A stellar Royal Ascot day 1 in 2025 ensures Britain’s major summer Flat racing festival begins with a great day of action in Berkshire. The card on Tuesday, 17 June contains three Group 1s and some hot staying handicaps.
One of the best races of the Royal meeting goes on first. That’s the Queen Anne Stakes of 2025 for older milers. Following that is the first of the five-day fixture’s juvenile races in the Coventry Stakes.
More Group 1 action is next up with the King Charles III Stakes for sprinters over the flying five furlongs and St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025 for three-year-old colts. Later on the Royal Ascot day 1 card, we have the Ascot Stakes and Copper Horse Stakes. Both are long-distance handicaps for older horses.
Sandwiched between those is the always competitive Wolferton Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter. Listed action doesn’t get any more competitive. Guiding you through all that are our horse racing experts. We’ve had them studying the Royal meeting for some time.
Based on their analysis of form and the prices on horse racing betting sites in the UK, they have their thoughts on the best of the action. Read on and discover who makes their shortlists for a terrific Tuesday card and beginning to this gala.
Royal Ascot Day 1 2025 Preview for Tuesday, 17 June
2:30 – 1m (Straight) Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes
John & Thady Gosden have another runner to note, however, in Sardinian Warrior, who won the official Queen Anne Trial and wasn’t disgraced when runner-up over further in France. Lake Forest is something of a dark horse for William Haggas, meanwhile, in that he hasn’t tried a mile before but does now.
Of the others, last year’s runner-up Docklands can never be discounted at his beloved Ascot. Notable Speech and Carl Spackler may appreciate a less testing mile. Diego Velazquez hasn’t had a run this season, so that lack of race fitness might be an issue in such deep water.
3:05 – 6f Group 2 Coventry Stakes
We advise a watching brief in all the juvenile races during the Royal meeting, because there’s so little data to go on from a betting perspective.
3:40 – 5f Group 1 King Charles III Stakes
Lucky Stall 10 (three winners since 2018) goes to last year’s heroine ASFOORA, who has first-time blinkers on. Oisin Murphy is back aboard the Australian sprinting star and she’s co-tops on official ratings. Also on a mark of 114 are Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint scorer Starlust for Ralph Beckett and Ed Bethell’s Regional.
Adjusting things to include weight carried brings George Scott’s three-year-old West Acre into calculations, however. This young pretender needs to bounce back from not last home over 6f behind Believing in the Middle East and translate his 5f form from the Middle East to the UK, though.
Amo Racing’s Bucanero Fuerte is the only other one within 2lb of the ratings band, meanwhile. Of those who could still be improving, Ed Walker inmate Mgheera seeks a hat-trick and Tropical Storm was runner-up over course and distance at this meeting last year. Sprint races always carry the risk of an upset, but most need career bests to just get in the frame.
4:20 – 1m (Round) Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes
A clash between the winners of the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas on Royal Ascot day 1 to savour. HENRI MATISSE is the value bet here after breaking the track record. Aidan O’Brien runs three of the seven, but he’s the clear pick of the Ballydoyle trio after winning at the Breeders’ Cup in the autumn and across the Channel last time out.
Henri Matisse has a couple of apparent pacemakers (First Wave and Officer) in the line-up with Irish Guineas winner Field Of Gold a major threat. He ran out an impressive victor at the Curragh last time out and again Juddmonte look like their other runner Windlord is in there to make it a gallop for him.
Field Of Gold is a poor price, however, and probably should’ve beaten Ruling Court in the English 2000 Guineas, if given a better ride. The latter was a late scratching from The Derby and reroutes here. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin changing plans in less than a fortnight is far from ideal. With the French Guineas form franked, Henri Matisse might get the better of them both.
5:00 – 2m 4f Ascot Stakes Heritage Handicap (0-100)
WOW. 100-1
What a shock in the JCB Triumph Hurdle! Poniros beats out East India Dock and Lulamba 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/UfwLVscRP7
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025
Poniros suffered a subsequent defeat by Lulamba at Punchestown, but a final flight error played a role. With no obstacles in his way during Royal Ascot day 1, he can land this under William Buick. Those who filled minor places in the Irish Cesarewitch for O’Brien, the remarkably versatile Nurburgring with Colin Keane down to ride and Dawn Rising, also have claims.
Comfort Zone could also go well for the stable if repeating his Naas victory of last autumn. Also crossing the Irish Sea is last season’s Chester Vase, Northumberland Vase and English Cesarewitch hero Alphonse Le Grande for Tony Martin. He may come late under a trademark Jamie Spencer ride.
For the home team, Chester Cup scorer East India Dock only has a length with Poniros to find on hurdles form, yet now meets him off 6lb worse terms for James Owen. Manxman is another contender, while last year’s runner-up Divine Comedy and Amo Racing’s Mr Hampstead complete a long shortlist.
5:35 – Listed 1m 2f Wolferton Stakes
Wathnan Racing keep on winning! A sweeping victory in The Jersey Stakes for HAATEM under James Doyle, giving him his fourth #RoyalAscot win this year. Superb from trainer Richard Hannon! pic.twitter.com/1ckQ7ju2Qo
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 22, 2024
A third string to Wathnan’s bow, meanwhile, is unlucky Hampton Court second King’s Gambit. Retained rider James Doyle is on Haatem, however, which may be a tip in itself. There’s little evidence on subsequent form, meanwhile, that favourite Enfjaar has trained on since landing the John Smith’s Cup for Roger Varian and Shadwell Estates.
At a bigger price, last season’s Queen’s Vase fourth Meydaan can reverse Goodwood form with neck winner Liberty Lane off 3lb better terms. Joseph O’Brien saddles Galen under a penalty, so he may find things a bit hot, and Sons And Lovers. The latter must improve for all the eye-catching jockey booking of Ryan Moore suggests connections are having a go.
6:10 – 1m 6f Copper Horse Stakes Handicap (0-105)
Chief among the dangers is Wathnan’s Goodwood distance winner French Master. He did loads of good work up the rail late on there, prompting connections to purchase him presumably with this in mind. John & Thady Gosden now fit him with first-time blinkers and French Master also has a 4lb rise to contend with.
Mullins mounts Charlus and Pappano (first reserve) might not be the best of the Irish challenge for once, however. Old rivals Samui and Fairbanks lock horns again here, but both could go well at bigger prices. So might Noel Meade’s evergreen nine-year-old Jesse Evans and we haven’t got to the bottom of Natalia Lupini inmate Barnso either with Oisin Murphy taking the ride.
