Prince of Wales's Stakes: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

1. Crystal Ocean (Sir Michael Stoute/Frankie Dettori)
Developed into a high-class middle-distance performer last season, winning the Hardwicke at this meeting, and producing excellent efforts to finish second in both the King George VI Stakes and the Champion Stakes at this track. He's made an identical start to this campaign as he did the last, winning the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown and the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury, and he heads here in preference of the Hardwicke. He's yet to win at the top level in three attempts, but ought to make a bold bid and is a big player.

2. Desert Encounter (David Simcock/Jim Crowley)
A very smart performer at his peak, something he showed when winning the Canadian International at Woodbine on his final start of last season. He's generally struggled at the top level over here though, including in this race last year, and would need to find more if he is to have serious claims.

3. Hunting Horn (Aidan O'Brien/Donnacha O'Brien)
Globe-trotting four-year-old whose best performance so far came when winning the Hampton Court Stakes at this meeting last year. He's winless in nine starts in four countries since, and though his effort to finish fourth at Belmont last time out was his best for a while, he could well be taking on pacemaker duties for Magical here.

4. Waldgeist (Andre Fabre/Pierre-Charles Boudot)
A high-class performer who enjoyed an excellent season as a four-year-old last year, winning four Group races on the spin, including the Group 1 Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud. He met trouble at a crucial stage when fourth behind Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last October, but the way he won the Prix Ganay on reappearance at Longchamp in April suggests he's an improved model as a five-year-old, and a bold bid is expected.

5. Zabeel Prince (Roger Varian/Andrea Atzeni)
Had something of a stop-start career, making just three appearances last season, but he's returned better than ever as a six-year-old, winning a Group 3 at Newmarket in April (form which is proving to be very strong), before following up in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp last time - both at nine furlongs. He would need plenty more to get involved here, but can't be underestimated.

6. Deidre (Mitsuru Hashida/Yutaka Take)
Very smart Japanese-trained mare, who has a Group 1 win to her name, against her own sex in Japan in 2017. She's been below par on all three of her starts so far this season, however, and would have a bit to find with the principals even if she arrived here back to her best.

7. Magical (Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore)
Ended last season on a high, producing a high-class performance to win the Group 1 Fillies' and Mares' Stakes here, before building on that to finish a fine second to Enable at the Breeders' Cup the following month. She's picked up where she has left off so far this term, landing the odds in three starts in Ireland, and matched the form she showed in America when winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time out. She has the benefit of race fitness over main market rival Sea of Class, and is the one to beat.

8. Sea of Class (William Haggas/James Doyle)
Top three-year-old filly last season, winning four races on the bounce, including the Irish Oaks at the Curragh and the Yorkshire Oaks. She was unlucky to have her winning run ended when second behind in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on her final start last October, when storming home and just failing, and she has obvious claims here - for all that this is a big ask on reappearance.