Royal Ascot 2025 Day One Tips

13:30 – Queen Anne Stakes (G1) 

Royal Ascot 2025 starts with a bang with a brilliant renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes. 

The front quartet of the market all clashed in the Lockinge with Lead Artist winning on that occasion from Dancing Gemini. They had race fitness on side ahead of Rosallion and Notable Speech.

Like many, I think that form will be reversed, and I think ROSALLION is the best horse in this race and will hopefully get the week off to a flyer. He arguably should have been unbeaten as a 3yo but made up for Newmarket in some style when scoring in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace – displaying a deadly turn of foot in both. He seems more solid than Notable Speech who has disappointed on a few occasions and he will love the rattling ground too. 

There is big international interest here too with Carl Spackler coming over and then you have horses unexposed at this trip like Lake Forest and Diego Velazquez. Even, a serious course specialist in Docklands is 20/1 in this. What a race! 

I have already advised at 7/2 in a previous page but would still be happy taking 9/4 today. 

ROSALLION 9/4 2PT WIN 

(Already advised ante post on 17/05/25 at 7/2 2pt win) 

15:05 – Coventry Stakes (G2) 

I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert with times but on pure form, I think MILITARY CODE has some pretty good form. He won easily on debut over a horse called Moonfall (novice winner since) and then here over 5f under a penalty beating Fitzella (5/1 for the Albany) and Old Is Gold (Beverley 2yo Trophy winner).  

He surely can keep improving and a step up to 6f should be no problem and I think he is overpriced at anything over 5/1. 

You have to respect anything Aidan O’Brien runs at Ascot, but Albert Einstein was the one for this race and he misses out through injury. I would also be sick if American Gulf won this after impressing on debut at Windsor, but I’ve missed the price and can’t back him at 8/1 after declining 20s. 

MILITARY CODE 7/1 1PT EW (4 places) 

15:40 – King Charles III Stakes (G1) 

We arrive for the big Group 1 sprint lacking a real superstar in the division, so it is no surprise to see 23 horses go to post for this contest. 

Last year’s winner Asfoora tops the market at 4/1, but I don’t like the lack of a pre run over here and also blinkers suggests potentially a quirk. Believing is next in, and she is more solid in my book and at 9/2 you’d be hard to say she’ll be out of the frame. 

I think the case for NIGHT RAIDER is an obvious one and I am going to have a swing at him win only at 7/1 as he looks pure speed. He ran well at York over 6f when it was impossible to front run and straight away this was set out as the plan. He has it to prove but is the one I think could blow this field apart.  

I am also hoping that an absolute burn up will help JASOUR settle.  Clive Cox’s colt made a strong start to his 3yo campaign by  winning the Commonwealth Cup trial easily and then finishing a good  3rd in the main event at this meeting. He then finished 6th in the July Cup before his season fell off.  

This season he returned at Haydock off the back of a wind op, and he was very gassy, pulling his chances away throughout the race. I’m hoping that run takes away some freshness and combining that with a quick pace and a first-time hood, I think there is a big run in him at the track where he has his best form and he is worth an each-way bet.  

NIGHT RAIDER 7/1 1PT WIN 

JASOUR 22/1 0.5PT EW (4 places) 

16:20 – St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) 

It’s hard to argue against this being the race of the week with all three of the 2000 Guineas winners clashing heads and it really should be a cracker. 

I think Field Of Gold is the one to beat here, he was deadly in Ireland when exacting some revenge from Newmarket and he will be ridden closer to ensure he is not caught out like he was by Ruling Court at Newmarket.  Henry Mattisse is solid, but I just feel his level of form is slightly below the others and Ruling Court just can’t have had the ideal preparation after being aimed at the Derby.

Field Of Gold is a short price at 4/5, but I wouldn’t be laying him, and I hope he wins this on route to the Eclipse where I think he will be even better.  

17:00 – Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 

The King has a real chance of having a winner on the opening day here with Reaching High who has clearly been plotted for this when sent to the Mullins yard. He is 7/2 and has to prove his stamina but he is bred to improve for it, and it would be no shock if he went in, but I won’t be backing him to prove himself. 

I thought that LEINSTER was overpriced at 25/1 for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McMonagle – following on from a good effort in the Chester Cup last month. That was his first attempt at a marathon trip and he was very keen at stages so I marked up his effort there. He wasn’t beaten that far in the end, and he is still very unexposed so there is certainly potential for more improvement off his mark. 

He is drawn in stall nineteen which could make it hard to lead but I wouldn’t mind if he is tucked away as that could help him settle but we’ll see – I’ll leave that to the jockey. 

East India Dock who must have a chance too is four times shorter than Leinster for just over two lengths and my selection is 6lb better off at the weights – he must be a smidge of value. 

LEINSTER 25/1 0.5PT EW (5 places) 

17:35 – Wolferton Stakes (Listed) 

This race is always very competitive, and this year seems like a listed race by name only as it is fiercely hot. 

I have fancied ENFJAAR in this for a little while off the back of a good run on his comeback in the Brigadier Gerard – combined with his progressive form as a 4yo last season. 

He worked his way from a mark of 94 up to 109 and clearly thrives in the hustle and bustle of a big field, highlighted by his win in the John Smith’s Cup. He also had a near impossible task to give Persica 5lb up at Ayr – that looks strong form now too.  

Roger Varian has won this race twice in five seasons so knows what it takes to win, and I think he is a solid each way bet at anything over 4/1 (11/2 available generally). 

Of the others, I thought King’s Gambit was interesting off the back of a run and thought you could also make a case for Ambiente Friendly who surely will suit the big field – but I’m happy to stick with Enfjaar. 

ENFJAAR 11/2 1PT EW (4 places)  

18:10 – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) 

FRENCH MASTER is another acquisition to the Wathnan team and he must have a big chance here up just 4lb for his unlikely win at Goodwood.  

He looks a bit of an awkward customer but he still looks well handicapped and Gosden reaches for blinkers here to help sharpen him up. He reminds me an awful lot of Sweet William actually. He is only 5/2 but I think he is going to prove tough to beat.  

FRENCH MASTER 5/2 2PT WIN