14:30, Queen Anne Stakes
Rosallion 9/4, 2pts win
What a barn stormer of a Group 1 to open the meeting. The Queen Anne is always a race to look forward to and the 2025 renewal is no different. The Lockinge looks to hold the key form to this race now that course winner Sardinian Warrior is out. Lead Artist just got the better of the argument with Dancing Gemini that day. Both horses came into that off the back of running in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown in April, with the winner especially showing the benefit of that. Lead Artist is well respected again here given he won that race but the suspicion is that this won't pan out so favourably and he's not always been the most consistent in the past. Dancing Gemini should run his race again but this will be even harder now as the 2 horses who finished in behind the leaders that day are expecting to improve plenty for the outing. Last year's 2000 Guineas winner, Notable Speech ran a similar race to Rosallion and is expected to go closer but preference is for Richard Hannon's stable star to notch a 2nd Royal Ascot victory following on from his victory in the St James' Palace Stakes on this day 12 months ago. Sean Levey's mount was clearly lacking fitness in the prelims but briefly looked like winning a furlong from home before tiring late on. He still managed to fend of Notable Speech for third that day but is expected to make more progress from Newbury than his old nemesis.
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15:05, Coventry Stakes
Gstaad 11/2, 2pts win
The week's first 2 year old race is also it's most prestigious. The Coventry Stakes is always a fiercely contested Group 2 and this year seems to have a more open look to it with ante-post favourite, Albert Einstein, ruled out of the race last week. There's too many in here to mention but Irish runners Andab and Power Blue must be respected given they ran well against Albert Einstein when finishing 3rd and 2nd behind him in the Marble Hill last time out but others may have more potential. The front end of the market is stacked with debutant winners who are now having their second run of their careers. Paul and Oliver Cole's colt American Gulf is respected after putting up a classy effort at Windsor, whilst Military Code brings in decent course form and is now 2 from 2. Rock Of Thunder and Underwriter were impressive winners on their debuts and both must be respected, particularly the former as the race he won at Leicester had some depth to it. Postmodern put up perhaps the most eyecatching performance of a 2 year old so far this year in Britain when hosing up at Yarmouth 26 days ago. He must have a big shout but my only worry is that he was quite a handful that day and his big event could get to him. That's only a slight negative though. In the absence of potential superstar Albert Einstein, the racing machine that is Ballydoyle has turned to Gstaad and Warsaw in search of an astonishing 11th win in the race. Warsaw won well at Navan on debut, striding well clear of the field 10 days ago. The suspicion is that it wasn't expected however, as he was sent off 18/1 and ridden by a 5 pound claimer. He's clearly exciting but it is his stablemate Gstaad who looks better placed to get one on the board early for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. Sent off 7/1 against odds-on stablemate True Love at Navan 31 days ago, this Starspangledbanner colt ran with real maturity to pick up the favourite in the final furlong to win by a extending three quarters of a length. He hinted at plenty more to come that day and the form looks just about the best on offer here as True Love is headed towards the Queen Mary this week and finished ahead of Power Blue on her debut.
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15:40, King Charles III Stakes
Asfoora 9/2, 2pts win
I put up the Australian mare at 7/1 last week in an ante-post piece and she has since usurped Believing as favourite. I still believe Henry Dwyer's 6 year old has a great chance of becoming the first Australian horse to win at back to back Royal meetings. Admittedly, her preparation hasn't gone smoothly but she has been the subject of glowing reports since landing in Newmarket and has been training well in the build-up. She's been given the perfect draw in stall 10 so Murphy can play her however he wants and I'm expecting a big run. It's an open race with Believing and Regional sure to run their races although both were seemingly put in their place by Asfoora last year. Perhaps the biggest danger will come from Ed Walker's hugely progressive 5 year old mare Mgheera who quickened up nicely to win the Temple Stakes 24 days ago. She's also got a nice draw in stall 8. American Affair could run well at a decent price as he is drawn near the likely early pace.
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16:20, St James' Palace Stakes
Field Of Gold 4/5, 5pts win
The race of the week once again is the St James' Palace Stakes. This year's running brings together the winners of the English, Irish and French Guineas in the formidable shapes of Ruling Court, Field Of Gold and Henri Matisse. These are 3 hugely talented colts who are all worthy classic winners in their own rights. Henri Matisse has been done no favours by being drawn in stall 1 and will need a gap to open up somewhere but the bigger issue may be that the French Guineas he won didn't look the greatest renewal and on bare form has something to find with the other 2 market leaders. Ruling Court downed Field Of Gold at Newmarket but the general consensus is that he benefited from a sleeping jockey on the runner-up and despite the race not going to plan, the great grey horse only just failed to real in the winner on the line. Ruling Court was pulled out from the Derby 10 days ago at the 11th hour and that can't be helpful with an eye towards this and so everything is suggesting that this will be another day in the sun for Field Of Gold. Juddmonte's star bids to emulate his sire, the great Kingman, in finishing 2nd at Newmarket only to bounce back to win the Irish Guineas and St James' Palace. He should have beaten Ruling Court at Newmarket but it is not expected that history will repeat itself. Irish jockey Colin Keene comes in for the ride again (rode Field Of Gold to victory at the Curragh) now in his new role as retained jockey for Juddmonte and he will be delighted to see he's been drawn in stall 5 to negate any chance of traffic difficulties. John & Thady Gosden's stable flagbearer has suggested he is the best 3 year old in Europe and here he has the fundamental chance to prove it once and for all.
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17:00, Ascot Stakes
Manxman 9/1, 1.5pts each-way (5 places)
Saturn 28/1, 1pt each-way (5 places)
Willie Mullins is the king of the long distance handicaps at Royal Ascot and his runner here is owned by another King in the shape of Charles III. With this in mind, the Ascot Stakes must have been the plan ever since the Irish trainer was sent this enigmatic 4 year old. He looks well weighted, has been drawn well in stall 1 and has the services of Ryan Moore. He has been found in the market however, so perhaps the value lies elsewhere. Triumph Hurdle 3rd and Chester Cup winner East India Dock must have a decent chance but the suspicion is that Chester was the aim and anything else is now a bonus that the handicapper has caught up. Surprise Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros has sneaked in at the bottom of the weights and looks well handicapped on jumps form but whether he will stay this far on the flat has to be a real concern. He's likely to be ridden for luck. At the likely odds, Simon and Ed Crisfords upwardly mobile 5 year old Manxman makes plenty of appeal. He's come a long way since opening his account in an amateur riders handicap at Windsor in July 2023 off a mark of 46. He's now running off 96 but it is entirely warranted given that he is now a 7 time winner and hasn't been out of the first 3 since sent handicapping. Of course, there is always the worry that the handicapper has now caught up but he put up a huge display to finish 2nd in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October over nearly this trip and he really wasn't stopping at the line. He's continued in great form this year and comes into this off the back of a victory over 2 miles at Goodwood where he gunned down Mr Hampstead on the line. Not many horses will get this marathon trip but the data is suggesting that Manxman will get it better than most and from a handy draw in stall 4, he's expected to go close. At much bigger odds, Jessie Harrington's 5 year old son of Galileo, Saturn could run well. He's also been drawn well in stall 3 and this son of champion filly Alpha Centari has long hinted that he has potential as a stayer. He comes into this off a poor showing at Cork last time out but that was over 12 furlongs and he's now running over a mile further. That race didn't go to plan as it turned into a bit of a dash and he's 2 from 2 in races over 14 furlongs, both times not stopping at the line.
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17:35, Wolferton Stakes
Enfjaar 5/1, 2pts each-way (4 places)
Meydaan 12/1, 0.75ps each-way (4 places)
The Wolferton Stakes is just about the hottest Listed race run anywhere in Europe. It is an open renewal again this year with plenty bringing quality form to the table. 2024 Jersey Stakes winner Haatem bids to bounce back to form on his first start over 10 furlongs and would be a danger to all if building on his 2 starts so far this term as would Joseph O'Brien's Sons And Lovers who ran well behind Los Angeles last time, stall 1 perhaps hasn't done Ryan Moore much favours though given he likes to be held up. King's Gambit was an unlucky loser of the Golden Gates Handicap here last year but thing's haven't gone to plan since and now looks on a bit of a retrieval mission albeit, he is more than capable of going close if on a going day. Liberty Lane brings in decent form but the suspicion is that the ground will be faster than he likes. He just edged out Meydaan at Goodwood last time out but Simon and Ed Crisford's 4 year old has a 3 pound pull at the weights with the winner and looks more likely to be there at the finish. This well bred son of Frankel won a decent renewal of the Cocked Hat Stakes last year before finishing 4th in the Queen's Vase at this meeting. He was tried over trips too far but has seemed to have found his niche now back running over the 10 furlong trip. He's shaped as though he's coming to the boil at the right time and looks set to go close. But preference overall is for Shadwell's likeable 5 year old Enfjaar. Roger Varian has won 2 of the last 5 renewals of this including last year with another Shadwell horse, Israr. Jim Crowley has been drawn in stall 2 so should be able to save ground throughout and although he finished behind re-opposing Military Order in the Brigadier Gerrard at Sandown last time out, he shaped with more promise than the Godolphin horse and looked in dire need of the run. It seems that this has been the big early season aim for last year's John Smiths' Cup hero and he seems more consistent these days. His form when finishing 2nd on his last start of 2024 in the Doonside Cup at Ayr over this trip and likely ground has been given boosts as the winner, Persica, has since won the Diomed Stakes at Epsom earlier this month and the 3rd placed horse, Eydon, claimed the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury last month.
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18:10, Copper Horse Stakes
Caballo De Mar 11/2, 2pts each-way (5 places)
This doesn't look the strongest renewal of the 14 furlong handicap that closes off day 1 of the Royal meeting. French Master has the sexy profile being by Frankel, trained by the Gosdens and owned by Wathnan but he hasn't looked to have many gears for all he's hugely unexposed and doesn't make huge appeal at the likely odds. Neither does Willie Mullins' Charlus who was last seen finishing well down the field in the Triumph Hurdle. He could be chucked in on French form but he has to prove that he handles quick conditions and stays this trip on the flat. Preference therefore, is for George Scott's winning machine Caballo De Mar. Callum Shepherd's mount has been given a fair draw in stall 9 so can be played however he wants but history suggests he will be positively ridden especially as he is a winner over further. His runner-up effort in the Chester Cup is some of the best form on offer and it's not off-putting that he has won plenty on the all-weather as synthetic form lends itself well to Ascot's turf track. The 5 year old son of Phoenix Of Spain arrives fresh from a victory over 2 miles at Haydock in a race in which he was the winner for every single yard of the home straight and he's taken to notch another win to add to an already fruitful campaign.
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