Hello and welcome to our expanded coverage of Royal Ascot 2025. Anchoring our FREE coverage of every race will be Steven Bonnick, who will offer all of his Day Four thoughts in this post.
Before we get to that, let me give you an overview of everything else we have cooking.
We will have podcasts every day, including an Ascot Top 10 with Nick Luck and Vanessa Ryle.
Here’s the (tentative) lineup for the rest of the week, and if I do say so myself, it’s a who’s who in International Form Analysis.
Friday: Scott Hazelton and Rishi Persad
Saturday: Tom Stanley (and maybe Michelle again)
If that’s not enough, on the In the Money Plus side we’ll have daily “Best Bets” from Rob Dove — one of the top 10 propunters in the UK today – along with digests of the picks from all the free shows. This is in addition to all the normal cool stuff we do over there — extra shows, special coverage of other big events including Del Mar and Saratoga.
Also, make sure you check out this new way to bet on Ascot.
2:30 – Albany Stakes – Group 3 – 6 Furlongs
This looks like one of the most competitive 2-year-old races of the week.
KEY CONTENDERS
Karl Burke’s horses are always to be respected in this type of race and VENETIAN SUN (#17) heads the market for him at the time of writing. This is clearly a filly they think a lot of, as evidenced by comments from connections and her 1/2 SP on debut, and she repaid that fair with a ready win. She was workmanlike for most of the contest but really stretched away over the final furlong and will relish going further again here. She’s a nice type physically and the form and time were nice and solid, and 5/1 at the time of writing isn’t bad.
SIGNORA (#14) was pitched into a Group 3 contest on debut by Aidan O’Brien and certainly didn’t let him down with a third placed finish in a good time. She was weak in the market for that contest and was held up off a steady pace, but was doing some lovely late work at the finish. This beautifully bred daughter of Frankel should come on a ton for that effort but may need a more prominent ride here, although she is a short-priced favourite now.
GOLD DIGGER (#6) is one I’ve bet. She was given a typical waiting ride from Jamie Spencer last time out but came through in very impressive fashion to win a Yarmouth Maiden from AWAKEN (#1). The form of that race has worked out very well with 3 winners from 4 runners out of the race, but if you look even closer at the sectionals you see that was a pretty stunning display. Gold Digger screamed through the penultimate furlong in 10.4 seconds and came home in a lightning 21.58 for the last quarter of the race. The sectionals and overall time compare brilliantly with the 74-rated 3-year-old Novice run two races later – Gold Digger raced off level weights with the winner of that race but would have been getting 44lb in a handicap with weight for age – and this horse must be right out of the top drawer.
AWAKEN (#1) must also be good on that basis, although Gold Digger looked the better of the pair based on their debut runs.
GREEN SENSE (#7) looked a good filly on debut and ran very well next time out in the same Group 3 that Signora debuted in. She finished 2.5 lengths ahead of her that day but with experience under her belt, and a better flow, I’d expect Signora to overturn that margin.
FITZELLA (#5) was an impressive winner on her second start having shaped will behind Military Code (well beaten on Tuesday) here on debut. She ran a fast time at Haydock when making all the running, and those tactics may prove an advantage again with the wind behind.
BALANTINA (#2) also made all to get off the mark at the second time of asking, although I don’t like her form as much.
IPANEMA QUEEN (#9) was also up with the pace when beating a big field by a wide margin on debut. She was well backed and had the race well in command late on, winning by 5.5 lengths. She did have the favoured rail that day, but the time was good and she couldn’t really have done things much better.
QUICK NOTES
BIBI DAHL (#3) chased home Lennilu on debut, and that form got a nice boost on Wednesday.
FAIRY OAK (#4) should improve for her debut when trying to close off a tailwind behind Coventry Stakes 10th Warsaw.
3:05 – Commonwealth Cup – Group 1 – 6 Furlongs
A top-level 3-year-old sprint. This looks wide open on paper but when you look a little deeper there is little strength in depth.
KEY CONTENDERS
SHADOW OF LIGHT (#9) was a dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile and he looked as good as ever when returning in the Guineas last time out. He could only finish third there but the form couldn’t be much better and the splits he ran – an 11.04 from 2f to 1f, some 0.28 faster than St James’s Palace Stakes hero Field Of Gold – suggest he is a very good horse. The drop to this trip won’t bother him at all in my view, and this prominent racer is well drawn. I don’t think 9/4 for is a bad price really for the best horse here.
BABOUCHE (#14) beat the colts in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes last season and looked as good as ever last time out, romping home from WHISTLEJACKET (#12), quickening clear having powered through the race. She’s only got a few pounds to find on that form and can pick up the pieces if the favourite doesn’t fire.
JONQUIL (#8) is an owner-mate of Babouche. He also has Guineas form having just been touched off in the French equivalent, but that looks weaker than the English version. I can sort of see the angle of trying their hand at this as opposed to taking on Field Of Gold (same owner) in the St James’s Palace Stakes, but I wouldn’t say he’s ever struck me as a sprinter.
QUICK NOTES
WHISTLEJACKET (#12) had ground to make up on Babouche and this going might be a bit fast.
BIG MOJO (#5) was a winner here two back but was a bit disappointing with a good trip last time.
SHISOSPICY (#20) will enjoy the going and has plenty of speed, so should enjoy being whipped along by the breeze here.
AIN’T NOBODY (#1) was a winner at this meeting last year and I thought he shaped like the best horse behind Big Mojo on his comeback. He was into the wind last time out and may find this a fair bit easier. I was hoping he’d be dropped to 5 but I think he has plenty of ability.
ARABIAN DUSK (#13) arguably ran better than Ain’t Nobody last time out, as she too was into the wind and lasted a bit longer, still right there at the line. She was a good juvenile sprinter and might go well at big odds.
ARIZONA BLAZE (#3) also looks interesting. He ran very well in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at the end of last year and was impressive on his penultimate start when winning a French Group 3 in fine style. He was into the wind last time and a good test at the minimum should suit this horse, who ran well at this meeting last year.
3:40 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes – Handicap – 12 Furlongs
A tricky handicap for older middle-distance horses.
KEY CONTENDERS
ETHICAL DIAMOND (#18) was sent off 7/4 for this race last year and ran well to finish fourth. He didn’t seem to quite get home that day but was a tad wide and a little bit keen too, proving susceptible to finishers in the final furlong. He’s since developed into a decent hurdler and may have strengthened up for that experience, which should help his finishing effort here. A 2lb higher mark than last year shouldn’t be a major problem, although I think this looks a slightly better renewal.
ALMOSH’HER (#14) is lightly-raced and the most unexposed runner in the field. He made a winning start for this yard in a York handicap last time out, running out a narrow winner from STRESSFREE (#9) having had good track position. He should progress again but my concern is that he nearly ran off the track the last time he raced right-handed at Kempton.
HAND OF GOD (#7) was disappointing on his return when sent off 13/8 for a handicap at Newmarket. He’d looked progressive last season and there should be more to come this year, particularly as he has been gelded, but he’s got a bit to prove now and I’m not convinced by him over this distance, particularly as this should be a good test.
WAR ROOMS (#13) represents the same connections who won this last year and looked unlucky not to win last time out, too far back off a crawl and needing a stronger pace to run at. He should get that here and a mark of 99 is workable on his best form, which was achieved in Group 2 company. Fast ground is an unknown but he should handle it.
FRENCH DUKE (#12) has the right sort of profile for this contest. He’s not had many runs and was a good sixth in the 3-year-old equivalent of this contest last season before going on to win his next start and then finish up the season running second over course and distance to a good horse. It won’t be easy to win this off a 286-day lay-off but he’s been gelded since he was last season and Roger Varian is more than capable of getting one ready off a break. He has improved with every run of his career and should give a good account of himself.
MOUNT ATLAS (#8) is another who is relatively unexposed. A course and distance winner last season, he’s run well in two starts this year, looking to need the run on his seasonal debut in a race that came out fast on the clock. He was then not beaten far at all in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes behind Gold Cup favourite Illinois when apparently having little chance at the weights. He’ll be happier back in handicap company and looks well suited to this sort of test.
STRESSFREE (#9) made the breakthrough over this distance at Haydock last time out. This talented horse has untapped potential over this distance still and has always has a bit of class about him. The demands of this race should suit him and he looks to have a very solid chance.
QUICK NOTES
SATIN (#2) is probably drawn a little low in stall 2 as I think the better ground will likely be a bit off the rail but she was only a neck behind Ascending, who won the Ascot Stakes earlier in the week, two starts back. Her latest run in Listed company was fine for a horse rated 96 and she has claims.
TEUMESSIAS FOX (#1) is 1 from 17 on turf compared to 4 from 10 on synthetics, but it’s often been said that synthetic form translates well to Ascot and his win two back was both impressive and fast. His last run, in a Listed race over shorter, was a perfectly acceptable effort provided he can run to his best synthetic form – he has run well here before but was a well-beaten favourite at 9/2 in this race in 2023.
NAQEEB (#6) was a few lengths behind Stressfree last time out but gave the impression he was a little further behind in his progression than that rival as he was having just his second start of the season. I think he’ll step forward again and this mark is fine on his best efforts.
4:20 – Coronation Stakes – Group 1 – 8 Furlongs
Probably not the strongest renewal of this contest with neither the English or Irish Guineas winners running.
KEY CONTENDERS
We do get to see the French 1000 Guineas winner in action, however, as ZARIGANA (#11) takes her place in the field having been controversially, but correctly, awarded the victory at Longchamp from She’s Perfect. That rival ran poorly in the French Oaks at the weekend, although the third ran OK in the same race without making you think the form is bomb proof. Zarigana is clearly a very talented horse with the best form, but it’s in the price and I’m not convinced she is that good.
FALAKEYAH (#6) has always had a big reputation and was sent off a short-priced favourite on debut when demolishing her field at Wolverhampton. She’s since won the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes in dominant fashion, looking a quality filly in breaking her field apart. She was touted for the Oaks following that effort but I think she’s just got too much speed for that, so I’m quite pleased they’ve decided to go down this route instead. The sectionals of that last win are nothing out of the ordinary and that form is only OK; the time was also moderate enough. She has scope to improve though.
KON TIKI (#9) was supplemented for this following a win in a Listed race at York last time, a victory which took her career record to 3 from 3. She’s got a bit to find with Falakayeh on a line through Life If Beautiful but it’s pretty tenuous and I really liked that last score, where she tanked through the contest and quickly but the race to bed. I think she was probably idling following some quick splits and her trainer knows how to handle a good filly over this trip.
EXACTLY (#5) doesn’t have much at all to find with Zarigana and would have finished closer to her in the French 1000 with a clear run close home last time. She looked a bit ungainly there and was changing her legs, so I’m not sure this fast ground will prove optimal, but she has pretty solid claims.
CHANTILLY LACE (#3) ran well on only her second start when fifth in the English 2000 Guineas, boxing on well at the end. Ralph Beckett’s horses were needing the run at the time so she should step forward again.
BRIGHT (#7) looked a high-class filly when giving Desert Flower the most the think about in the English 1000 Guineas but didn’t run as well when fancied in the Irish equivalent next time out. She was a bit keen that day and maybe ran a bit flat; I think she is better than that and will enjoy getting back on some fast ground.
QUICK NOTES
SIMMERING (#10) was a place behind Bright at Newmarket but also didn’t show her form in Ireland next time when beating just one home.
JANUARY (#8) was a good 2-year-old and is Ryan Moore’s pick here. She looked to need the run in the Irish 1000 when only 8th, but will need to step forward a lot to be in the mix here.
5:00 – Sandringham Stakes – Handicap – 8 Furlongs
Unexposed 3-year-old fillies over a mile here in a tricky looking race where it’s currently 8/1 the field.
KEY CONTENDERS
SUPERMODEL (#10) was an impressive winner on her 2-year-old debut before disappointing at Listed level on her final juvenile start. She returned at 3 with a pleasing win and is in good hands to progress again.
SWEET CHARIOT (#7) has done her winning over sprint trips but has enough stamina in her breeding to suggest she’ll stay. She didn’t cut much ice in a Group 3 last time but I’m not sure giving weight to some well-bred improvers will be much easier.
TABITI (#1) has top-weight by virture of a Group 3 win last season. She was sent off 11/2 for a Group 1 on her final start of 2024 but didn’t fire that day and hasn’t been seen since. Blinkers are added here and this speedy sort might not want a stiff mile – enough doubts for me.
DASH OF AZURE (#18) represents the same stable as Tabiti and returned with a nice victory over a good yardstick on synthetics last month. She should improve again for this distance on breeding and is bred to be better than a mark of 86 so should go very well.
BETTY CLOVER (#2) is relatively exposed but she basically made the same run as Crimson Advocate at Goodwood two back and that effort looks a lot better now. She’s run well in France since, likes this track and has a solid chance.
SILVER GHOST (#6) has won her last two starts in the style of a Pattern-class performer including when beating MISS NIGHTFALL (#11) at Goodwood last time. That victory came in a very quick time and some of her sectionals there were very eye-catching. Her striding suggests that she should relish this mile distance and I think she’s got an excellent chance.
QUICK NOTES
OOLONG POOBONG (#15) was a nice winner last time and, while the time was only moderate, she beat a well handicapped horse in ARABIAN LEOPARD (#27) there.
TRAD JAZZ (#14) has struggled a little at Listed level the last twice but was an impressive winner on her debut and 87 doesn’t look a mark that’s beyond her.
BOUNTIFUL (#5) looks a dubious stayer.
5:35 – King Edward VII Stakes – Group 2 – 12 Furlongs
The Ascot Derby, in line with other middle-distance races this week, does not look a great race.
KEY CONTENDERS
I love AMILOC (#1) as a horse and I think this is a really classy animal. There’s a lot of stamina in his breeding and it was pretty remarkable that he could win a conditions race over a mile two back in my view, particularly as the time was so good. He predictably proved better stepped up to 11 furlongs last time out and won despite racing lazily most of the way around. You’d probably want to see him travel a bit better here but the response when he was sent about his business was pretty electric still and he was very strong on the gallop out. I really do think this is one of the best 3-year-olds in training and it’ll take a good one to beat him.
PUPPET MASTER (#8) was a good juvenile and seemed to enjoy stepping up to this distance when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial last time out. He was idling in front that day and might have more to come on this better going, so should pose a threat to the favourite.
ZAHRANN (#11) impressed me when storming home at Leopardstown in a Listed race last time out. He didn’t beat much there but an 11.21 penultimate furlong and a 12.13 final furlong suggests this horse has a pretty wicked turn of foot. He should improve again for that run and I think this track will suit him.
QUICK NOTES
WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (#10) was third in the Dante but that form looks abysmal. He gets cheekpieces here but I’m not sure he’ll stay.
CONVERGENT was third behind the Derby 1-2 in the Chester Vase last time out having won his first two starts. He had the run of the race there but it’s perfectly valid to argue he’d have finished in the first 5 in the Derby based on that, particularly as the three came clear in that contest. That form would give him some chance and he’ll be much happier getting a lead off a good gallop here.
6:10 – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes – Handicap – 5 Furlongs
30 unexposed 3-year-olds in a 5 furlong dash here, making this about as appealing as betting on a maiden claimer at Ruidoso Downs.
KEY CONTENDERS
I’m going to keep this simple and focus on RUBY’S PROFIT (#13). This filly is a big improver and I thought she might be a horse that could go well in the Group 1 Nunthorpe if entered. She’s like a bullet out of the stalls and has blistering early pace, but hasn’t really had her conditions running into headwinds the last twice. She gets the wind behind her here and could blitz these from the front.
REALIGN (#12) improved for a drop back to 6 furlongs last time out and his juvenile form has worked out. I’m not sure about the distance for him and he’s been well found in the betting.
REDORANGE (#9) beat Ruby’s Profit last time out. He had a good trip around that day but is another quick starter and should be in the mix.
Topweight HAMMER THE HAMMER (#1) cuts back in distance but this strong-travelling sort, who ran a huge figure two back, should be able to cope with the drop to a strongly run 5 furlongs.
QUICK NOTES
STORM IMPACT (#8) beat Ruby’s Profit last time but was held up out of the wind there and this’ll be tougher on faster going.
LEXINGTON BLITZ (#27) finished a place behind Stormy Impact there but raced without cover. This faster ground might not be ideal but he’s got form claims.
CANDY (#4) could figure in the finish at huge odds. He was a Listed winner as a juvenile and has had excuses this season, presumably needing the run here on seasonal debut before racing into the wind last time. This fast horse won’t mind dropping down to the minimum trip and back into handicap company, and conditions should play to his strengths.
