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 Five 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:
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.
2:30 – Chesham Stakes – Listed – 7 Furlongs
A 2-year-old contest restricted to horses who are by a sire who has won over 10 furlongs or further.
KEY CONTENDERS
This looks to be a clash between the Godolphin and Ballydoyle battalions.
TREANMOR (#5) cost 2 million euros as a yearling and comes here off the back of a very taking debut. He was sent off at very short odds in that contest, but those who had played at 30/100 never had a moments worry as he powered through the race and stormed clear in the final furlong. He did a quick 11.21 in the penultimate furlong and maintained that momentum with another sub 12 second furlong up the hill. I like his breeding, which is a nice mix of speed and stamina, and he’ll run a big race.
Aidan O’Brien has had a stellar week with his juveniles and looks to have another big shot here with MOMENTS OF JOY (#8), who is marginal favourite at the time of writing. I don’t think he was quite as impressive as Treanmor on debut but she’s got a nice pedigree, looks a beast physically and showed a fine attitude to score on debut. The yard won this last year with a similar type although I don’t think she’s quite at the level of Treanmor at this point based on their debuts.
HUMIDITY (#2) would be an appropriate winner given the conditions this week and he is a full brother to Holloway Boy who won this race on debut in 2022. Like his brother, Humidity also got off the mark at the first time of asking, albeit at a much lower level, when taking a Newbury maiden. He showed a good attitude there and should step forward again.
QUICK NOTES
THESECRETADVERSARY (#4) shaped well on debut behind a very well backed Aidan O’Brien horse, the pair pulling clear. He still looked green that day but clearly has a big engine and the time figure from that race looks very good. He looks to have a good each-way chance as he may also be the speed in the race.
VENETIAN LACE (#9) looked a good horse on debut, running down a subsequent winner with the pair pulling clear. She needs more but should be winning more races.
3:05 – Hardwicke Stakes – Group 2 – 12 Furlongs
This looks a good renewal with plenty of Group 1 form on display.
KEY CONTENDERS
REBEL’S ROMANCE (#9) is a fine horse. A winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, he won a valuable race in Qatar on his comeback and didn’t run far below his best when fourth in the Sheema Classic next time. His form dipped a little bit again last time out when winning the Yorkshire Cup but that was over a little further and it may be that the flow of staying races doesn’t quite suit him as well as he can be a bit keen. He’s solid here and as tough as they come, but at the prices he doesn’t make a great deal of appeal to me.
AL RIFFA (#2) has little to find on his peak efforts. He gets blinkers here which I wouldn’t say is a positive, but he has been running well this season over an inadequate 10 furlongs, including last time at Group 1 level. The return to this distance should suit him and he may have a bit more speed than the favourite.
GHOSTWRITER (#7) has some really good form last season, placing in the international at York and finishing third behind Al Riffa in the Eclipse. He was a bit keen last time and clipped heels in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, so you can forgive that, and his earlier form puts him right there, although I’m not convinced this horse wants a testing 12 furlongs.
AL AASY (#1) is a quirky but talented sort. He looked as good as ever when quickening up well to beat a deep field on his seasonal debut and the race just didn’t pan out for him last time at Newbury as he was held up off a slow pace. He should get more speed to run at here and loves fast ground, but he is probably a few pounds below these aged 8.
QUICK NOTES
EPIC POET (#6) narrowly failed to beat Rebel’s Romance last time. I think he’s better over further.
PALLADIUM (#8) won the Germany Derby before an aborted campaign over hurdles. He ran quite well on his return to action last time at Goodwood out but has ground to make up with Rebel’s Romance on the form of their Preis von Europa running.
SUNWAY (#11) was behind Al Aasy last time but may be sharpened up by the blinkers.
3:40 – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes -Group 1 – 6 Furlongs
This looks like an excellent renewal.
KEY CONTENDERS
LAZZAT (#8) is a gelded son of Territories who might be a superstar. A winner of his first five starts at lower levels, he burst onto the scene with a hugely impressive and wide margin win in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last August. He was beaten in his next three starts but one of those was over 7.5 furlongs and two were over a mile, so I’m happy to forgive those efforts. He was dropped back to 6 furlongs last time out and once again showed his true class, romping home by 5.5 lengths in a Listed race. He comes into this field top rated but will have to repeat that form on very quick ground.
INISHERIN (#5) was a hugely impressive winner of the Commonwealth Cup over this course and distance at the Royal meeting last year but didn’t really build on that in two subsequent runs. He was given a wind up over the winter and returned with a fine win at York last time. He was up close to a strong pace there and looked beaten, but showed a fantastic attitude to see off the patiently ridden and very talented FLORA OF BERMUDA (#14). He should step forward again from that and these are his conditions.
SATONO REVE (#11) keeps improving and ran a career best last time behind the brilliant Ka Ying Rising, the best sprinter on the planet, in the Chairman’s Sprint. He has won a Group 1 himself and the Hong Kong sprint division is arguably the best in the world, so it’s notable this Japanese-trained runner is competing so well. This stuff track will suit him, he should get a nice pace to run at, is well drawn and, given these positives, I can’t see many of these finishing in front of him.
QUICK NOTES
STORM BOY (#12) is from the Aidan O’Brien stable and was a good sprinter in Australia. He bombed out on his debut for this yard and looks very short now at 5/1, as I’m not sure his Australian form is good enough.
FLORA OF BERMUDA (#14) has ground to make up with Inisherin, particularly as she had a perfect trip last time, but she likes it here and might have improved again.
TOPGEAR (#13) has done well for this stable and has won his last three starts since cutting back to 7 furlongs. He beat some very good horses on his return to action last time when he likely would have needed the run and I don’t see a strongly run, stiff 6 furlongs being an issue for this strong traveller. The turn of foot he showed at Newmarket two back was highly impressive and he could surprise here, but fast ground is a concern and so is his gate speed. He was moderately away last time but was able to sidle up easily into the lead, although he won’t be able to do that if he misses it here against proper sprinters.
4:20 – Jersey Stakes – Group 3 – 7 Furlongs
A weak looking renewal, as evidenced by a horse who has yet to run in a Pattern race being favourite.
KEY CONTENDERS
That’s not a dig at REMMOOZ (#10), however, it’s just that it’s typical for this race to contain several horses who have run in Classics or won handicaps impressively off high marks. With that said, Remmooz couldn’t really have done much more than win both of his starts at Doncaster emphatically. He beat two mid-to-high 80s horses who had experience on debut despite looking green and really impressed me last time out under a penalty. He had cover from the wind there and looked as though he may be in trouble when a well-backed debutant tackled him, but he immediately found another gear and shot clear. It’s hard to know what he beat there with an unraced horse second and a 150/1 shot third, and it’s hard to get a handle on him overall, but the time was good and he has huge potential.
COMANCHE BRAVE (#4) looks like he needs fast ground to be seen at his best and he’ll certainly get that here. He’s basically progressed with every run and his effort behind Henri Matisse on seasonal debut reads very well. He wasn’t quite up to Group 1 level in the Irish Guineas last time out, but these are calmer waters and he gets the assistance of Ryan Moore for the first time. Very solid chance.
MARVELMAN (#6) continues to improve. He ran a good figure when winning his first start of 2025 when landing his Novice on synthetics and again impressed on the clock at Newmarket last time out, running a big figure behind a very good horse in Cosmic Year, who has gone on to finish second in the Irish Guineas. The pair were well clear that day and the form has some real substance to it with a Listed winner in third and La Botte, who looked a shade unlucky in the Britannia Stakes, in fourth. I don’t see why he shouldn’t step forward again and he should be right in the mix.
SARACEN (#11) was an impressive winner on his debut last October and made a pleasing return in the Greenham Stakes in April. The form of that contest looks solid and he is open to further improvement on just his third career start.
CALIFORNIA DREAMER (#15) ran a fine race to finish second to the brilliant Lake Victoria last time out. I’d had her pegged as more of a speed horse prior to that, so the drop down to 7 furlongs should suit her, although she had the run of the race last time off very slow fractions and may not have things so easy here.
5:00 – Wokingham Stakes – Handicap – 6 Furlongs
Another big field sprint that looks to be very open.
KEY CONTENDERS
The market looks to have got this right, however, with MORE THUNDER (21#) currently favourite. A horse who raced over as far as 10.5 furlongs last season, the drop to sprints and the switch from Sir Michael Stoute to William Haggas has really worked the oracle with this guy, who is 2/2 this year with both wins coming over this trip at Newmarket. There was some debate following his last win that he might not have the speed for this, with the 7 furlong Buckingham Palace Stakes – eventually won by his owner-mate – mooted as an alternative target, but I don’t think those concerns are valid. A look at the sectionals shows he ran a penultimate furlong in 10.83 and followed that up with a 11.61 uphill. For me, this strong finishing sort looks tailor-made to finish off a strong pace and the draw in 23 looks perfect. Clearly the one to beat.
More Thunder has had ARAMRAM (#18) behind him in second on both starts this season. This likeable type has since gone on to frank the form with a win of his own, scoring at Newbury last time out in good style. I don’t think he should have any problem with a mark of 98 but he’s 4lb worse off for a defeat with More Thunder and I expect that rival to be even better with this sort of test.
JARRAAF (#5) was a big improver last season, winning impressively over this course and distance in the Shergar Cup before finishing a length behind APOLLO ONE (#1) in the Bengough Stakes at the end of the year. He shaped as though needing the run on his only start in 2025 when beaten a length in a Listed race and should run his race, although I’m not sure I love his draw in 12.
APOLLO ONE (#1) excels in these big field handicaps and finished second in this in 2023. He’s 12lbs higher now and hasn’t been seen since finishing last in a Group 3 in April. This looks a stiff task off top weight.
VALIANT FORCE (#2) caused a shock when winning at 150/1 at this meeting two years ago and has had an up and down career since. He’s been running over as far as a mile recently, but I don’t really think that suits him and he clearly got bogged down in the mud at Leopardstown last time out. He should do better returned to sprinting on a fast surface but this mark might be stiff.
QUICK NOTES
PUROSANGUE (#7) ran a faster penultimate split than More Thunder when they met last time but couldn’t sustain it anywhere near as well, which doesn’t bode well for this stiffer test.
COMPLETELY RANDOM (#23) didn’t have much pace to go at behind Aramram last time and just levelled off late. He’ll be better in this strongly run contest.
GET IT (#11) impressed when making all over this track and trip last time out, but a middle draw and pace pressure makes this harder.
CITY HOUSE (#4) is progressive and was given a lot to do last time out.
ZOUM ZOUM (#3) was sixth in the Jersey last season and finished in front of Jarraaf at Salisbury last time out. He’s well drawn but has plenty of weight.
5:35 – Golden Gates Stakes – Handicap – 10 Furlongs
Competitive stuff for the penultimate race of the meeting, as unexposed 3-year-olds take each other on in this handicap.
KEY COTENDERS
SERAPH GABRIEL (#5) heads the market for Ralph Beckett who hasn’t had the best of weeks. This horse shaped nicely last time out at Sandown, running on well having met a bit of trouble in running at a key stage. I think he was flattening out a little bit and his high stride would be me off stepping up in trip, particularly as he’s favourite.
BEST SECRET (#4) looks the one to beat here. He blew apart a competitive handicap at Longchamp last time and has been purchased by his big spending owners since. His sectional times there were superb – a second faster through the final 3f than the next fastest runner – and he should relish a fast pace here. He has the ideal running style for this track and has outstanding claims.
ERNST BLOFELD (#11)’s last run came back fast and he is better than that as the pace was slow and he didn’t really settle. This slow striding horse might be much better settled off a fast pace and could be sitting on a huge effort; looks the main danger to his owner-mate Best Secret.
QUICK NOTES
GLEN TO GLEN (#16) ran well in a good handicap at Leopardstown last time and should put some pace into the race.
EL BURHAN (#6) ran a good figure last time but needs to prove his stamina.
BRINDAVAN (#17; reserve) quickened up well off a slow pace over course and distance last time, but I’m not sure a strong pace will suit this quick strider.
AUREL’S (#8) last win got a little boost on Thursday and the speed he showed there suggests he has plenty of talent. He might be better held up off a fast pace.
6:10 Queen Alexandra Stakes – Conditions Race – 21.5 Furlongs
A marathon to end this year’s meeting.
KEY CONTENDERS
The market suggests that SOBER (#1) has already won this. Ryan Moore is up for Willie Mullins, which is a good start, and this horse was a good stayer for Andre Fabre, placing at Group 1 level in the past. He’s had one run for Mullins when winning a good Novice hurdle in the style of a stayer and showed he was in rude health there. Should be hard to beat, but he’s odds-on as I write this.
WILD WAVES (#11) has progressed from handicaps but hasn’t been in much form this season and didn’t beat a rival in a Listed race in Italy last time. He likes fast ground and should stay at least.
SAMUI (#3) looks a reliable sort. He ran here on Tuesday when staying on well into third in the Copper Horse Stakes and I quite like the quick turnaround. He looks a real stayer, loves the going and looks a fair each-way play at 6/1.
QUICK NOTES
TROOPER BISDEE (#6) should improve for his last run but has a fair bit to find.
DALLAS STAR (#8) has a chance on ratings, but his last win was over just 10 furlongs.
TASHKHAN (#5) needs soft ground.
