Princess of Wales’s Stakes 2025 – Full Preview, Runner-by-Runner Guide & Best Bets

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Introduction
The Princess of Wales’s Stakes (Group 2) is one of the headline races of Day 1 at the Newmarket July Festival, bringing together a high-quality field of middle-distance runners. Run over 1m4f on the iconic July Course, this contest has produced some classy winners in recent years — and 2025 looks no different. In this preview, we break down the key contenders, analyse the tactical setup, and offer our best bets for this prestigious race.

👉 For more insight, check out our full guide to the Newmarket July Course to help you make smarter bets throughout the festival.

Table of Contents

🏆 Princess of Wales’s Stakes 2025 – Full Preview & Betting Tips

📅 Thursday 10 July – 3:35
📍 Newmarket (July Course)
🏇 Group 2 – 1m4f – 3yo+ – Good ground
🎯 6 runners – Class 1

🧠 Tactical Overview

Course: The July Course rewards tactical positioning and acceleration, especially in the last 2 furlongs uphill.
Ground: Good. Will favour horses with a sharp turn of foot.
Pace: No clear front-runner, but Arabian Crown and Palladium may be prominent early. Tactical pace expected.

🐎 Runner-by-Runner Analysis

🥇 Ghostwriter – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 OR 118 | TS 116 | RPR 126 | Odds: 2/1
Trainer: Clive Cox | Jockey: David Egan
Winner at this track in the past and best figures in the field. Ran credibly behind Group 1 rivals this season. Peak RPR of 126 makes him the one to beat if he stays 1m4f. This is his first try at the trip — that’s the only doubt.

🥉 Arabian Crown – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 OR 113 | TS 71 | RPR 113 | Odds: 6/1
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Missed some spring targets but came back reasonably. Appleby has a great record in this race. His RPRs are solid, but he’ll need to bounce back to the form shown as a juvenile. Still unexposed over this distance.

💥 Palladium – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📊 OR 114 | TS 109 | RPR 121 | Odds: 11/4
Trainer: Gosden | Jockey: Ryan Moore
Well-supported in Group 3s, often runs with credit. Not the flashiest profile but has top connections and a strong rating. Moore in the saddle is a major positive. Could take this if others underperform tactically.

🔄 Wimbledon Hawkeye – ⭐⭐⭐

📊 OR 109 | TS 106 | RPR 118 | Odds: 4/1
Trainer: James Owen | 3yo – gets weight (8-10)
The only 3yo in the race, so he receives weight. His RPRs are decent for his age, and he’s been mixing it at Listed level. This is a big ask, but he may grab a place if the leaders fade.

🎲 El Cordobes – ⭐⭐

📊 OR 108 | TS 80 | RPR 118 | Odds: 11/2
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Has a win this year and tries hard, but looks held on form by Ghostwriter and Military Academy. Unless there’s a major tactical shift or pace collapse, he might find 1 or 2 too good.

📊 Comparison Table

Horse	OR	TS	RPR (peak)	Odds	Verdict
Ghostwriter	118	116	126	2/1	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best form
Arabian Crown	113	71	113	6/1	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Appleby threat
Palladium	114	109	121	11/4	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Solid each-way
Wimbledon Hawkeye	109	106	118	4/1	⭐⭐⭐ Place chance
El Cordobes	108	80	118	11/2	⭐⭐ Needs luck

🧾 Verdict

🏆 Top Pick – Ghostwriter (Win)
He has the best figures, handles the track and could improve further if he stays the trip. A potential Group 1 horse in a Group 2 field.

💥 Value Alternative – Palladium (E/W)
Under Ryan Moore, and consistent at this level. Could capitalise if the pace collapses or Ghostwriter doesn’t stay.

🔚 Final Thoughts

The 2025 Princess of Wales’s Stakes brings together a small but classy field of middle-distance performers, many with bigger summer targets ahead. Ghostwriter stands out on form, but as always on the July Course, tactics, pace and ground conditions could shift the balance. If you want to understand which types of horses have been thriving this flat season, make sure to check out my 10 flat racing betting trends for 2025 — a must-read guide to sharpen your race-reading skills this summer.