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

Prince of Wales's Stakes
15:40 Royal Ascot, Wednesday
Live on ITV

1. Bay Bridge (Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore)
Highly progressive colt who has won his last five starts. Ran out a seriously impressive five-length winner of Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his reappearance three weeks ago, looking a colt right out of the top drawer. He has raced only on good or softer on turf so likely fast ground asks a different question, but he looks a Group 1 winner-in-waiting.

2. Lord North (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori)
Won this race in 2020 and has added two Dubai Turfs since then, dead-heating in this year's renewal. Behind State of Rest when only a respectable one and three quarter lengths fourth to Alenquer in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh since, and will need to raise his game further to come out on top.

3. Shahryar (Hideaki Fujiwara/Cristian Demuro)
High-class Japanese-trained colt who just held on from Yibir in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March on his first foreign trip, though things panned out perfectly for him on that occasion. Hasn't been seen since, but a repeat of that form ought to put him firmly in the mix.

4. State of Rest (Joseph O'Brien/Shane Crosse)
Has been seen to very good effect overseas, winning a Saratoga Grade 1 last August, the Cox Plate in Australia last autumn and the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on his reappearance last month. Finished one and a quarter lengths in front of Lord North when third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time and seems sure to launch another bold bid.

5. Grand Glory (Gianluca Bietolini/Mickael Barzalona)
Sprung a bit of a surprise when shading a tight finish in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last August but she's shown that to be no fluke since, warming up for this with wins in listed and Group 3 company at Longchamp this spring. Regular jockey Cristian Demuro on Shahryar this time, though.

BAY BRIDGE looked out of the top drawer when storming clear in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown and can take the step up to Group 1 level in his stride and provide Sir Michael Stoute with a fifth success in this contest. Japanese-raider Shahryar proved himself on the international stage with his Sheema Classic win in March and can follow the selection home.