The King and Queen missed out on a Royal Ascot victory in 2026 after their final runner of the week, Warrant Holder, secured a valiant second place in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
The four-year-old, trained by John and Thady Gosden, had previously been a prominent part of a famous treble for the royal colours at York last month.
This impressive three-timer also featured wins for exciting stablemates Portcullis and Point Of Law, with the latter having finished fourth in the Queen’s Vase earlier this week.
As the 16-5 second-favourite for the mile-and-a-half handicap, Warrant Holder, ridden by William Buick, surged into the lead two furlongs from home. A roar of anticipation erupted from the grandstands, signalling hopes for a first royal victory of the week.
The dream was swiftly dashed, however, as Opportunity, guided by crack New Zealand pilot James McDonald, surged up the inside. Buick was powerless aboard Warrant Holder as William Haggas’s runner edged clear by nearly two lengths at the finish.
John Gosden said of Warrant Holder: "That was a super run and I’m really thrilled with him. He did everything right and as you know being drawn 17 you do lose ground – you’re wide and then you’re three wide around Swinley Bottom, but he came with a lovely run.
“Unfortunately for us, the horse drawn one, saving every inch, wriggled through and not only were we giving him 5lb, but he’s gone a lot shorter route. Full marks to the winner, I know they fancied him a lot, and it was a long way back to the third. But I couldn’t be more pleased with our horse, he’s been brilliant."
Warrant Holder’s commendable second-place finish means the King and Queen are still awaiting another Royal Ascot triumph, their last coming with Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes during the King’s coronation year of 2023.
Incidentally, Desert Hero was trained by Haggas, who after denying the King and Queen this time said: "Everyone here wants their majesties to have a winner and we’re sorry to ruin it, but we’re delighted to have a winner ourselves."
