The Ascot Gold Cup is a Group 1 contest run over 2m4f. It takes place at 16:20 on Thursday 19th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

2⁽⁵⁾

04/119

Dubai Future

J: James McDonald

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-4

116

128

1m2f Listed winner at this meeting in 2022; has raced over a range of distances in the interim, given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April (second run since a long absence) when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in the closing stages of a steadily run race; this, however, should be much more of a slog and he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat behind Candelari in France last month (the ground probably wasn't to blame, based on times); a hood joins his usual cheekpieces.

1⁽⁶⁾

643-22

Coltrane

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-4

112

126

Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

4⁽²⁾

323-51

Trawlerman

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

118

130

Can front-run; peak days in 2023 and 2024 saw him go head to head with the best stayers around, last term beaten just 1l in this race (good to firm) by the champion Kyprios; that old rival is now absent and this battling 7yo warmed up with a dominant performance in four-runner race at Sandown; looks sure to go well again.

6⁽⁷⁾

3006-1

Yashin

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Michael Bell

9-4

106

119

Irish 1m6f Group 3 winner in 2023; left Jessica Harrington for 80,000gns last October, given wind surgery and also had tongue tied first time when he reappeared for Group 3 here (2m, good to firm) in April, back with a bang as he was the outsider of four but came through to win by 1l from Coltrane; that was a slowly run race, seemingly not a great pointer for this but it could be argued that he's unexposed with major stamina tests.

3⁽⁸⁾

3212-3

Sweet William

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-4

116

128

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but only once failed to give his running (final start 2023) and took well to the visor last season, in which two wins included 2m2f Doncaster Cup in good style; 1m6f on return was surely an insufficient stamina test (still close up) and he was third in this race last year on good to firm, 5l behind Trawlerman but coming from right out the back; has never finished outside the first three.

5⁽³⁾

31-211

Wonder Legend

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

9-4

108

123

Has raced only three times on turf, with a soft-ground win on first occasion but lesser shows since, including at this meeting on good ground two years ago; on the other hand he's been reliable and progressive on AW, surging to new heights with his two handicap wins this March/April; latest was for a big prize at Newcastle (2m) and he did it in good style, so he's not miles away on ratings today but still has a lot to prove.

8⁽¹⁾

2221-1

Illinois

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

116

131

Won Queen's Vase here (1m6f, good to firm) last June and went close in the St Leger (14.5f, good) before his Longchamp Group 2 win (1m7f, soft) in October; as good as ever with 1m5f reappearance win at Chester; resolute galloper who races prominently and can make the running, so Ryan Moore may try to dictate; tendency to hang left might again be in evidence in closing stages but he's looked a thorough stayer at shorter distances and it will be no surprise if he takes Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup wins into double figures.

7⁽⁴⁾

1-1131

Candelari

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

9-3

118

128

French-trained 4yo who made debut only last December and has had just five races, winning four; upped to 1m7f for Group 3 at Longchamp in April, held up last, outpaced when the pace quickened but beaten by just two heads; with a more truly run race over an extended 1m7f for Group 1 there four weeks later he turned the tables and did it in some style, ridden closer and emerging in front 2f out before stretching clear late on; the ground for both Longchamp races was officially good to soft but significantly firmer judged on race times; one of the top contenders on ratings and a hugely exciting staying prospect.

RACING POST TIP

Candelari

Trawlerman looks a fine standard bearer for the older generations, having produced a mighty effort against Kyprios 12 months ago, but he now comes face to face with two four-year-olds of mouthwatering potential. Kyprios has recently been retired but it's easy to think that stablemate Illinois could step up in trip to be yet another Gold Cup winner for Aidan O'Brien. He's shown his class in a hatful of big races. Preference, however, is for a rival who has done so only once, such is the impression which CANDELARI (nap) has made in France. Stamina looks his strong suit but he brings significant potential too, having made his debut little more than six months ago.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Kyprios [8]	6	9-4	11/10F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2023	Courage Mon Ami	4	9-3	15/2	John & Thady Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2022	Kyprios [5]	5	9-1	13/8	Aidan O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2021	Subjectivist [4]	4	9-1	13/2	Mark Johnston	Joe Fanning
2020	Stradivarius [2]	6	9-2	4/5F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Stradivarius [2]	5	9-2	EvensF	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2018	Stradivarius [6]	4	9-1	7/4J	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2017	Big Orange [7]	6	9-2	5/1	Michael Bell	James Doyle
2016	Order Of St George [10]	4	9-0	10/11F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Trip To Paris [13]	4	9-0	12/1	Ed Dunlop	Graham Lee
2014	Leading Light [14]	4	9-0	10/11F	A P O’Brien	Joseph O’Brien

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Sire stamina index in excess of 9.5f, 10/10
Won within last two starts, 9/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 127, 8/10
Group-race winner, 8/10 (six had won a Group 1)
Won over at least 2m, 7/10
Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, 8/10 (four were top-rated)

Other factors

Seven winners were competing in the race for the first time

Winners of the Sagaro Stakes finished 273224625 – the last to succeed was Estimate in 2013.

Six favourites have won in the last decade (including one joint-favourite)

What happened in the Ascot Gold Cup last year?

KYPRIOS became only the third horse in Gold Cup history to regain the crown with a convincing success. The outstanding stayer of 2022, including when winning this race, spent most of the following season on the sidelines but bounced back to his imperious best in 2024. Kyprios was sent off the 11-10 favourite and cruised into contention at the top of the straight. He kept responding for Ryan Moore’s urgings late on to beat Trawlerman by a length. Aidan O’Brien’s stable star is set to bid for a third win in the race this summer.

Ascot Gold Cup

16:20 Royal Ascot