Hardwicke Stakes 2025 Preview – Runners Guide as Older Horses Race on Royal Ascot Final Day

The Hardwicke Stakes of 2025 is the last Group 2 contest at Royal Ascot on Saturday, 21 June. A historic mile-and-a-half race for older horses, it provides pointers towards the King George held here over the same course and distance the following month.

A field of 18 remain at penultimate declarations with trainers William Haggas and Joseph O’Brien having three entries each. It’s unlikely all of them will run, however, with Caviar Heights and Candleford yet to race this season for the Newmarket handler. Al Aasy could line up, though.

O’Brien has Al Riffa as an intended runner, but Galen and Sons And Lovers both go for the Wolferton Stakes on the opening day of the Royal meeting. Andrew Balding is double-handed, meanwhile, courtesy of Kalpana and Bellum Justum.

Rebel’s Romance for Godolphin, Wathnan Racing entry Space Legend, David Menuiier inmate Sunway and Ralph Beckett filly You Got To Me are all no strangers to Ascot. Each could turn out in the Hardwicke Stakes of 2025.

The German Derby winner Palladium adds extra intrigue to the race after new connections purchased him from Europe. Champion Hurdle second Burdett Road and battle-hardened Flat handicapper Epic Poet are other interesting names taking aim here.

Ghostwriter and Tabletalk try this trip after campaigns over shorter and further, meanwhile. Raja Raja, who looks more of a social entry than serious contender, completes the field.

With so many runners to assess, punters can look to our experts for guidance. After all, that’s what we pay them for. Assessing form and odds with horse racing bookmakers is bread and butter to them, so find out all about each of these entries.

Hardwicke Stakes 2025 Runners Guide

1. Al Aasy

Veteran with course and distance form figures of 152 in lower grades. Tricky ride and needs delivering late like when landing Sandown Group 3 on reappearance. Beaten favourite for sixth time in career when fourth at beloved Newbury stepped back up in trip latest. In much deeper water now.

2. Al Riffa

Still unexposed at a mile-and-a-half after just two career starts over it. Shaped as though he hasn’t had the pace for shorter in two starts this calendar year. German Group 1 winner on good ground last summer after excellent second giving weight for age away in the Eclipse. One of the Hardwicke Stakes 2025 runners to note.

3. Bellum Justum

Beaten four times in five starts over a mile-and-a-half. Landed a poor Newmarket Group 2 last month before comprehensive defeat by old rival Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup around Epsom latest. Just a neck separated the pair at Goodwood last summer. Prefers faster ground, but faded into third over mile-and-a-quarter at this meeting 12 months ago. Others appeal more.

4. Burdett Road

Better known for exploits over jumps in recent times, finishing second in a dramatic Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this spring. Listed winner on the level over this trip before that, however, and handicap success at the Royal meeting back in 2023. Needs a lot of improvement from first Flat start since September at Sandown. Discounted from Hardwicke Stakes 2025 shortlist.

5. Candleford

Won at this meeting three years ago and two Listed victories since. Not seen for 12 months after finishing fourth in this race in 2024. Bound to need the run, conceding race fitness to everything bar new stable companion Caviar Heights.

6. Caviar Heights

Listed 1m 2f winner as a three-year-old, but has since changed owners and yards. No match for Kalpana at Hamilton Park and only sixth on another visit to Scotland latest. Gelded since, but hard to see him running well in the Hardwicke Stakes of 2025 with no record of performing when fresh.

7. Epic Poet

Brilliant! Crystal Black comes late to win the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes for the Keane family! #RoyalAscot

pic.twitter.com/ZZvWtOBEtX

— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) June 21, 2024

Progressive from handicaps and denied by a head in the Yorkshire Cup over further latest. Runner-up in the Duke Of Edinburgh at this meeting 12 months ago. Placed in some big handicaps like the Ebor and Red Sea Turf, so a strong stayer over this sharper trip. Hard to rule out, but keeps improving largely without winning.

8. Galen

Declared to race in the Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday.

9. Ghostwriter

Sold for £2,000,000 to new owners on Monday, despite not winning a race since his undefeated juvenile campaign. Behind Al Riffa in the Eclipse last summer. Also third in the Juddmonte International at York, but not in the frame in three subsequent starts abroad. New trip of the Hardwicke Stakes 2025 brings stamina questions marks and he’ll need the damsire to impart plenty of it.

10. Palladium

Sold for big money after German Group 1 glory last season. Aborted hurdling campaign for Nicky Henderson after winning UK debut around Huntingdon. Since switched to top Newmarket yard and ran well when beaten a neck and head in Listed event at Goodwood latest. More to come despite short turnaround and should strip fitter for that recent outing with this a long-term goal.

11. Raja Raja

All-Weather handicap winner around Southwell over this trip in December his only career win to date. A horse in the low 80s has no business running at this level. Completely disregard.

12. Rebel’s Romance

Globetrotting gelding who has Grade / Group 1 wins in the Middle East, Europe, America and Hong Kong. Added Yorkshire Cup when denying Epic Poet at York latest and no surprise to see him drop back in trip. Didn’t match his best form here when third in the King George over course and distance last summer. Still a leading contender for the Hardwicke Stakes of 2025 off top rating.

13. Sons And Lovers

Also declared to run in Tuesday’s Wolferton Stakes.

14. Space Legend

French dominance in The King Edward VII stakes! CALANDAGAN romps home under Stephane Pasquire for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and owner H.H. Aga Khan. #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/F2WJkwxzvi

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 21, 2024

Runner-up to Calandagan, beaten in the Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup on two subsequent UK starts, at the Royal meeting last year. Unable to match that King Edward form since. Should come on for reappearance over inadequate trip in the Huxley Stakes at Chester latest, though. Each-way player on pick of his form.

15. Sunway

Placed in both the Irish Derby and St Leger last season either side of fourth in the King George over course and distance. Behind Rebel’s Romance on that occasion and no longer receiving weight for age. Best runs are on softer than good to firm. Needs rains before the Hardwicke Stakes of 2025 to have any hope.

16. Tabletalk

Runner-up over this trip in both Newbury Group 3s this spring. Won the Melrose Handicap at York over further last summer. Best runs on good to firm, but trailing in here last in the Noel Murless Stakes in the autumn is a worry. Needs to find improvement.

17. Kalpana

Unlucky third in the Ribblesdale Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago, but put that right with three subsequent wins including a Group 1 against older females over course and distance in the autumn. No run up the far rail when third to Los Angeles and staying on in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on reappearance latest. The one to beat in the Hardwicke Stakes of 2025 now stepped back up in trip.

18. You Got To Me

Won Lingfield Oaks Trial, then fourth at Epsom and in the Ribblesdale when outstayed by Kalpana. Peaked for Irish Oaks last summer. Runner-up in the Yorkshire Oaks, but has finished last of seven on her last two starts. Filly who looks to have lost her way and must recapture best form to have a chance here.

Hardwicke Stakes 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

Not an original selection by any means, but KALPANA should be unbeaten arguably here and would be if she hadn’t missed the break in the Ribblesdale 12 months ago. Juddmonte have another star filly on their hands, who could scale even greater heights this season.

The chief threat to Kalpana comes from Al Riffa, who still isn’t exposed over a mile-and-a-half. Rebel’s Romance also has claims, but he must prove he acts at Ascot. If taking to this quicker ground, then Palladium could get in amongst the market principals.

Concerns hang over Ghostwriter and Space Legend, meanwhile. It wouldn’t be a shock if Epic Poet ran a big race in defeat, however, but this demands a lot more than the handicaps he normally runs in.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee