{"id":22153,"date":"2026-06-13T10:42:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T07:42:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=22153"},"modified":"2026-06-13T10:42:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T07:42:15","slug":"st-jamess-palace-stakes-2026-runners-racecard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/st-jamess-palace-stakes-2026-runners-racecard\/","title":{"rendered":"St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026: Runners &#038; Racecard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The month of June in the British flat horse racing calendar is always centred around the biggest event of the season, the Royal Ascot. This year it will take place between Tuesday, 16 June and Saturday, 20 June at its historic venue of Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England. St James\u2019s Palace Stakes is one of the races to be conducted on the first day of the meeting. It also headlines the day\u2019s race card.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The St James\u2019s Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race that accepts three year old colts. It is run over a distance of about 7 furlongs and 213 yards (1,603 metres). Introduced in 1834, St James\u2019s Palace Stakes often features runners who have previously participated in such prestigious races as 2,000 Guineas, the Poule d\u2019Essai des Poulains (the French equivalent of the British 2,000 Guineas), or the Irish 2,000 Guineas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the current system of race grading was introduced in 1971, St James\u2019s Palace Stakes received the status of Group 2. About a decade later, in 1988 it was promoted to the Group 1 level. An interesting fact in the race\u2019s history is that chestnut stallion Plenipotentiary won the inaugural race on a walkover.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article we will take a look at this year\u2019s runners declared to participate in the race, review the race card for the day, and discuss some of the most interesting runners that are either favoured for the win or attract attention of both experts and the general public.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026 Racecard<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Royal Ascot 2026 will be conducted in the third week of June and last for five days. This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/horse-racing\/fixtures\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">horse racing fixture<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will include 35 races, evenly distributed across the entire course of the event. St James\u2019s Palace Stakes will be run on the first day of the meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Day One: Royal Ascot Tuesday (16 June)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>When:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Tuesday, 16 June 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gate opening:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 10:30 am<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Royal procession:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2:00 pm<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>First race:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2:30 pm<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Headline race:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 4:20 pm (St James\u2019s Palace Stakes)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Last race:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 6:10 pm<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Post racing entertainment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 6:20 pm<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The daily race card for the Royal Ascot Tuesday 2026 is as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Going:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round Course Flat Turf: good (good to soft in places); Straight Course Flat Turf: good<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Time<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Race<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Distance\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Conditions\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">2:30 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE QUEEN ANNE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)\u00a0 (CL 1)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">1m<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">4YO+ \u00a3800,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">3:05 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE COVENTRY STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 2)\u00a0 (CL 1)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">6f<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">2YO \u00a3200,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">3:40 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE KING CHARLES III STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)\u00a0 (CL 1)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">5f<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">3YO+ \u00a3700,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">4:20 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE ST JAMES&#8217;S PALACE STAKES (CLASS 1) (Group 1)\u00a0 (CL 1)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">7f 213y<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">3YO \u00a3700,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">5:00 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE ASCOT STAKES (CLASS 2 HERITAGE HANDICAP) (GBBPLUS RACE)\u00a0 (CL 2)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">2m 3f 210y<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">4YO+ \u00a3120,000.00 Rating 0-100<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">5:35 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE WOLFERTON STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race)\u00a0 (CL 1)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">1m 1f 212y<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">4YO+ \u00a3125,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">6:10 pm<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">THE COPPER HORSE STAKES (CLASS 2 HANDICAP) (GBBPLUS RACE)\u00a0 (CL 2)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">1m 6f 34y<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #ffffff;\">4YO+ \u00a3120,000.00 Rating 0-100<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>[vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026 Runners<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participating in Royal Ascot early on in your racing career is an achievement in and of itself. Every year some of the best up and coming racing stars are entered into the St James\u2019s Palace Stakes. As runners can only enter this race once in their career due to age restrictions, the competition on the tracks is fierce and very exciting to watch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, there are 25 runners announced to compete in this year\u2019s race, but this number may change before the day of the race. Some of the jockeys for the race have already been announced, others are still awaiting confirmation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current full list of contenders, their jockeys and trainers runs as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bow Echo (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Boughey)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constitution River (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distant Storm (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Endorsement (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flushing Meadows (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gstaad (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hankelow (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Karl Burke)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hawk Mountain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifeplan (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Declan Carroll)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lord Britain (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Ismail Mohammed)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lyneham (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Christophe Ferland)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Montreal (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neolithic (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nighttime (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Christophe Head)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Coast (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Joseph O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxagon (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John &amp; Thady Gosden)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pacific Avenue (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power Blue (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Robson Aguiar)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protection Act (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer George Boughey)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puerto Rico (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Adrian O\u2019Brien)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rayif (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Francis Henri Graffard)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk Of New York (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thesecretadversary (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer James Stack)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time To Turn (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer Charlie Appleby)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yazin (age 3, jockey unconfirmed, trainer John &amp; Thady Gosden)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Who to Look Out for at St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since its inaugural run, St James\u2019s Palace Stakes has produced a number of outstanding winners who would go on to have remarkable racing careers. With the age restriction set to accept only three year olds, every colt can only run in this race once. For this reason, there are no records of multiple winners of the champion title.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The latest winner in 2025 was a grey colt Field Of Gold. This was his third win of the season out of six races he took part in, with the two previous wins including bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket (April 2025) and Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas in Curragh (May 2025). Field Of Gold was trained by John and Thady Gosden and led on the track by jockey Colin Keane.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/betting\/horse-racing\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13634 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CrossSell_HorseRacingTracks.jpg\" alt=\"Banner for Horse Racing betting\" width=\"900\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CrossSell_HorseRacingTracks.jpg 900w, https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CrossSell_HorseRacingTracks-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/CrossSell_HorseRacingTracks-768x213.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Bow Echo<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 years old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sex and colour:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bay colt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trainer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> George Boughey<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major achievements:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 4 out of 4 wins, including 2,000 Guineas Stakes (May 2026)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many bookmakers and horse racing experts unanimously name Bow Echo as the undisputed favourite of the race. Since his first race, George Boughey\u2019s charge hasn\u2019t lost a single start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his debut season of 2025 Bow Echo came to the finish line three times out of three races he took part in. He started 2026 with an impressive win in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the headline feature of the Guineas Festival, where he was led on the track by jockey Billy Loughnane.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Gstaad<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 years old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sex and colour:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bay colt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trainer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Adrian O\u2019Brien<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major achievements:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 out of 7 wins, including Irish 2,000 Guineas (May 2026)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gstaad is not a complete stranger to the Ascot Racecourse. During last year\u2019s Royal Ascot, he won Coventry Stakes together with jockey Roger Moore.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the renowned Adrian O\u2019Brien\u2019s eight charges at this year\u2019s race, Gstaad opened this season with a second place in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at the Guineas Festival, falling behind Bow Echo. He went on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas shortly afterwards. Having never finished a race lower than in second place, Gstaad is considered as a major challenger for the champion title.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Talk Of New York<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 years old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sex and colour:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bay colt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trainer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Charlie Appleby<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major achievements:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 out of 4 wins, including Star Sports Heron Stakes (May 2026)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk of New York became part of the Royal Ascot conversation after his impressive win in the Star Sports Heron Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse at the end of May 2026 where he was led on the track by William Buick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right now, experts don\u2019t see him as a direct challenge for Bow Echo and Gstaad, as many agree he still has to find his footing. However, they also agree that Charlie Appleby\u2019s charge has all the potential to at least stir the race and have his chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Puerto Rico<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 years old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sex and colour:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bay colt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trainer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Adrian O\u2019Brien<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major achievements:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 out of 9 wins, including Criterium International (October 2025)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After his impressive back to back wins at the end of last season, including two of them in French races, Puerto Rico caught the attention of horse racing experts and bookmakers alike.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another one of Adrian O\u2019Brien\u2019s charges to enter the race this year, Puerto Rico started the 2026 season with a fourth place in the Poule d\u2019Essai des Poulains at the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, where he was led on the track by jockey Roger Moore. This race is the French equivalent of the 2,000 Guineas race in Britain. Most experts translate Puerto Rico\u2019s previous runs as an interesting alternative to watch on the track.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Rayif<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Age:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 years old<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sex and colour:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> chestnut colt<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trainer:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Francis Henri Graffard<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major achievements:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 3 out of 4 wins, including Poule d\u2019Essai des Poulains (May 2026)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travelling to Royal Ascot from France, Rayif counts three wins to his credit. The latest and most impressive one took place in May 2026 when he came first to the finish line and became the champion of the Poule d\u2019Essai des Poulains race, the French counterpart of the British 2,000 Guineas race. He was led on the tracks by jockey Mickael Barzalona.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Rayif has not been in direct spotlight for Royal Ascot in general and St James\u2019s Palace Stakes in particular, his trainer Francis Henri Graffard admitted that he was happy with the underdog status as he and his charge are getting ready to take on the challenge against the race\u2019s favourites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><span style=\"color: #18ae62;\">Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The month of June in the British flat horse racing calendar is always centred around the biggest event of the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":21483,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[464],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-horse-racing"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026: Runners &amp; Racecard | 7bet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get up to date with the runners &amp; racecard for the upcoming St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026 on 16 June with our preview.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/st-jamess-palace-stakes-2026-runners-racecard\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"St James\u2019s Palace Stakes 2026: Runners &amp; 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