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Racing and Sports' rundown on the opening day of Royal Ascot for 2025
Your race-by-race rundown and quicklinks to the fields.
RACE 1 - Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1600m)
Opening event of the Royal Ascot carnival sees the first four home from the G1 Lockinge Stakes re-oppose. ROSALLION (10) shaped as though he would take a sizeable step forward for the run when third that day. The winner of the G1 St James's Palace Stakes last year was returning from a year off at Newbury and can reverse form with conditions to suit. DANCING GEMINI (3) lost nothing in defeat when runner-up to LEAD ARTIST (7) with the former looking a touch unlucky being blocked and could prove the biggest threat while the latter will enjoy quick conditions and commands respect under Colin Keane. NOTABLE SPEECH (8) managed to win the G1 2000 Guineas. Provided his first outing in seven months when fourth attempting the G1 Lockinge Stakes and warrants respect racing for a top yard.
RACE 2 - Group 2 Coventry Stakes (1200m)
POSTMODERN (12) looked a potential star delivering a 5L debut success at Yarmouth in May. This Wathnan Racing colt quickened in fine style there and could prove capable of remaining unbeaten in this fascinating high-class two-year-old contest. Charlie Appleby trains MILITARY CODE (11) who battled on to beat a subsequent winner at this venue second time out. Must enter calculations now up to 1200m. The impressive Aidan O'Brien-trained debut winners GSTAAD (9) and WARSAW (21) both need to be included with the first-mentioned creating a nice impression winning when tackling this trip at Navan while the latter scored tackling 1000m at the same venue and might enjoy going up in distance.
RACE 3 - Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m)
BELIEVING (14) will have conditions to suit and secures the services of Ryan Moore. The talented and consistent George Boughey trained mare shed her G1 maiden tag winning the 1200m Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan 73 days ago. Can follow up tackling this stiff 1000m trip. Winner last year ASFOORA (12) arrives having undergone a slightly different prep. Clearly talented and warrants respect revisiting 1000m after finishing seventh in the G1 Sangster at Morphettville (Aus). REGIONAL (7) was runner-up to the just mentioned in this twelve months ago. Thereabouts after a third-place effort behind the main selection in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint. NIGHT RAIDER (6) is speedy and remains unexposed. Could go well if building on his reappearance third in the G2 Duke of York Stakes. STARLUST (9) and MGHEERA (16) are others to note.
RACE 4 - St James' Palace Stakes (1603m)
This could prove a contest between English and Irish along with French 2000 Guineas winners. FIELD OF GOLD (1) was a touch unlucky when runner-up to RULING COURT (6) in the G1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (Rowley) during May. Readily set the record straight in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh and holds potential to be top-class. Can reverse the outcome. The second mentioned is yet to be seen since his Newmarket (Rowley) success. Holds major form claims racing for top connections. Aidan O'Brien trains HENRI MATISSE (3) who won the 1600m G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp in May and commands respect with ground conditions to suit under Ryan Moore. RASHABAR (5) heads the remainder.
Booking Ryan Moore on the Willie Mullins trained REACHING HIGH (15) is of note. Denied a nose over 2400m at Leopardstown on his stable debut a month ago and can relish this much stiffer stamina test. Talented dual purpose horse EAST INDIA DOCK (7) readily got the better of a subsequent winner in the valuable Chester Cup (Handicap) last time. Remains unexposed on the flat racing for a yard that does well with this type of performer. Winner of the G1 Triumph Hurdle this year PONIROS (20) was successful on the flat for his previous connections and cannot be ignored from foot of the weights now back on the level under William Buick. Narrow last-time-out Goodwood (3200m) winner MANXMAN (8) stays well and could be in the mix. LIARI (10) might also go well.
RACE 6 - Listed Wolferton Stakes (2004m)
TORITO (15) has not been seen since finishing third in this twelve months ago. Clearly goes well fresh and booking Colin Keane is a plus. The application of first-time cheekpieces is also interesting. William Haggas trains ENFJAAR (8). Shaped better than the bare result when fifth in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on reappearance and can take a step forward. HAATEM (9) was not at his best when fourth in the 1600m Listed Prix De Montretout at Longchamp during May. Talented and of interest stepping up to 2000m for the first time. SONS AND LOVERS (14) produced a good fourth behind a subsequent G1 winner in the G2 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh and must enter calculations under Ryan Moore. MILITARY ORDER (3) might also get involved.
RACE 7 - Copper Horse Stakes (2847m)
FRENCH MASTER (7) finished an excellent second at Newmarket (Rowley) before relishing the step up to 2800m scoring at Goodwood last month. Overcame trouble in running that day and could have more to offer in first-time blinkers racing for John and Thady Gosden. Trainer Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals of this contest. His contender CHARLUS (9) struggled in the G1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham during March. Interesting revisiting the flat under Ryan Moore. Progressive runner CABALLO DE MAR (12) is something of a winning machine and cannot be ruled out having won six of his last seven outings. LAVENDER HILL MOB (10) makes for each-way appeal.
