Royal Ascot 2025 Preview
Day 2
Wednesday 18th June 2025
2.30: Queen Mary Stakes: Kicking things off on day two of Royal Ascot will be the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes which is set to be contested over a distance of five furlongs. At the current prices, TRUE LOVE makes some appeal here, who’s seemingly the Ballydoyle first string for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. She was second on her racecourse debut within Listed company at the Curragh to the smart Lady Iman, and that rival has since come out and won again within Group 3 company. Most recently, she suffered a surprise defeat in maiden company at a short price; however, it came from her stablemate Gstaad, who’s well fancied at this meeting and is likely smart. Despite not winning, I think that she has some of the best form on offer here.
Zelaina will be very popular here for Karl Burke and James Doyle following her very visually impressive win on her debut at Nottingham earlier this month. She could be anything, and it would be no surprise to see her post a serious bid; therefore, she has to make the shortlist. Ralph Beckett’s Society Kiss won over course and distance on her debut, which is always a good experience to have when coming into these races. She beat horses with experience that day and is by group-winning sprinter A’Ali. My final one to note here would be Spicy Marg for Michael Bell and Kieran Shoemark; she got the better of a short-priced Godolphin favourite in Twilight Star by just shy of three lengths on her debut at Newmarket last month, and that rival came into the race already having a run. Connections supposedly think highly of this filly, and she could run well at a price.
Shortlist: True Love, Zelaina, Society Kiss, Spicy Marg
3.05: Queen’s Vase: It’s more Group 2 action at 3.05 with the Queen’s Vase taking centre-stage over a distance of a mile and six furlongs. Irish raider Paddy Twomey sends the unbeaten CARMERS to take his chance here under Billy Lee, and I think that he comes into the race holding strong claims. This yard runs a shrewd operation, and they could well have a nice one on their hands here with this son of Wootton Bassett. He progressed from his debut success to win a Listed contest in impressive style at Navan last month, getting the job done by three lengths over thirteen furlongs. The extra furlong shouldn’t be an issue here, judging by how powerful he finished his race that day, and a bold showing here could be on the cards.
The John & Thady Gosden trained Devils Advocate makes the shortlist here for me, who’s set to be ridden by William Buick. He looked a potentially useful sort when winning a Chelmsford maiden by seven and a half lengths at the back end of last term; however, he didn’t live up to market expectations when finishing sixth of seven when favourite for the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on seasonal reappearance. He likely needed the run that day, and possibly didn’t handle the track, and was much improved when fourth in the Dante behind Pride Of Arras. He has the likes of Nathaniel in his pedigree, so he should get further, and he can go well here. French raider Asmarani completes the shortlist for Francis Henri Graffard and Mickael Barzalona, he’ll need to prove he can handle a quicker surface, however, the yard have been in fine form this term and he looks a promising sort, finishing second in Group 3 company last time, over a trip that was possibly too short.
Shortlist: Carmers, Devils Advocate, Asmarani
3.40: Duke Of Cambridge Stakes: The third race of the day is the 3.40 and this is the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridgeshire Stakes, which is fillies & mares over a mile. CINDERELLA’S DREAM looks extremely solid here at the top of the betting for boys in blue of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She drops back down to a mile here, having recently been campaigned over slightly further, and comes into the race in fine form, having won the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last month in assertive style by four and a half lengths. She shouldn’t have an issue over this trip, as she has winning form over eight furlongs, and it’ll probably take a big performance to beat her here for me.
Fallen Angel looks the likely next best here for Karl Burke and James Doyle, she’s a Group 1 winning filly with her showpiece success coming in the Irish 1000 Guineas last term before running well in both the Matron Stakes and Prix de l’Opera. She probably needed the run when sixth in the Lockinge last time out against the colts, and she should be a lot sharper here and give a much better account of herself. Paddy Twomey’s One Look completes the shortlist for me; she’s developed into an ultra-consistent filly in pattern company, and was mostly recently just half of a length behind the extremely talented Porta Fortuna in Group 2 company at the Curragh. On that form alone, she has to enter calculations.
Shortlist: Cinderalla’s Dream, Fallen Angel, One Look
4.20: Prince Of Wales’s Stakes: We move into Group 1 company at 4.20 with the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes taking centre-stage over a mile and two furlongs. This is a competitive renewal, of which the Owen Burrows trained ANMAAT looks a big player under the hands of Jim Crowley. He renews his rivalry with Los Angeles here following their tussle in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time out, where the latter just prevailed by half of a length. The Burrows charge travelled into the race powerfully on that day, but was outbattled in the closing stages, and giving that rival had already had a run, it’s likely that he’ll be a lot sharper here. He enjoys it around here, having won the Champion Stakes back in October, and I think he can have a big say once again.
Los Angeles won’t go down without a fight for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, and has to be included in the shortlist given how game he is in top-level events. He seems to always find more when under pressure, and he should be bang on the premises once again in this particular assignment. French raider Map Of Stars can also have a say for Francis Henri Graffard and James Doyle, he’s already won a Group 3 and a Group 2 this term, and was only a neck behind the talented Sosie last time out in the Group 1 Prix Gnay. I think he’s a big player here, and you certainly wouldn’t want to be underestimating him.
Shortlist: Anmaat, Los Angeles, Map Of Stars
5.00: Royal Hunt Cup: The fifth race of the day is one of the most competitive, and this comes in the form of the Royal Hunt Cup at 5.00, a Heritage Handicap that’s contested over the straight mile. I think that the Michael Bell trained GREEK ORDER looks interesting here, who has the eye-catching jockey booking of Christophe Soumillon. He returns to these shores following a spell in America, and could be on a workable mark based on his old form. When he was trained by Harry & Roger Charlton, he finished half of a length second of thirty-four in the Cambridgeshire off the same mark as what he’ll compete off here. If he runs to that level again, he has to be considered a big player.
The Liffey is an obvious player here for Joseph O’Brien, who’s required the services of Ryan Moore. He’s an unexposed and progressive colt who’s already won twice and was fourth in Listed company at Navan on his seasonal reappearance last month. He should naturally progress further from that run, and that certainly puts him into calculations here. Ralph Beckett’s Qirat was narrowly denied by a nose in the Victoria Cup here over seven furlongs on his seasonal reappearance, and was sixth in the Britannia Stakes at this meeting last year. He’s been nudging up the weights but looks likely to give his running again off a three-pound higher mark than last time. Finally, one at a big price at the time of writing, who could outrun his odds, is Hi Royal for Kevin Ryan and Billy Loughnane. He’s started to look well-handicapped and posted his best effort for a while on his seasonal reappearance, where he finished half of a length second of thirteen in a Class 2 handicap at Thirsk last month. He was also second to Chaldean in the 2023 running of the 2000 Guineas.
Shortlist: Greek Order, The Liffey, Qirat, Hi Royal
5.35: Kensington Palace Stakes: The penultimate race of the day comes up at 5.35 and this is the Kensington Palace Stakes, which is a Class 2 Fillies’ Handicap over a mile. I’m quite keen on AROLLA here, who represents Harry Charlton and is the mount of retained rider Colin Keane. She’s an unexposed and progressive filly who makes her handicap debut here, having recently plied her trade at Listed level, having won her first two starts within maiden and novice company. She posted her best effort to date last time out when finishing a length second of nine in Listed company at Musselburgh, and I think she can take a big step forward once again here.
John & Thady Gosden’s Rainbow Edge will be a popular runner here among punters under William Buick, he’s won three of his four starts to date, with the most recent success coming over course and distance in a Class 2 handicap last month. He’s up five pounds for that success, but is likely to still be on the upgrade. The horse that was behind the Gosden’s filly that day can have a say here, and that’s Arisaig for Charlie Johnston and Jamie Spencer. I’d backed her myself that day, and she travelled the best into the race, and possibly didn’t get the greatest of riders as she was only narrowly beaten. She’s up three pounds here, but Jamie Spencer has saved his best for these handicaps over the years, and he could well get the best out of her. Jessica Harrington’s Serialise is one to watch at a big price; she finished second in a competitive Curragh handicap last time out, and has every chance of playing a part here off a three-pound lower mark.
Shortlist: Arolla, Rainbow Edge, Arisaig, Serialise
6.10: Windsor Castle Stakes: Concluding the action on Wednesday will be the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at 6.10, which is contested over a distance of five furlongs. This is another extremely competitive affair of which a case can be made for most of these progressive two-year-olds, I’m taking a chance on one at a huge price to head up the shortlist and that’s ARDISIA who currently trades at a best price of 40/1 at the time of writing for Hugo Palmer and Oisin Murphy. He’s already a two-time winner, with his most recent success coming at Salisbury last month, and he was only a length and three-quarters behind the progressive Ali Shuffle at Chester on his penultimate start, and that rival has since gone on to finish second in a Group 3. He’ll have to take another step forward here; however, I do think he could outrun his odds based on the level of form he’s shown so far, and experience could count for a lot here.
Paddy Twomey’s Rogue Legend will likely be a warm order here under Billy Lee; he’s looked impressive on his last two starts, winning three and a quarter lengths at Tipperary last month. He could well prove to be a cut above this level. The Ballydoyle first-string seemingly comes in the form of Kansas, so he automatically has to be respected. He’s yet to get his head in front in three starts; however, he’s placed in each outing and was recently third behind his potentially exciting stablemate Warsaw at Navan earlier this month. Elsewhere, Havana Hurricane can make up the shortlist for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop. He looked impressive when winning on debut at Goodwood, and followed up with a very solid second in the Woodcote at Epsom behind the highly progressive Maximized of Godolphin. On that form, he has to be considered a significant player.
Shortlist: Ardisia, Rogue Legend, Kansas, Havana Hurricane
