Horse Racing – Royal Ascot 2026 – Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Britain – June 20, 2026 Britain’s King Charles with trainer William Haggas during the presentation ceremony for the 15:40 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers Credit: ReutersWILLIAM HAGGAS will be hoping his Klass act can win another valuable pot this weekend.
The improving Klassleader, who is the 7-1 ante-post favourite for the Ebor, heads to Newmarket for the Old Newton Cup on Saturday.
Top trainer William Haggas has a good one on his hands in stayer Klassleader who is hot favourite to win August’s York Ebor Credit: PA
🗣️"He is value for many more lengths."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 18, 2026
@AngusMcNae expects Klassleader to be aimed at the Ebor after overcoming adversity on the Knavesmire last week. #TheVerdict | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/vKJDetW6H5
He bagged a ‘win and you’re in’ race for York’s £500,000 handicap six weeks ago, and Haggas avoided the temptation of running him at Royal Ascot.
Haggas said: “The plan is to run on Saturday and the race has always been in my mind for him.
“It’s handy it’s just up the road now and we don’t need to travel to Haydock. Hopefully he’ll keep improving.”
Stablemate Maltese Cross is also nearing a return to the track for in-form Haggas, who decided to skip Sunday’s Irish Derby and instead aim his Epsom runner-up at the Grand Prix du Paris at Longchamp on July 14.
The three-year-old chased home Christmas Day on bottomless ground at Epsom last month and his trainer gave him a little extra time to get over those exertions.
Haggas said: “We are getting him ready for the Grand Prix du Paris. It was always likely to be that or the Irish Derby after Epsom, but the longer gap between the two races swayed us here.”
Derby hero Christmas Day ran well to fi nish second at the Curragh on Sunday to give Maltese Cross a form boost ahead of the French Group 1.
Haggas added:“It depends which way you look at it. James J Braddock didn’t run well in Ireland, but Christmas Day did.
“We’re happy with him and it looks like the right race.”
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