Another of the spectacular Group 1s on Royal Ascot’s opening day, the St James’s Palace Stakes of 2025 fulfils a familiar function. It establishes the pecking order among the three-year-old colts as winners of the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas all meet on the Berkshire track. Ruling Court and Field Of Gold are no …

The Queen Anne Stakes in 2025 promises so much. It looks a really strong edition of the Straight Mile Group 1 contest for older horses that kicks Royal Ascot off in some style on Tuesday, 17 June. Each of the first four home from Newbury’s Lockinge Stakes take each other on again in a field …

A big field of 19 runners race in The Derby of 2025 on Epsom Downs on Saturday, 7 June (3:30pm BST). Amongst the colts bidding for a spot in the horse racing history books are 2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, Aidan O’Brien pair Delacroix and The Lion In Winter, and Dante Stakes scorer Pride Of …

A field of nine fillies go in The Oaks of 2025 at Epsom Downs on Friday, 6 June (4pm BST) with 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower a strong favourite. Although trainer Charlie Appleby has never won this Classic contest, owners Godolphin are no strangers to success. Desert Flower bids to give the powerful owner-breeders their …

Yet more Haydock races round off the month on Saturday, 31 May with the John Of Gaunt Stakes one of a couple of Group 3s on the card. This brings a busy few weeks for the Merseyside venue to a close. As Group 3 contests go, the John Of Gaunt over 7f promises much. Audience …

The second meeting of York races for its Spring Saturday fixture on 31 May has the Group 3 Bronte Cup headlining on the Kanvesmire. Sprint handicaps abound on a tough card for punters as well. While this day of racing can’t match the recent Dante Festival at the track or what’s to come over the …

Sandown Park’s Brigadier Gerard Evening on 29 May is a charming fixture in that it offers pattern races on a midweek twilight card. Most Listed and Group action takes place at weekends or as part multiple-day meetings and festivals. The Esher track in Greater London stages the eponymous Brigadier Gerard Stakes for Prince Of Wales …

In each of the last two seasons, all three promoted sides have suffered immediate Premier League relegation and the bookies expect nothing less in the 2025-26 campaign. All of Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland are a first show odds-on for the same fate. What has become clear of late is the massive gulf that even …

A dozen fillies tackle the Irish 1000 Guineas of 2025 at the Curragh on Sunday, 25 May. Of those, a quarter of the field travel over to the Emerald Isle from Britain in search of Classic honours. That contingent includes the second and third from the English equivalent of this held at Newmarket three weeks …

Just nine colts run in the first Classic of the season in the Emerald Isle, the Irish 2000 Guineas of 2025 with powerful owners having strong hands at the Curragh. Both the Juddmonte silks of the late Prince Khalid Abduallah and colours of the Coolmore partners have three irons in the fire each. Newmarket equivalent …