The Duke Of Cambridge Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over a mile. It takes place at 15:40 on Wednesday 18th June, which is the second 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

6⁽⁵⁾

172-52

Running Lion

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

112

129

Won this race (good to firm) last year and ended her 4yo campaign with a second to stablemate Friendly Soul in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft); hasn't found her A-game in two runs this season but her second at Haydock (10.4f Listed) last time was a respectable effort; seems to be working her way back towards her peak and it wouldn't be a surprise if she made a bold bid in defence of her crown; cheekpieces added.

7⁽⁷⁾

1320-1

Soprano

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

9-2

111

122

Her highlights last season included a win in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) and a clearcut success in Group 3 at Deauville (1m, good) in August; made virtually all when just holding off Crimson Advocate on Kempton reappearance (1m Listed) in March but she's exposed after 16 starts and has something to find on the figures back in a Group 2.

2⁽⁶⁾

/10-21

Crimson Advocate

J: James McDonald

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

106

119

US trained when winning Group 2 Queen Mary as a 2yo and a stakes event at Gulfstream Park last May; found things tough in Group 1 at last year's Royal Ascot (5f) but she reappeared with a near-miss behind Soprano at Kempton in March before gaining a narrow verdict in another 1m Listed event at Goodwood (good); this is a much stiffer test but she's done well since being reinvented as a miler and should have more to offer at this trip.

4⁽⁸⁾

8124-6

Fallen Angel

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

9-2

114

128

Smart filly who has won two Group 1 events, including when making virtually all in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last May; couldn't hang in there in the Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury (1m, good to firm) last month but she shaped as though she needed that run and is a key player if she can get back near her best here in first-time cheekpieces; has won on good to firm and good to yielding.

1⁽³⁾

112-21

Cinderella's Dream

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-5

115

128

Solid performer who has a record of 1111711221; won a Grade 1 in USA last July and was unlucky in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; returned to Britain last month and had no trouble justifying favouritism in Group 2 at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm; Elmalka second); as good as ever with that emphatic success and she's a major player again under a 3lb penalty.

5⁽⁴⁾

212-12

One Look

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

9-2

107

125

Overall record of 4-9 and she's made more progress this season, with Group 3 win at the Curragh (1m, good) in April and a close second in Group 2 there last month; went down fighting last time behind 5-4 favourite who has had plenty of success in top-level events; respected.

NR⁽¹⁾

444-24

Elmalka

T: Roger Varian

9-2

111

125

Caused a surprise with her 28-1 success in last year's 1,000 Guineas; no win in five starts since but four of those have resulted in respectable fourths in Group 1 events, including at Longchamp last month; now drops back in class and could be dangerous back against her own sex.

8⁽²⁾

1125-5

Start Of Day

J: Aurelien Lemaitre

T: Christopher Head

9-2

106

122

Won three times in France last summer, including a Listed event (1m2f, good); ended last season with fair fifth in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp but was behind two of today's rivals in that race; still lightly raced but she reappeared with a fifth of six in Listed race at Longchamp last month and has some work to do in this company.

RACING POST TIP

Cinderella's Dream

The Gosdens have two interesting contenders in Running Lion, who won this race last year, and Crimson Advocate, who has done well since being reinvented as a miler and should be capable of better still at this trip. Last year's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel (second choice) could be a big factor on her drop back in class, while One Look enters the reckoning after her close second in a similar race at the Curragh last month. However, the vote goes to Charlie Appleby's progressive filly CINDERELLA'S DREAM, who was unlucky at the Breeders' Cup last autumn and returned to Britain with a smooth win in a Group 2 at Newmarket last month. She improved her record to 7-10 with that emphatic success and is a major player again under a 3lb penalty.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Running Lion [11]	4	9-2	6/1	John & Thady Gosden	Oisin Murphy
2023	Rogue Millennium [7]	4	9-2	10/1	Tom Clover	Danny Tudhope
2022	Saffron Beach [5]	4	9-7	5/2	Jane Chapple-Hyam	William Buick
2021	Indie Angle [12]	3	9-0p	22/1	John & Thady Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2020	Nazeef [5]	4	9-0	100/30	John Gosden	Jim Crowley
2019	Move Swiftly [11]	4	9-0	9/1	William Haggas	Daniel Tudhope
2018	Aljazzi [7]	5	9-0	9/2	Marco Botti	William Buick
2017	Qemah [10]	4	9-0	5/2F	J-C Rouget	Gregory Benoist
2016	Usherette [10]	4	9-3	9/4F	A Fabre	Mickael Barzalona
2015	Amazing Maria [1]	4	9-0	25/1	David O’Meara	James Doyle
2014	Integral [9]	4	9-0	9/4F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Distance winner, 8/10
Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 8/10
Top-three finish that season, 7/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 121, 8/10
Had won a Group race, 5/10

Other factors

Winners of the Dahlia at Newmarket finished 412.

Two winners had run at the previous year’s meeting – one in the Coronation Stakes (1) and one in this race (2).

What happened in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes last year?

RUNNING LION beat stablemate Laurel in a one-two for the father-and-son training partnership of John and Thady Gosden. They were also successful in the Group 2 with Indie Angel in 2021. The Oisin Murphy-ridden Running Lion raced wide early but gained a prominent position and asserted in the final furlong. Laurel, the mount of Ryan Moore, chased her home but the winning distance was two lengths at the line. The winner was drawn in stall 11, whereas the runner-up was in stall one. Rogue Millennium was sent off the 100-30 favourite but could only finish fifth.

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

15:40 Royal Ascot