile | Speed | Trainer | Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement | 15/15 | 386 | 124 / 101 | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Only perfect 15/15 trends match, highest RPR in the field, Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore combination and very strong overall race profile. | Short enough in the market and has not been winning as regularly as some rivals. | Main Selection |
| Morshdi | 13/15 | 376 | 120 / 107 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Second-highest RPR, strong Topspeed, William Haggas/Tom Marquand angle and progressive enough to improve again. | Only 13/15 trends and still has a little to prove at this exact setup. | Main Danger |
| Italy | 12/15 | 368 | 118 / 105 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Aidan O’Brien second string, strong RPR/TS balance, plenty of back-class and could outrun his price if returning to peak form. | Recent form is mixed and trends score is below the main selection. | Value Angle |
| Oxagon | 11/15 | 366 | 118 / 118 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Joint-best Topspeed figure, strong official rating, Gosden/Oisin Murphy combination and clear raw ability. | Only 11/15 trends and needs to prove the trip/race setup suits as well as the figures suggest. | Speed Danger |
| Generic | 11/15 | 364 | 117 / 115 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Excellent Topspeed figure, James Doyle booked, Andrew Balding yard in good form and likely to be suited by a solid 1m2f test. | Trends score is below ideal and RPR leaves him a little behind the top pair. | Shortlist / Place Chance |
| Maho Bay | 13/15 | 360 | 115 / 99 | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Strong 13/15 trends match, Charlie Appleby/William Buick combination, already a distance winner and open to improvement. | Needs to find more on RPR and Topspeed compared with the leading contenders. | Progressive Danger |
| My Love Is King | 11/15 | 354 | 115 / 105 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Solid RPR/TS profile, John & Thady Gosden runner and first-time cheekpieces could sharpen him up. | Only 11/15 trends and needs to find extra improvement to trouble the principals. | Possible Improver |
| Glacius | 10/15 | 346 | 116 / 95 | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Useful RPR, lightly raced and has won on good to firm. | Long absence and only 10/15 trends make him risky. | Fitness Question |
| Oceans Four | 10/15 | 342 | 114 / 104 | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | Carries a penalty but has enough ability and a fair RPR/TS blend. | Top weight, weak trainer recent form and only 10/15 trends. | Opposable |
| Mountain Cat | 7/15 | 326 | 104 / 83 | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Unexposed and has won on good to firm. | Lowest RPR in the field and weakest trends profile. | Needs Major Improvement |
Key: ★★★★★ excellent, ★★★★☆ strong, ★★★☆☆ fair, ★★☆☆☆ below ideal, ★☆☆☆☆ concern.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final shortlist is headed by Endorsement, Morshdi, Italy, Oxagon, Generic and Maho Bay.
Endorsement comes out on top because he is the only perfect trends match in the race and also owns the highest RPR. The Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combination has an outstanding profile in this contest and the horse brings the most convincing blend of class, trends and race suitability.
Morshdi is the main danger. He has the second-highest RPR, a strong Topspeed figure and represents William Haggas, who has won this race before. He looks the most likely horse to capitalise if the favourite underperforms.
Italy is the value angle. His recent form is not quite as clean, but the RPR/TS profile is strong and as the second Aidan O’Brien runner he could easily outrun his odds.
Oxagon and Generic both bring strong speed figures into the race, while Maho Bay is respected as the progressive Appleby/Buick runner.
Hampton Court Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Endorsement 9/4
Endorsement is the Turf Talk selection after achieving a perfect 15/15 trends score and topping the field on RPR.
The Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combination is a major positive, and his profile looks exactly right for this 1m2f Group 3. He sets a strong standard.
2. Morshdi 8/1
Morshdi is the main danger.
He has a strong RPR of 120, a solid Topspeed figure and represents William Haggas. If he steps forward again, he has the numbers to get very close to the selection.
3. Italy 6/1
Italy is the value angle.
He is the second Aidan O’Brien runner, has a solid RPR/TS profile and looks a bigger price than his underlying figures suggest.
Turf Talk Verdict
Endorsement gets the vote in the Hampton Court Stakes. He is the only perfect trends match and owns the highest RPR in the field. Morshdi looks the main danger, while Italy offers the each-way/value angle. Generic and Oxagon are respected as speed threats.
Final Selection
Endorsement
1st: Endorsement 9/4
2nd: Morshdi 8/1
3rd: Italy 6/1
Speed Danger: Oxagon 5/1
Value Angle: Generic 10/1
The Hampton Court can often reward the classiest three-year-old rather than the most exposed one, and the trends, ratings and trainer/jockey profile all point most strongly towards Endorsement.
