Royal Ascot 2025: Who Are The Leading Favorites?

There is few more popular horse racing events on the global calendar than Royal Ascot. The world-famous event gets underway in 2025 on Tuesday, June 17, before the big race of the week is staged in the form of the Ascot Gold Cup. 

Some of the biggest equine stars from across the world will be in action across the five-day meet this year, and there are some standout races to look ahead to. But, who are some of the early favorites for success in the Group One races at Ascot this year?

Queen Anne Stakes

The G1 Queen Anne Stakes kicks off the card on the opening day of Royal Ascot this year, with horses aged four and older competing over a mile. There have been some notable winners of the race in recent history, including Frankel, Palace Pier, and Baaeed. 

This year, all eyes will be on the talented Rosallion for trainer Richard Hannon. The four-year-old already has winning experience at Ascot to his name after landing the G1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meet last year. 

He has won five from seven on the turf, which includes a success in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2024. If returning from a setback at that standard, he will be extremely hard to overlook on his return to Ascot in 2025. 

Find how to bet here: https://www.twinspires.com/edge/racing/wagering/best-bets/ 

King Charles III Stakes

The big sprint on the opening day of Royal Ascot comes in the form of the G1 King Charles III Stakes, which covers five furlongs. This race is likely to have one of the most unpredictable betting markets on the day, and a number of contenders will feel as though they have leading chances.

However, at present, Storm Boy currently heads the betting. The three-year-old moved to the Aidan O’Brien yard at the start of the calendar year after winning five from ten starts in Australia. He is a four-time winner in stakes company, and will likely come in for a lot of attention on his British debut. 

However, it could be argued that many of his best efforts to this point have come over six furlongs, including when landing the G2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick.

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

One of the races of the week at Royal Ascot in 2025 could come in the form of the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. This contest will be run over a mile and a furlong, and it has been won by legendary equine stars in recent years such as Auguste Rodin, Love, and Dubai Millennium.

Economics will be a leading contender for the William Haggas yard in 2025. The four-year-old enjoyed some huge performances in his three-year-old campaign, which included an excellent win against Auguste Rodin in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes. 

However, he was disappointing on his only previous start at Ascot after finishing sixth of eleven in the G1 Champion Stakes at the end of last season. Any rain would be a major negative to his chances. 

Ascot Gold Cup

The featured race of the week comes on Thursday, as the Ascot Gold Cup will be staged. This race was first held in 1807, and it is the most prestigious event in Britain for stayers. A total distance of two miles and three furlongs will be covered, and a talented field including the likes of Illinois, Sweet William, and Trawlerman could go to post.

However, this year will be all about Kyprios retaining his title and winning a third Gold Cup. The seven-year-old has been the dominant stayer across the UK and Ireland for trainer Aidan O’Brien, winning 16 of his 20 career starts, and claiming 14 victories in stakes company. 

Kyprios ended a memorable 2024 campaign with a fifth win in stakes company at Ascot last term, dominating the field, and winning easily by a two-length margin in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup. 

Commonwealth Cup

One of the newest races on the Royal Ascot schedule is staged on the Friday, as the G1 Commonwealth Cup headlines the card. This race has been held since 2015, and the field will compete over a distance of six furlongs. Recent winners of the race include Inisherin and Perfect Power.

Shadow Of Light will be a very shrewd selection for many in the race this year. The three-year-old for Charlie Appleby didn’t look short of speed in the recent G1 2,000 Guineas, and likely should have came out on top after going to the front a long way from home. 

The colt has already won at the highest level, including when scoring by a dominant four-length margin in the G1 Middle Park Stakes when beating likely reappearing rival Whistlejacket. There could yet be further leading contenders to come out of the pack, but Godolphin could hold the most likely winner.