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Royal Ascot is undoubtedly the highlight of the Flat racing season in Britain and the countdown is on to the 2025 edition of the five-day meeting in Berkshire with festivities set to commence on Tuesday 17th before closing again on Saturday, June 21st.
With a combined prize pot of £10m up for grabs, Royal Ascot is Britain’s most lucrative festival and it draws all of the industry’s biggest names to the party, as well as more than 300,000 spectators each year.
Punters have 35 elite-level races to look forward to including eight Group 1 runs and the best horse racing betting sites are gearing up for another frenzy of horse racing punting this month.
To whet your appetite for Royal Ascot 2025, we’ve put together this all-in-one guide to the festival which covers weather, trainer and jockey trends as well as evolving market dynamics and other elements that could shape outcomes.
Weather’s Impact: Track Conditions & Strategies
Even though Royal Ascot runs in June, the temperamental British summer weather has the potential to impact racing conditions.
Indeed, the latest forecasts from AccuWeather suggest a mix of sunshine and showers could be on the cards in Berkshire later this month, with MetCheck suggesting a similar pattern with temperatures sitting in the 14 to 18 °C range.
Of course, track firmness at Royal Ascot will depend on rainfall. Good to firm ground tends to favour front-running types while softer turf usually gives an advantage to sayers and late climbers.
Smart punters will keep abreast of the latest forecasts ahead of time with prices for the biggest races like the Gold Cup or Ascot Stakes like to shift to align with changes to the weather.
Market Trends: Upsets & Identifying Value Bets
The 2024 edition of Royal Ascot threw up some surprise winners on some of the undercard races, so blindly backing favourites this year probably isn’t a wise strategy.
Horses like Khadeem (14/1), Pilgrim (18/1) and Isle of Jura (18/1) rewarded backers with big payouts 12 months ago and this year’s ante-post prices reflect similar levels of volatility.
Here are some early-value opportunities worth considering for Royal Ascot 2025.
- Rosallion – a St James’s Palace favourite, Rosallion has enjoyed considerable backing in the Queen Anne, but not into heavy favourite territory. Richard Hannon’s colt catches the eye here at 7/2.
- In handicaps offerings like the Royal Hunt Cup, The Liffey and My Cloud have been attracting interest and have made major moves from mega odds outsiders into the 8-10/1 range
- Zelaina meanwhile, is a juvenile filly with sparkling debut form and she’s been nudging her way into prominence in Queen Mary Stakes markets at 7–4 (at the time of writing)
Trainers & Jockeys: Who Typically Performs at Ascot?
Trainers to Watch
- Aidan O’Brien: Irish supremo Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer at Royal Ascot of all time and should have opportunities to add to his massive 91 wins at the festival in 2025. His partner in crime, Ryan Moore, is the second-most successful Ascot jockey ever.
- Willie Mullins: The Irish master of long‑distance contests, Willie Mullins has tasted success in the Ascot Stakes on four previous occasions, with his last win in the race coming with Lagostovegas in 2018.
- Karl Burke & Andrew Balding: Dependable for two-year-old races and sprints, Burke and Balding are the names to look out for the lower-profile Group and Listed events. Burke’s Zelaina is worth tracking in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Jockeys to Watch
- Ryan Moore: A legendary figure at Ascot, Ryan Moore is on course to eclipse Lester Piggott’s all-time winning record at the track. Moore rode an Aiden O’Brien charge to glory in two of the last three iterations of the Gold Cup.
- William Buick: Known for delivering the goods on big days, Buick generally picks top rides and he has been retained for top billing by Goldolphin ahead of this year’s meeting.
- James Doyle: Wathnan Racing are expected to bring big numbers to Berkshire this year, so their retained pilot, James Doyle, should have plenty of chances to impress.
- Colin Keane: Keane has been Ireland’s number one jockey for a while now and with no shortage of quality horses to ride from the Juddmonte stables, the 30-year-old could make a splash.
Day‑by‑Day Highlights
Tuesday (June 17)
The festival opens with a bang and day one features three Group 1 events, the Queen Anne, King Charles III, and St James’s Palace.
Wednesday (June 18)
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the showpiece race on day two with big-name milers and middle distancers set to be involved.
Thursday (June 19) – Ladies’ Day
The eagerly-anticipated Gold Cup is day three’s headline act with its bumper prize of £368,615 for the winner.
Friday (June 20)
Day four of Royal Ascot platforms the Coronation Stakes and Commonwealth Cup, where the best juvenile talents get to strut their stuff.
Saturday (June 21)
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes provides the climax. Expect plenty of market movement around this one around horses like Inisherin and Storm Boy.
Betting Tips & Strategy
Finally, here are some useful quick tips to consider which should help you to build a smarter betting strategy for Royal Ascot 2025.
Monitor those daily weather updates—going changes matter. Shifting weather patterns can have a massive impact on performance, so stay on top of the forecasts.
Track trending bets—look at how the money is moving in the markets, especially if bookmakers start talking about “dread” losers.
Embrace value in handicaps— the potential for upsets at Royal Ascot is high, especially for races with a lower profile.
Know your jockeys and trainers— focus on O’Brien, Mullins, Keane, Moore and the other consistent performers. They know how to deliver the goods.
