Prince of Wales's Stakes Entries: Bay Hoping to Bridge Gap to Group One Glory

Sir Michael Stoute is definitely back in the big time now after Desert Crown's stunning Derby success, and he has the favourite for the Group One Prince of Wales's Stakes which is set to take place on Day Two of Royal Ascot 2022. Bay Bridge will represent the iconic handler and looks to fit the cliche of a 'classic Stoute improver.' We have taken a look through the latest set of entries, in which eight horses stand their ground...

Bay Bridge did not seem anything out of the ordinary when finishing third then fourth in his juvenile career, but anyone with a crumb of knowledge of how his handler operates will not have judged the son of New Bay. In his three year old season he landed four consecutive wins although only marking himself out as useful, not exceptional. It is his reappearance at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes which has ensured he is the market leader for this race, as he brushed aside the favourite on the day Mostahdaf. The style in which he pulled away from his rivals in a matter of strides marked him out as one right out of the top drawer and with the potential for progression Stoute's older horses always have, we could see an exceptional favourite's performance.

Next in the market is Japanese raider Shahryar. It has been a while since a Japanese runner tasted victory at the Royal Meeting but this undoubtedly looks their best chance for some time. Shahryar is one of the top middle distance horses in Japan and has an impressive body of work to back his ability up. The expected firm ground should be to his liking, as should the stiffness of the track and it would be wonderful to see the fanatical Japanese racing fans win once more with a runner at the world's most prestigious meeting. State of Rest is a Cox Plate winner and has hardly run a bad race in his life. He is third favourite at present for this race and his last performance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when third behind Alenquer can be marked up as the race was not run to suit, yet he still battled all the way to the line to finish just half a length down. Ascot should suit and he looks rock solid each-way if the dead eight stand their ground.

Lord North won this race in arguably the highlight of his career back in 2020, demolishing the field to win by five lengths at 5/1 for John Gosden. He has not quite hit the same heights since but is an admirably consistent type and has got a solid record at this track. He is another that place backers and each way punters will be keen to have on side, and of course he could rekindle the old fire and reproduce that 2020 performance, in which it would take an exceptional one to pass him. Addeybb finished second to him that day but is one of the outsiders today as he is not getting any younger and will probably not appreciate the quick going. 

Grand Glory is the second foreign raider in the line-up, this time coming from France. This vastly experienced six year old has arguably looked better than ever this campaign and although the going could be a bit fast for him he is not one to rule out as his connections would not supplement him just for the day out. Dubai Honour has been globetrotting disappointingly over the winter but if he can perform to the level he showed when just touched off in the Champion Stakes back here in October he could be in the shake-up. William Haggas' runner finished fourth in the Britannia last year at this meeting at a massive 28/1 and has just improved out of sight since.

The wide open field is completed by 33/1 outsider Broome for Aidan O'Brien. It was expected he would head to the Hardwicke later in the week and that explains his wide odds for this race. He would seemingly be more suited to that contest and in what is a contest here with plenty that have fantastic claims, a Broome victory would undoubtedly be a big shock.