Royal Ascot betting predictions ahead of the jewel in the 2025 racing crown

The Sun

6 hours ago

WITH 35 races to get stuck into, it looks set to be a stellar week of racing action at Royal Ascot. Carrying that name because of its association with the Royal Family, the five-day bonanza is one of the most prestigious sporting events around the world.
It's one of the very few where you need to be in top hat and tails to get into every enclosure, and the action on the track contains plenty of royalty, too, with no less than eight Group 1 races across the 35 contests.
Top jockeys Ryan Moore, Oisin Murphy and William Buick will be looking to have good weeks in the saddle, while some of the stand out equine stars include Notable Speech, Rosallion, Field Of Gold, Los Angeles, Inisherin and the Aussie speedster Asfoora.
With so much to digest, we've taken an in-depth look at all 35 races to bring you our four best Royal Ascot betting predictions, with full reasoning and the latest betting odds below.
Royal Ascot 2025 quick tips
Here are our top four betting tips for Royal Ascot, with full reasoning to follow below.
Tuesday 14:30 - Queen Anne Stakes
A superb renewal of the meeting's curtain-raiser, in which the form of last month's Lockinge Stakes at Newbury likely to be key. Each of the first four from that day sit at the top of the market at the time of writing, with Lead Artist (first) and Dancing Gemini (second) being joint second favourites. The first-named overturned a 13-length defeat to Dancing Gemini at Sandown the previous month when staying on well to the line and there ought to be come from both four-year-olds yet.
Notable Speech won both the 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes in a stellar three-year-old campaign last term and ought to build on his effort to finish fourth at Newbury, but preference is for Rosallion.
The runner-up behind Notable Speech at Newmarket, the son of Blue Point kicked on from that by winning both the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, before missing the remainder of the season through injury. He left the firm impression that he was the standout miler of his generation when winning here 12 months ago and provided he's fitter for his reappearance run, he's fancied to show his class and looks worth backing at 11/4 with BetVictor.
Wednesday 15:05 - Queen's Vase
A staying race for the three-year-olds which can often act as a useful pointer for the St Leger at Doncaster later in the year. Each of the last two winners (Illinois and Gregory) have returned as short-priced favourites, but this year's renewal looks an open one, with Shackleton and Scandinavia leading the market at the time of writing for the Aidan O'Brien team.
Both horses have been shaping as though they are open to improvement once stepped up in trip and are respected, as is the unbeaten gelding Amiloc, who impressed when bounding clear for Listed success at Goodwood last time. Irish raider Carmers has a similar profile, but preference is Devil's Advocate.
The son of Too Darn Hot has plenty of stamina in his pedigree being out of a Group 3-winning stayer and he's certainly given the impression that he will get better the further he goes in his four outings to date. He can be forgiven his reappearance run at Epsom in April when not appreciating the track and really caught the eye when a fine fourth in last month's Dante Stakes at York, when keeping on well to the line after receiving an aggressive ride. There should be more to come from him upped another half mile here and he looks a nice price at 7/1 with BetMGM to take this.
Thursday 15:05 - Ascot Gold Cup
The feature race of the week and one that has changed quite considerably in complexion since the retirement of last year's winner Kyprios a few weeks ago. Aidan O'Brien will be hoping that Illinois can prove to be the next in line to the throne after a fine reappearance win at Chester last month, though he feels short enough in the betting considering he's arguably yet to produce a bona fide Group 1 performance on the figures.
French raider Canderali did just that when winning a top level affair at Longchamp last month and is respected for all that he might not appreciate quick ground, while Sweet William and Coltrane are highly respected regulars in this sphere. However, the way to go could be with last year's runner-up, Trawlerman.
The seven-year-old is a veteran in this sphere and is proven at this track, seeing off Kyprios to win the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day back in 2023. Quicker ground isn't a problem and it didn't seem to be a lack of stamina that saw him just miss out in this 12 months ago, on his first try over the trip.
He attempted to make all in this 12 months ago and an ever so slightly more patient ride may see him to better effect here, in a race that's lacking a standout contender on the figures. He looked in fine fettle when returning to winning ways at Sandown last month and looks worth backing at 16/5 with SBK to go one place better this time around.
Friday 16:20 - Commonwealth Cup
A fascinating renewal of the Commonwealth Cup, in which Shadow Of Light is a confident pick to collect a third career Group 1 success. The son of Lope De Vega proved to be an outstanding juvenile last term, winning both the Dewhurst and Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn and there was plenty to like about his effort to finish third in last month's 2000 Guineas, seemingly just running out of steam late on.
It's interesting that Charlie Appleby has opted to drop his charge back to sprinting on the back of that, considering that he only ran out of steam in the dying strides, hinting that he could yet have more to offer at sprint trips as a three-year-old. He's the standout performer on the figures and trading at 7/4 with bet365, he rates as a confident pick to perhaps surprisingly provide his trainer with his first winner in this race since its conception.
📅 A look at the Royal Ascot timetable for 2025
With 35 races due to be held across the five days, there is an awful lot of racing to digest at Royal Ascot. We have taken a brief look at the action on each day and picked out some of the key races to note below, in the hope of helping you with your Royal Ascot predictions.
Royal Ascot Day 1 - Tuesday, June 17
The opening day starts with a bang, with no less than three Group 1 contests. The feature race is the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes over a mile, in which the Lockinge Stakes form at Newbury last month looks key.
Also on the card is the St James's Palace Stakes, which sees a rematch between the 2000 Guineas one-two Field Of Gold and Ruling Court, while some of the fastest sprinters in the land are set to clash in the King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs. The Aussie mare Asfoora is back to defend her crown, with Regional, Believing and Night Raider leading the European charge.
Royal Ascot Day 2 - Wednesday, June 18
The second day of Royal Ascot is headlined by the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over a mile and a quarter, which regularly proves to be a thriller. This year's renewal is perhaps lacking in its usual depth, but last year's Irish Derby winner, Los Angeles, will be hoping to stamp his authority in this division after back-to-back reappearance wins in Ireland.
Day Two's supporting card includes one of the most difficult handicap puzzles you'll find anywhere in the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile, while the three-year-olds with St Leger aspirations will be able to test their credentials in the Queen's Vase. Meanwhile, top filly Cinderella's Dream ought to take all the beating in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Royal Ascot Day 3 (Ladies Day) - Thursday, June 19
The third day of Royal Ascot centres around the Ascot Gold Cup, the centrepiece of the week. Run over two and a half miles, the race requires a combination of class and stamina and is wide open following the retirement of Kyprios. Fellow Aidan O'Brien in-mate Illinois will be hoping to pick up the crown, but each of Trawlerman, Sweet William and Coletrane are familiar faces with plenty of class, while French challenger Candelari adds spice.
The supporting card includes the Norfolk Stakes, a Group 2 sprint for the juveniles that was won by 150/1 shot Valiant Force in 2023 and yet another fiendish handicap puzzle in the form of the Britannia Stakes over a mile.
Royal Ascot Day 4 - Friday, June 20
The card for the fourth day is excellent, with two Group 1 races for the three-year-olds, the Coronation Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup. The latter has only been going since 2015 but has thrown up some top-class sprinters in that time. Last year's Middle Park and Dewhurst hero Shadow Of Light is fascinating back at six furlongs after seemingly not staying the trip in the 2000 Guineas and looks the one to beat.
Last year's Coronation Stakes winner Porta Fortuna went on to establish herself as the best filly of her generation on the back of winning this and in the absence of the English and the Irish 1000 Guineas winners, the French Guineas heroine Zarigana is a strong favourite - though there are several progressive types to note in opposition.
Royal Ascot Day 5 - Saturday, June 21
The fifth and final day of the Royal meeting is headlined by the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, which has had several titles over the years to reflect the historic reign of the late Queen. French challenger Lazzat heads the market at the time of writing, though there are several to consider in an international affair, including Inisherin for the UK, Storm Boy for Ireland and Satono Reve for Japan.
The Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes is regularly won by an upwardly mobile type in the middle distance division, being won by the likes of Crystal Ocean and Defoe in recent years. Meanwhile, the curtain is brought down by the Queen Alexandra Stakes over two miles and five and a half furlongs. This is an extreme stamina test for Flat runners and has been won by jumps yards in three of the last five years - including twice by Willie Mullins!
👉 A brief guide to common types of racing bets
One of the key reasons why horse racing betting is so popular is due to the different types of bets that you can place on your Royal Ascot betting tips. The list is vast, so we have provided some of the most popular Royal Ascot bet types for you below.
Singles, doubles, trebles
A single bet is the most simple wager that you can place on the racing, as you are betting on a horse to win a race. The same principle goes for doubles and trebles, except you are using two and three selections respectively and each horse must win for the bet to be a winner.
Each-way bets
An each-way bet is a hugely popular option for horse racing bettors. You are placing two bets in one on the same selection, with half of your stake going on the horse to win and half the stake going on a horse to place. If your horse wins the race, your full bet will settle as a winner, if the horse finishes in the places, you will usually get a quarter or a fifth of the odds depending on your betting site.
Forecasts
Forecast bets are one of the trickiest and most impressive feats in racing if you can full it off. A straight forecast involves picking the first and second horses in that exact order, with the rewards potentially being great. There is also a reverse forecast bet, where you are still picking the first and second horses, but they can finish in either order.
Accumulators
Accumulator bets are like doubles and trebles, except they involve four or more selections. They can be difficult to land, as each of your picks must win for the bet to return as a winner. There are also each-way accumulators, where every selection must place for the bet to land.
Lucky 15
This is a multiple bet which is hugely popular with horse racing punters, as you can potentially get a big return from a small outlay. It involves 15 different bets across four selections and all four horses must win for the bet to land completely.
The full bet consists of four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator, meaning you need one winner to get some kind of return. An each way lucky 15 would therefore be 30 separate bets and you'd only need one horse to place to see some kind of return from your stake.
Yankee
A Yankee bet is similar to a Lucky 15 in that it involves four selections, though in this instance, it is across 11 bets. The full bet consists of six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold accumulator, so it is essentially a lucky 15 without the single bets, and you need two winners to see some kind of return from your stake.
📺 How to follow the action
Racing fans have been spoiled this week, with all 35 Royal Ascot races due to be screened live on ITV Racing. The majority will be on ITV1, though some of the supporting races are likely to be switched to sister channels.
Sky Sports Racing are also covering the action on satellite tv, while BBC Radio Five Live will be on hand if you're driving. Punters who like to use betting apps can stream all of the action live there, though check with your provider before placing any bets. Meanwhile, you can also pop into your local betting shop and watch each and every race live there.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.