The best five days of horse racing of the year has arrived as the attention of the sport turns towards Berkshire as the Royal Ascot 2025 meeting gets underway on Tuesday with seven cracking races on the card, the highlight of which is the St James’ Palace Stakes.
With an odds on favourite who looks in decent enough order in that race we are going to give that one a watching brief and turn out betting interest to the undercard where we have selections in four different races on the card.
2.30 Royal Ascot: Queen Anne Stakes
The opener is a Group 1 where, if you shop around, you can get 4 places & this makes me want to get involved even at a skinny price. The front 4 in the market finished 1-2-3-4 in the Lockinge & that looks the race to concentrate on. Rosalion, 3rd at Newbury, is the likely favourite as he’s expected to have come on from that run but he does have nearly 3 lengths to find with the winner. 4th that day, Notable Speech was also having his first run of the year but, quite honestly, I can’t see beyond the front 2 in the market. Lead Artist needed his first run at Sandown behind Dancing Gemini at Sandown but needed the run & improved markedly to win the Lockinge, prevailing by a neck. He loves this fast ground (2 from 2) on faster than good & has finished in the first 2 in 7 of his 9 starts. At current odds, he looks an each way bet to nothing, knowing that if he finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th, it will result in a tiny loss. Dancing Gemini won at Sandown & looked to appreciate the stiff finish. He was just as good at Newbury, going down narrowly & I’d be surprised if he wasn’t involved in the finish here. I wouldn’t normally play 2, especially at the prices, but I can’t not with the places on offer.
Tips
Back Lead Artist (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 Paddy Power (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back Dancing Gemini (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 7.50 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-4)
3.40 Royal Ascot: King Charles III Stakes
The second Group 1 of the meeting in only the 3rd race & the big question here is the draw. High numbers are normally favoured & I’m sticking with high here. With plenty of pace high, it’s a further tick towards those drawn in double figures. I’m against Believing coming out of stall 1, whilst Asfoora should go well bidding for a repeat but it’s one of those she beat last year, Regional, who I’m keen to side with. He might be a 7 year old but still looks top class, his record even better with Callum Rodriguez aboard. Form of 1-1-5-1-2-2-4-3 is none too shabby & 3 of his 4 defeats in that sequence were by under a length. 2nd last year, he bids to go one better & I think he’s every chance of that on his second start after a break. He was under a length 3rd to Believing at Meydan & assuming he’s come forward from that, he should go well. With all his form on fast ground & 2nd in his only run here (in last year’s race), I’m confident of a big run.
Tips
Back Regional (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 William Hill (⅕ odds 1-4)
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5.00 Royal Ascot: Ascot Stakes Handicap
With 20 runners & 20 furlongs, you’re going to need a bit of luck & a thorough stayer to land the spoils here. I had a sneaky suspicion for Nurburgring but his draw in the widest stall of 20 is offputting. Chances can be given to many including Chester Cup winner, East India Dock, but it’s a race at Goodwood that catches my eye. Manxman was the winner that day & his record over marathon trips is eyecatching – I wouldn’t put anyone off him – but my preference is for the horse he beat into 2nd, Mr Hampstead. Still lightly raced with just 8 races under his belt, he was highly tried running in the Derby & then the Queens Vase here where he was twice a no show. Back in calmer waters, he absolutely hacked up at Goodwood over 2 miles 2 starts ago, winning by nearly 6 lengths before going down narrowly last time out to Manxman. That day, I think he went for home too soon & ridden a little more patiently, he should go close. Some judges think he was outstayed but I have the opposite opinion in that he did too much too soon & this shorter straight / longer trip may bring about further improvement. He has a nice single forward draw & provided he gets a good early sit, I fancy him to bang there at the death.
Tips
Back Mr Hampstead (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Skybet (⅕ odds 1-6)
6.10 Royal Ascot: Copper Horse Stakes Handicap
Another staying handicap to finish the field & another maximum field, this time 16 going to post. The betting has it between French Master, Charlus & Caballo De Mar but Natalia Lupini’s contender, Barnso, is the each way bet of the race. He’s twice finished 4th this year, running well both times, but back in a handicap, looks well handicapped & with the assistance of Oisin Murphy doing the steering, he could be hard to keep out of the frame. His form was progressive last year, culminating in a nice 5th of 22 in a Premier handicap at Leopardstown where the first 3 home raced 1-2-3 throughout so it’s fair to say the race wasn’t run to suit. His UK mark is the same as his Irish mark which, to me, suggests he might be a few pounds well in & a draw in 3 is another positive. If he was trained by a leading yard, he’d be half the price so at double figure odds, I’m hoping he helps close the day’s betting in style.
Tips
Back Barnso (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Ladbrokes (⅕ odds 1-5)
