Ribblesdale Stakes 2026
The Ribblesdale Stakes is one of the key middle-distance races for three-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot. Run over 1m4f on good to firm ground, it often rewards a filly with stamina, proven class, the ability to improve again and enough tactical speed to handle the demands of Ascot.
This year’s renewal is headed by Legacy Link, who brings the strongest overall ratings profile, while Earth Shot and Warriors Whisper are the two perfect trends matches. The Turf Talk model also gives major respect to Gilded Prize, Johanna Walsh, Composing and Brilliant Star.
Key Ribblesdale Stakes Trends
- Market: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 25/1 and within the first 9 in the market.
- Career Profile: 20/20 winners had 2-7 career placings.
- Last-Time Rating: 20/20 winners had achieved an RPR of 86+ last time out.
- Last Win Price: 20/20 winners were no bigger than 8/1 on their latest win.
- Last Win Field Size: 20/20 winners won in a field of 5-13 runners.
- Recent Break: 20/20 winners had a break of 4-80 days since their last placing.
- Weight: 20/20 winners carried 121-129lbs on their latest win.
- Ground: 20/20 winners did not run on heavy, good to soft, firm or standard last time out.
- Recent Form: 20/20 winners had placed within their last 2 starts.
- Winning Form: 20/20 winners had won within their last 3 starts.
- Season Speed: 18/20 winners had achieved a TS of 60+ during the season.
The pure trends shortlist is headed by Earth Shot and Warriors Whisper, who both achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match. Johanna Walsh, Gilded Prize and Legacy Link all score strongly on 14/15, with Lady Roisia next best on 13/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends % | Rating | RPR/TS | Class | Speed | Recent | Trainer | Going/Profile | Key Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Link | 93% | 249 | 125 / 110 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Highest RPR in the field, highest Topspeed figure, strong 14/15 trends match, John & Thady Gosden yard has an excellent recent record in this race and Colin Keane is booked. | Short price and not a perfect trends match, but the ratings profile is very strong. | Main selection |
| Gilded Prize | 93% | 246 | 118 / 108 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | Strong 14/15 trends score, excellent RPR/TS combination, Oisin Murphy booked and a major player if improving again over this trip. | Needs to bounce back from latest defeat and has questions to answer on firmish ground. | Main danger |
| Earth Shot | 100% | 242 | 110 / 72 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ? | Perfect 15/15 trends match, William Haggas runner, James Doyle booked and arrives with a progressive profile. | Topspeed is lower than the two main ratings horses and she needs another step forward. | Shortlist |
| Warriors Whisper | 100% | 236 | 110 / 38 | ✓✓ | ✗ | ✓✓ | △ | ? | Perfect 15/15 trends match, Christophe Soumillon booked and has an RPR good enough to be competitive. | Very low Topspeed figure compared with the principals. | Trends danger |
| Composing | 80% | 235 | 119 / 108 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ? | Second-highest RPR profile, strong Topspeed, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore combination, and a major historical race angle. | Only 12/15 trends and recent finishing positions are slightly underwhelming. | Ratings danger |
| Brilliant Star | 73% | 232 | 107 / 103 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | Good Topspeed figure, proven on good to firm and from the Gosden yard. | Only 11/15 trends and latest run needs forgiving. | Each-way possible |
| Johanna Walsh | 93% | 230 | 102 / 84 | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ? | Strong 14/15 trends match, recent win and Joseph O’Brien runner with improvement still possible. | Needs a fair ratings jump to match the top three. | Place chance |
| Lady Roisia | 87% | 228 | 106 / 77 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ? | Ralph Beckett runner with 13/15 trends and scope to improve. | Ratings leave her with work to do. | Needs more |
| Venetia | 73% | 226 | 107 / 77 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | Comes here off a win, proven on good to firm and at the trip. | Only 11/15 trends and takes a sizeable rise in class. | Outside place chance |
| Golden Orbit | 80% | 224 | 98 / 71 | △ | ✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ✓ | Ralph Beckett runner and has won on the going. | Needs a big step forward on RPR and latest run was not strong enough. | Needs improvement |
| Dark Lucinda | 80% | 222 | 97 / 40 | △ | ✗ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ? | Unbeaten and still open to significant improvement. | Ratings and Topspeed need a major upgrade. | Potential but unproven |
| Maldives | 47% | 214 | 88 / 69 | ✗ | ✓ | △ | △ | ? | Still lightly raced enough to improve. | Weak trends score and plenty to find on RPR. | Opposable |
Key: ✓✓✓ strong positive, ✓✓ positive, ✓ acceptable, △ slight concern, ✗ negative, ? unknown or limited data.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final filter brings this down to Legacy Link, Gilded Prize, Earth Shot, Warriors Whisper, Composing and Brilliant Star.
Legacy Link comes out on top because she has the strongest raw profile in the race. She tops the field on both RPR and Topspeed, scores a strong 14/15 on the trends, and represents a John & Thady Gosden yard with a very strong recent record in the Ribblesdale.
Gilded Prize is the main danger. Her 14/15 trends match and excellent ratings profile put her very close to the selection, and the Oisin Murphy booking adds further confidence.
Earth Shot is the strongest pure trends player among the principals. She achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match and comes from William Haggas, whose record in the race is strong.
Warriors Whisper is the big trends danger. She also achieved a perfect 15/15, but the low Topspeed figure is the main reason she sits behind the leading trio.
Ribblesdale Stakes 2026 Tips
1. Legacy Link 13/8
Legacy Link is the Turf Talk selection after topping the field on both RPR and Topspeed.
She also scores a strong 14/15 on the trends, represents a yard with an excellent recent record in this race and looks the most solid all-round profile in the field.
2. Gilded Prize 4/1
Gilded Prize is the main danger.
She has a strong 14/15 trends match, excellent ratings and enough class to make this a serious test if bouncing back from her latest run.
3. Earth Shot 11/2
Earth Shot completes the top three.
She is a perfect 15/15 trends match, comes from William Haggas and has the sort of progressive profile that has to be respected in this race.
Turf Talk Verdict
Legacy Link is the selection, with Gilded Prize the main danger and Earth Shot completing the top three. Warriors Whisper is the trends danger after achieving a perfect 15/15 match.
Final Selection
Legacy Link
The trends, ratings and final filter point towards Legacy Link as the strongest Turf Talk play in the 2026 Ribblesdale Stakes.
1st: Legacy Link 13/8
2nd: Gilded Prize 4/1
3rd: Earth Shot 11/2
Trends Danger: Warriors Whisper 14/1
Final note: in the Ribblesdale Stakes, the key question is which filly truly improves for the 1m4f test. Legacy Link has the best evidence on the figures, but Earth Shot and Warriors Whisper are strong trends players.
