Royal Ascot 2025 Day Two Tips

14:30 – Queen Mary Stakes (G3)

The Queen Mary market has changed drastically since the start of the first day of the meeting with True Love being backed from as big as 17/2 into as short as 9/4 – all due to the Gstaad romp in the Coventry – he only beat her just under a length last time.

This has meant that ZELAINA has become a big drifter out to 4/1 and that is way too big in my books for how impressive she was on debut – in a race that Karl Burke has used as a stepping stone for previous winners of this race – Leovanni last year did the exact same. The stable has won this three times in five years and she looks a likely type.

The other filly I can’t let go unbacked is STAYA at 14/1 for George Scott. She was very impressive on debut at Yarmouth. He is not a trainer to ready his horses to the max on debut so I marked her up for that fact and also the time was supposedly a good one. I have thrown some money at her each way but Zelaina could take some whacking.

ZELAINA 4/1 1PT WIN

STAYA 14/1 0.5PT EW

15:05 – Queen’s Vase (G2)

I’ve got to say this race doesn’t inspire me to have a bet with none of these horses proven at the trip. I could look at it twenty times over and not find a bet so will save money for elsewhere!

15:40 – Duke Of Cambridge (G2)

This looks a stronger renewal of the Duke Of Cambridge than last year’s which was won by Running Lion. She could again have the run of the race from the front but I think there are fillies’ in here with more class than her.

Cinderella’s Dream looked very good when winning the Dahlia but she looks short at around 6/4 in this field, especially giving 3lb away to the field.

One Look has to be a threat based off her run behind Porta Fortuna as the latter would be favourite in here without question. But I think the bigger danger is FALLEN ANGEL who looks a big price to me at 9/2 - based off her 3yo form she would probably be favourite.

She returned this year with a 6th place finish in the Lockinge but she was expected to come on for that outing and she has to be a big player here.

FALLEN ANGEL 9/2 2PT WIN

16:20 – Prince Of Wales’ Stakes (G1)

This has to be one of the races of the week and the market is topped by Los Angeles who will be looking to maintain form with Anmaat from the Tattersalls Gold Cup. I would actually fancy that to be reversed but thought both took up too much of the market.

I have a pretty strong opinion here in that SEE THE FIRE is going to run a massive race with conditions in her favour. She was deadly in the Middleton at York last time after a promising comeback run and although that was a weak affair – she absolutely blitszed them.

She has form against the boys too – I thought she got a troubled run in the Champions Stakes last season when 5th to Anmaat and she is better on a quicker surface.

I think Map Of Stars is a very good horse too but think he may need some cut in the ground and potentially 12f too.

I backed See The Fire at 7/1 each way when she was supplemented but would still be backing her today at 5/1 and above – I think a big run is coming.

SEE THE FIRE 5/1 1PT EW

17:00 – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap)

My Cloud has been favourite for this for a while and support keeps coming for him – he is into as short as 7/2 this morning. You ca certainly see him winning but I couldn’t back him at those odds.

I was actually on Volterra ante post so was shocked to see him not declared but I have had a few darts since.

The main bet being QIRAT who is a staple in these big handicaps but has to go well again – he has been 2nd in his last pair of races here, going down in a photo to Hickory and then being beaten by a very well handicapped Volterra. Colin Keane takes over in the saddle today and blinkers go on (not really an opinion on this) and he looks solid at 10/1.

I have also had a bet on GREEK ORDER who returns to British shores after a failed trip to America. He went off 5/2 for the Cambridgeshire in 2023 off a mark of 95 when trained by Roger Charlton, just denied by Astro King and was then 3rd in a listed race before being sent on the plane. He comes back here off the same mark (95) and is certainly interesting for Michael Bell – no stranger to a big handicap winner.

My last dart is on POPMASTER who is running off 97, 3lb below his last winning mark of 100. I thought he was very unlucky on AW Finals Day when 5th in a handicap off 99 and have been waiting for him to get back to Ascot. He has actually only ran over a mile at Ascot once but he bombed on soft ground- other than that his form here is decent. I think anything over 33s is a fair each way bet.

QIRAT 10/1 1PT EW

GREEK ORDER 14/1 0.5PT EW

POPMASTER 40/1 0.5PT EW

17:35 – Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap)

You often get a good winner of this race and Soprano last year highlighted this.

I am hopeful that AROLLA could be better than a handicapper as she could be very well treated off a mark of 100 after her very good effort behind Jabaara at Musselburgh last weekend - off level weights.

She is still very lightly raced and open to a lot more improvement than most in here – I have backed her win only and anything over 7/1 would be a fair price to me.

AROLLA 8/1 1PT WIN

18:10 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)

The market suggests this is the most open 2yo contest of the weak with it being 4/1 the field. I don’t have a massively strong opinion here other than that ROGUE SUPREMACY looked very smart when winning on debut.

He was smashed up in the betting on debut when beating Vlad comfortably at Wetherby. He was spoken of very well post race and I think he is worth a flyer win only at 15/2 in a wide open contest.

ROGUE SUPREMACY 15/2 1PT WIN