Thursday, 19 June is Royal Ascot day 3 this year and the Gold Cup headlines another competitive card of first-class Flat racing from Berkshire. It marks the midway point of this iconic meeting with the long-distance Group 1 on top.
Besides the Ascot Gold Cup of 2025, there are two Group 2s supporting it and three handicaps. The card begins with a two-year-olds only sprint race in the Norfolk Stakes. After that, there’s the King George V open just to horses a year older.
Before the main event, three-year-old fillies strut their stuff in the Ribblesdale Stakes of 2025 over a mile-and-a-half. The Gold Cup itself is the jewel in the crown of Royal Ascot day 3 with the two-and-a-half mile test carrying such history and prestige with it.
Later on the card, the Britannia Stakes is another three-year-olds only handicap, but this one has a huge field. Before the concluding Buckingham Palace Stakes, there’s yet more action for horses of that age thanks to the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes.
Helping you narrow down the fields before you take a punt on horse racing betting sites are our experts. Even they find so many competitive handicaps a stretch, but there’s honest analysis of the races from this card below…
Royal Ascot Day 3 2025 Preview for Thursday, 19 June
2:30 – 5f Group 2 Norfolk Stakes
As with all over juvenile races during the meeting, we advise punters to take in what happens on the track. With so little form to go on, it’s the only sensible option.
3:05 – 1m 4f King George V Stakes Heritage Handicap (0-105)
Aidan O’Brien runs three, meanwhile, with Serious Contender the clear pick of those. He’s up 7lb for beating re-opposing stable companion Light As Air around Leopardstown, but needed every yard of 1m 2f. Serious Contender looks sure to improve for going up an extra quarter-mile. Propose landed his Curragh maiden well enough, but has the same mark as Light As Air having achieved less.
Ralph Beckett has a couple of wins in this race over the last four years, so Wathnan Racing purchase Sing Us A Song commands respect. He meets old rival Gunship off the same terms as when scoring at Sandown. The horse that split them again filled the runner-up spot in a York handicap. Godolphin gelding Masai Moon has topweight, meanwhile, after getting up to deny Boatswain around Nottingham last time.
At bigger prices, punters should also consider the likes of Lightening Mann, who previously beat Merchant by a length at Newmarket, and York fourth Pantile Warrior for the Gosdens. The latter is 8lb better off with the selection from York after again finishing behind the third around Doncaster with the par split by Novelista on Town Moor. Joseph O’Brien pair Omni Man and Waterford Flow off a low weight aren’t without chances either.
3:40 – 1m 4f Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes
Whirl gives Ryan Moore a double of the day and a third win overall in the Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, as Aidan O’Brien adds another of the classic trials to his impressive list pic.twitter.com/3Mlnlh7RS1
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 14, 2025
After chasing home The Oaks runner-up Whirl in the Musidora at York, SERENITY PRAYER has good claims of going one better on Royal Ascot day 3. Andrew Balding’s filly shaped very much as though the extra couple of furlongs would be just fine for her on the Knavesmire. Serenity Prayer isn’t against any big guns in the Ribblesdale, which looks a poor race on paper this year.
Paddy Twomey does well with his females, so Catalina Delcarpio looks a danger after her Naas Oaks Trial second. She beat re-opposing third Island Hopping despite changing legs. The Ballydoyle bunch aren’t seemingly some of the best fillies, yet could always improve for the longer trip. Garden Of Eden and Ecstatic complete the trio running for Aidan O’Brien.
The Gosdens also have three with Life Is Beautiful the pick of those. She chased home a couple of fillies on her last two thought good enough for their connections to supplement them for Friday’s Coronation Stakes. Go Go Boots and Understudy have less to recommend them. Johnston inmate Caspi Star looks to have improved at a quicker rate than Beckett’s Lady Vivian, meanwhile, if judged on her Cheshire Oaks third.
4:20 – 2m 4f Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup
Candelari has last season’s Queen Vase winner Illinois as a danger, however. Aidan O’Brien has a fabulous record in this race, but dual winner Kyprios has enforced retirement on his hands. Illinois is the super-sub, meanwhile, but got outbattled in the St Leger by another stable companion who won over a mile-and-a-half at Epsom. Although the Ormonde Stakes form from Chester has been franked, he looks short enough.
Old rivals Trawlerman, runner-up here 12 months ago, and Sweet William give the Gosdens a strong hand. The question is are either of them still improving. It might be worth chancing Michael Bell newcomer Yashin each-way at a big price instead. Formerly trained in Ireland, he wasn’t too far behind Kyprios on the pick of his form for Jessica Harrington and won the Sagaro Stakes on stable debut.
5:00 – Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap (0-105)
Up 6lb for his latest success over re-opposing rivals Afentiko and King Casper (only a reserve), he’s worse off at the weights with both and Thirsk runner-up Parole D’Oro from his previous start. As the Haydock sixth has come out and won, that franks the form. There are other lines to consider, however, and punters should also consider Godolphin pair Arabian Story and especially Fifth Column, who could be precisely that at the foot of the handicap.
Beckett trio Brave Mission, Consolidation and Mr Chaplin (preferred in that order) also have claims. The selection’s owner companion Raafedd won as he likely at Newbury, meanwhile, and in such a way that an extra furlong won’t be a problem. La Botte is high in the weights, but could still have more to offer. From the middle third of the handicap, the likes of Hawksbill, God Of War and course and distance winner Fearnot should go well.
A seemingly never-ending shortlist also contains Irish raider Iceford, over from Ireland for Johnny Murtagh. Shout keeps hitting the frame and may well do so again for the Simon & Ed Crisford stable. Even The Lost King for King Power Racing and first reserve Competizione aren’t without chances.
5:35 – 1m 2f Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes
Tornado Alert faces French Derby third and fourth Detain and Trinity College, who also have a relatively quick turnaround too. The Gosdens’ runner saw that Chantilly race out slightly better than the one from Ballydoyle. Unexposed duo High Stock and Jackknife both step up to this level after placed efforts in Listed company, meanwhile, and could go well.
Apart from those market principals, a couple involved in a messy race in Ireland might get in amongst them. Reyenzi was first past the post in the Gallinule Stakes, but demoted to third by stewards for interference. Both he and Emit come on from that run to the Royal meeting in search of compensation.
6:10 – 7f Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (0-105)
Some week for Wathnan! English Oak bolts up in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/yNJAzYnDMO
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024
Close Victoria Cup third Gleneagle Bay has also been nudged up for an agonising defeat by the assessor, but the Irish raider’s subsequent purchase by Amo Racing suggests they expect another big run from him over the same course and distance. Of those high in the weights, who tend to struggle in this actually, Balding pair Never So Brave and Array should go well if reproducing their best.
Yorkshire’s Northern Express is 1lb lower than when last scoring at this track and trip, meanwhile. Trends favour the younger horses, however, so Myal enters calculations. With little between the first three from Chester, that brings Holguin into it alongside Never So Brave too.
George Boughey pair Oliver Show and Spangled Mac have bits and pieces of form that give connections hope. The former looks to have been laid out for this since the Lincoln Handicap. In-form Mirsky is also thriving right now, so completes another long shortlist for a fiendishly tricky handicap.
