Prince of Wales's Stakes preview: Headman can strike at Royal Ascot

Japan heads a four-strong team for trainer Aidan O’Brien and is a short-priced favourite after progressing into a high-class colt last season. Japan was beaten in the Derby but he made a big impression at this meeting when storming clear in the King Edward VII Stakes and followed up in the Grand Prix de Paris and Juddmonte International. He was a creditable fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which confirmed his status as one of the leading three-year-olds, and he could yet do better this season.

O’Brien has also entered Magical, a tough and genuine mare who last season won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes over this course and distance. She would hold strong claims on form but the betting seems to suggest that O’Brien will instead rely on Japan, who clearly has a huge chance but looks short enough at even money.

On Timeform's figures Japan is rated only 2lb ahead of Lord North, who quickly outgrew handicaps after winning the Cambridgeshire and finishing second from a 12 lb higher mark in the Balmoral Handicap over Ascot’s straight mile. John Gosden’s gelding signed off with an odds-on success in a listed race back at Newmarket and then took another step up in grade in his stride on his recent reappearance in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Haydock. Although having only a short head to spare from the rallying Elarqam at the post, Lord North initially looked a cut above his rivals when going a couple of lengths clear. He would be an interesting contender if asked to run here rather than in Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes.

The Roger Charlton-trained Headman is another horse who progressed well last season, earning a crack at the Irish Champion Stakes after racking up a hat-trick, which included a couple of Group 2 wins in France. He was by no means disgraced when fifth to Magical, especially when you consider he got off to an awkward start and made a big move to get into contention. Headman is a tall, good sort who has been brought along steadily so could improve markedly this year, and he remains one to be positive about.

Godolphin entry Barney Roy has had mixed fortunes since winning the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot for Richard Hannon three years ago. Having successfully returned to the track last season for Charlie Appleby after proving infertile at stud, he failed to justify support when only mid-division in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting. He wasn’t seen again until the Dubai Carnival early this year but returned with a couple of his best efforts for some time, his two wins over nine furlongs including the Group 1 Jebel Hatta from a couple of stablemates. He has shown that he stays this far but would ideally need a return to his high-class best as a three-year-old to be a danger.

Addeybb’s connections will be hoping for plenty of rain in the forecast over the next week or so and if it’s on the soft side, as it was when he won the listed Wolferton Stakes at the Royal meeting 12 months ago, he looks sure to be thereabouts as he was when runner-up to Magical in the Champion Stakes here in October.  The search for suitable ground prompted William Haggas to send Addeybb to Australia earlier this year, a plan which paid off handsomely with a pair of Group 1 wins in the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. That’s high-class form and not to be underestimated if conditions are soft enough for Addeybb to take his chance.

Japan looks the one to beat but he doesn’t have as much in hand over his rivals as the betting would suggest and he is worth taking on with another progressive four-year-old in Headman, who is very much the type to thrive this season. His effort in the Irish Champion Stakes was not a true reflection of his ability and he looks the one to side with. Lord North is another entitled to plenty of respect after climbing through the ranks.

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Back Headman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot