Royal Ascot 2025 Preview
Day 1
Tuesday 17th June 2025
2.30: Queen Anne Stakes: The Royal Meeting of 2025 gets underway at 2.30 on Tuesday, and we’re straight into Group 1 action with the Queen Anne Stakes taking centre-stage over a mile. This is a race that has seen some of the greatest milers we’ve ever seen take to the stage, and this year’s renewal has thrown up a competitive affair. Richard Hannon’s ROSALLION looks very solid at the top of the market here under Sean Levey. He won the Irish 2000 Guineas last term and followed up at last year’s Royal Meeting with success in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes. He had nearly a year off the track following that run, but returned to action in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, where he finished third of eight. He’ll almost certainly come on for that run and be a lot sharper here, and I think that he has the class edge and will reverse the form with Lead Artist.
Notable Speech is second on my shortlist, he’s got an ongoing rivalry with Rosallion, as he got the better of him in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last season, before being put firmly in his place by the Hannon charge over course and distance in the St James’s Palace Stakes. There wasn’t too much to separate the pair in the Lockinge Stakes last time out in their respective reappearance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was much between them in this particular affair. John & Thady Gosden’s Sardinian Warrior could prove to be the each-way play in the race, he’s been highly progressive, winning four in a row culminating with a Listed success over Docklands, before finishing a length behind the very talented Sosie last time out in Group 1 company in France. That was over slightly further, and a drop back down to a mile here could see him continue to progress under Christophe Soumillon.
Shortlist: Rosallion, Notable Speech, Sardinian Warrior
3.05: Coventry Stakes: The second race on the first day of the meeting is the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, and this is set to be contested over a distance of six furlongs. This is always fiercely competitive, with a whole host of speedy types on show with bundles of potential. It could be Godolphin that holds the key in this year’s renewal with MILITARY CODE for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He comes here boasting a perfect record of two victories from two starts, with his latest success coming at this track back in May. The step up to six furlongs should suit given his pedigree and how he’s kept on in his two races to date, and he should’ve learned a great deal last time out.
The Wathnan duo of Postmorden and Underwriter both look to hold solid claims, more so the former, who represents Hamal Al Jehani and is the mount of James Doyle, as he looked impressive on debut when winning over six furlongs at Yarmouth by five lengths. Elsewhere, Power Blue could represent some value in the betting, as he’s currently 20/1 at the time of writing and already has some solid form in the book. He finished three-quarters of a length behind the likely very smart Albert Einstein in Group 3 company at the Curragh last time, and was also a length and a half third within Listed company on his penultimate outing.
Shortlist: Military Code, Postmorden, Underwriter, Power Blue
3.40 Ascot: King Charles III Stakes: We move back into Group 1 company at 3.40 with the King Charles III Stakes, which is contested over five furlongs. I think that Ed Bethell trained REGIONAL could run another big race here with usual partner Callum Rodriguez on board. He was only three-quarters of a length behind Believing last time out at Meydan withing Group 1 company, and was only a length behind Asfoora in this race last year. He’s a Group 1 winner having won the Sprint Cup last year at Haydock, and he should be primed once again for this assignment, and there’s nothing to suggest that he can’t make his presence felt again.
One at a bigger price who could run well here is Starlust for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan, he won the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint last term as well as the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock, and should improve significantly from his seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month, he’s also joint top rated in the race. We have to mention both Believing and last year’s winner of the race, Asfoora, who makes the journey over from Australia once again; both set a high standard here, and it’s highly likely that both of them will be on the premises at the business end of things.
Shortlist: Regional, Starlust, Believing, Asfoora
4.20: St James’s Palace Stakes: The fourth race of the afternoon is the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, which is more Group 1 action over a mile and this time on the round course. I think that this is all about the John & Thady Gosden trained FIELD OF GOLD, who’s set to be ridden by Colin Keane. He kicked off his campaign with an assertive success in the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket, before finishing half of a length second to Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas, when he may not have been given the best ride. He bounced back to form in style last time out in the Irish 2000 Guineas, hacking up by just shy of four lengths with Colin Keane on board for the first time. If he’s in the same form, he should be very tough to beat.
Ruling Court looks the next best as he renews his rivalry with the Gosden’s charge, as stated previously, he won the battle at Newmarket in the Guineas, and it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that he can confirm that form. Elsewhere, Henri Matisse looks the best of the rest, as he comes into the racing on the back of Grade 1 success in France, and he’s the first-string for Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore on board.
Shortlist: Field Of Gold, Ruling Court, Henri Matisse
5.00: Ascot Stakes: We move onto the 5.00 now, which is the Ascot Stakes, and this is a Class 2 Heritage Handicap that’s set to be ridden over a marathon distance of two miles and four furlongs. It could be worth taking a chance on MANXMAN here for Simon & Ed Crisford, who’s the mount of Sean Bowen. He’s been highly progressive as of late; he was narrowly denied when finishing a nose second of twenty-four in the Cesarewitch at the end of last season, and has since come out to win over two miles at Goodwood last month. He’ll have no issue with the distance, and a four-pound rise for his latest success might not be enough to slow his progression.
The horse that Maxman beat last time out could also feature here, and that’s Mr Hampstead for Raphael Freire and David Egan. He was only a neck behind the Crisford runner last time, and has every chance of going close with him again here off just a two-pound higher mark. The current mark leader Reaching High is the obvious candidate to complete my shortlist. He represents the powerful combination of Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore, and looks sure to build on his close-up second of fourteen last time out in a Leopardstown handicap.
Shortlist: Manxman, Mr Hampstead, Reaching High
5.35: Wolferton Stakes: The penultimate race of the day is the 5.35, and this is the Listed Wolferton Stakes which is contested over a mile and two furlongs. ENFJAAR looks solid here, who represents Roger Varian in the Shadwell silks and is the mount of retained rider Jim Crowley. He possibly needed the run on his latest outing, which came in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, where he was fifth behind Almaqam. That was a hot renewal of that particular race, and these are calmer waters for him, and I suspect he’ll be a lot sharper on this occasion. A big run is likely.
The reliable Haatem would be the second horse on the shortlist for Richard Hannon and James Doyle. He won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at last year’s Royal Meeting and was just under three lengths behind the winner last time out in Listed company in France. He’ll likely come on again for that run and can go well again at this meeting. Liberty Lane bounced back to form when winning a Listed race at Goodwood last month for Karl Burke and Clifford Lee. He’s a smart horse on his day, and if he’s in the same form as last time, he’s got every chance of getting involved.
Shortlist: Enfjaar, Haatem, Liberty Lane
6.10: Copper Horse Stakes: Bringing the curtain down on day one will be the 6.10 and this is the Copper Horse Stakes, a Class 2 handicap which is contested over a mile and six furlongs. The Gavin Cromwell trained MY MATE MOZZIE could go well at a nice price here, who’s set to be ridden by Warren Fentiman, who takes off five pounds. He’s far from the most straightforward of horses, as he often shows over jumps; however, he finished third in this race last year and was just a length and a quarter behind eventual winner Belloccio. He’ll effectively contest this off a three-pound lower mark with his rider’s claim, and he may just be one to keep on side at a price.
French Master heads up the shortlist for John & Thady Gosden, who’s set to be ridden by James Doyle. He won a Class 2 handicap over this distance at Goodwood last time out, and looks a progressive type for top connections. It would be no surprise to see a big performance from him here. Another progressive sort is Caballo De Mar for George Scott and Callum Shephered, he keeps on taking his form to the next level, with a string of wins next to his name, and a length second to East India Dock in the Chester Cup, he’s not one you’d want to be ruling out. He’s up four pounds for his latest success, and that may not be enough to stop him.
Shortlist: My Mate Mozzie, French Master, Caballo De Mar
