Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2026
Saturday, 17 October 2026. Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot is a seven-race card with five Group 1s, including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at 3.20pm and the Champion Stakes at 4pm.
The mile championship of British Champions Day, a Group 1 over 1m for three-year-olds and up. Established in 1955, it became a Group 1 in 1987 and has been part of Champions Day since 2011.
Also that day: Champion Stakes 2026 guide · British Champions Day 2026 guide
| Date | Saturday 17 October 2026 (3.20pm) |
|---|---|
| Course | Ascot |
| Race | Group 1, three-year-olds and up |
| Distance | 1m |
| Prize money | £1.1 million |
| Sponsor | Qatar Racing |
| Also on the card | The Champion Stakes (Group 1, 1m 2f) at 4pm |
The Champions Day card
| Race (time) | Grade | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 12.55 Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes | Class 2 | 6f |
| 1.30 Long Distance Cup | Group 1 | 2m |
| 2.05 British Champions Sprint | Group 1 | 6f |
| 2.40 Fillies & Mares Stakes | Group 1 | 1m 4f |
| 3.20 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Group 1 | 1m |
| 4.00 Champion Stakes | Group 1 | 1m 2f |
| 4.35 Balmoral Handicap | Class 2 Handicap | 1m |
Recent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cicero's Gift 100-1 | Charlie Hills | Jason Watson |
| 2024 | Charyn | Roger Varian | Silvestre de Sousa |
| 2023 | Big Rock | Christopher Head | Aurelien Lemaitre |
Recent Champion Stakes winners
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Calandagan | Francis-Henri Graffard | Mickael Barzalona |
| 2024 | Anmaat | Owen Burrows | Jim Crowley |
| 2023 | King of Steel | Roger Varian | Frankie Dettori |
- Prices as of Monday 5 October: Rayif is the 4/1 favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
- Rayif won the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville under Mickael Barzalona, who has a two-day whip ban from Longchamp that falls on 17 and 18 October.
- Prices as of Tuesday 15 September: Sky Bet had Blue Bolt, Gstaad, Rayif and Ten Bob Tony all at 5/1.
- Prices as of Tuesday 22 September: Coral had Rayif at 4/1, Ten Bob Tony at 5/1 and Docklands, fourth in the race last year, at 40/1.
- Cicero's Gift won last year's race at 100/1 from stall one in a 16-runner field on firm ground.
- The race was established in 1955, was raised to Group 1 level in 1987 and moved to October in 2011 as part of British Champions Day.
- Willie Carson is the race's most successful jockey with eight wins.
Our full record: +220.2 points from 780 bets since October 2025 (2,128 points staked), every one published. See every result or join for £25 a month.
Our record at Ascot
Every single we've tipped at Ascot since October 2025, settled against the official result. Winners and losers. Every Ascot tip and the course guide →
| Date | Race | Selection | Price | Result | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Oct | 3 Oct · 3.35 Ascot | Thunder Call | 6/1 | lost | −4.00 |
| 3 Oct | 3 Oct · 2.25 Ascot | Tenability | 6/5 | lost | −3.00 |
| 4 Sep | 4 Sep · 2.30 Ascot | Shimmering Shadow | 4/1 | lost | −3.00 |
| 25 Jul | 25 Jul · 2.55 Ascot | Extremely Zain | 3/1 | lost | −3.00 |
| 25 Jul | 25 Jul · 1.45 Ascot | Alta Regina | 9/2 | lost | −2.00 |
| 11 Jul | 11 Jul · 1.55 Ascot | Behike | 4/1 | placed | 0.00 |
Our tips for QEII
Members get our selections in Telegram on the day, each with a price and a stake. When we give a tip away it goes on the free tip page, on X @The_Gallop_uk and to our email list.
Get our QEII free tip by email
Every Sunday: the week's bets, winners and points from the published record, plus any free tips we give away. No card needed. Unsubscribe any time.
Every tip, every race day
The Gallop Premium is £25 a month or £250 a year. Every tip goes to members' Telegram the moment it's posted, with a price and a stake, and every result goes on our public record, winners and losers. Cancel any time.
Race details checked against the racecourse's own site. Fixtures can change because of the weather; check before you travel or bet.