Princess Of Wales's Stakes Guide

1. Communique

T - Mark Johnston

J - Silvestre De Sousa

Small field, and often picks up these sort of contests when dictating the pace under one of the best front-running jockeys in the game.

Four starts this season and is now a regular at Class One level, winning the Roaring Lion Jockey Club Stakes back in May.

Good show at Epsom, but must recover from finishing last in the Hardwicke when clearly it was an off day.

2. Baghdad

T - Mark Johnston

J - Andrea Atzeni

Another for Mark Johnston, this four-year-old son of Frankel continued his excellent form record when winning the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Also prevailing in last year's King George V Stakes at the royal meeting, he began his turf campaign this season with a victory on the Rowley Mile back in May.

Does not always get the credit he deserves, and starts most races over priced.

3. Desert Encounter

T - David Simcock

J - Harry Bentley

Struggled this term as a seven-year-old, despite opening with a third in Meydan to Old Persian in a Group Two.

He has finished last in both subsequent starts including in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was clearly outclassed.

Did bounce back from a no show last year at the royal meeting to win at Windsor next time out, but probably the most exposed in this line up.

4. Masar

T - Charlie Appleby

J - James Doyle

Last year's Investec Derby winner Masar is very much the one to beat here according to his trainer.

The four-year-old finally made his return to the racecourse after almost a year out through injury when finishing fifth in the Hardwick Stakes at Royal Ascot on the Saturday.

A creditable run despite almost unshipping jockey James Doyle coming out of the gates, and did his legs the world of good.

Should be ready to fire here.

5. Mirage Dancer

T - Sir Michael Stoute

J - Ryan Moore

Third at Royal Ascot and three lengths to good over Masar, Mirage Dancer sets a clear form standard based on his achievements this season.

Winning at Goodwood on return at a track he loves, he is a definitely fancied here for a trainer who has won this race a record nine times.

Five-year-old son of Frankel still has plenty of mileage available, and should be amongst the finish in this.

6. Dashing Willoughy

T - Andrew Balding

J - Oisin Murphy

Won Queens Vase over 1m6f at Royal Ascot, and now drops back to twelve furlongs for the first time since third at Chester behind Sir Dragonet.

The three-year-old narrowly got the better of Barbados of Aidan O'Brien's, and it will be interesting to see how the form sits when the latter runs in the 1:50 race. (Bahrain Stakes)

All runs have come with soft somewhere in the description, so needs to act on a first-time road-like surface.