The Ribblesdale Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:40 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

3⁽⁹⁾

55-275

Ecstatic

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

112

Sole win from seven starts came in Tipperary maiden last year and on the face of it she's down the Ballydoyle pecking order; soundly beaten when Listed fifth at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) last time but she didn't enjoy a clear run and her pedigree suggests she will relish this step up in trip, with her dam having won this race for connections in 2018; stayed on well for second in Group 3 Park Express Stakes (1m, good) in April; interesting outsider.

7⁽²⁾

515-33

Island Hopping

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

107

0-3 in Group 3 and Listed races since winning a maiden at Gowran Park last September on second start, most recently third to stablemate Garden Of Eden at Naas (10.3f, good); however, given who she's trained by (she's one of three for the stable) it's possible she'll take a sizeable step forward at some stage, and perhaps the first-time blinkers will facilitate that; Port Fairy improved in a first-time visor to win this last year for the yard.

1⁽¹⁾

67-213

Caspi Star

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Charlie Johnston

9-2

107

Second to Lady Vivian in Southwell maiden (1m4f, AW) in March on third start then easily won Musselburgh maiden (12.4f, good to soft); improved again when third in Listed Cheshire Oaks (11.3f, good); mixed messages from that form with Minnie Hauk following up in the Oaks but the runner-up being unplaced in French Group 3; this stiffer stamina test can suit; not ruled out.

6⁽¹¹⁾

1-6

Hollys Graces

J: Colin Keane

T: Henry De Bromhead

9-2

100

Kept on well to win at Dundalk (7f, AW) last September on sole 2yo start and may have needed her comeback run at Naas (10.3f, good; Listed) last month, when sixth of eight behind Garden Of Eden; unexposed and bred to be suited by 1m4f but has plenty to find in today's company.

10⁽¹⁰⁾

Serenity Prayer

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-2

100

114

Won on debut at Newbury (1m2f, good) in April and runner-up in the Group 3 Musidora (10.2f, good to firm) last month; no match for the winner at York but that was Whirl, who has since gone very close in the Oaks; very much shaped last time as though she would benefit from today's longer trip and this well-bred contender is on the shortlist.

9⁽⁶⁾

1-22

Life Is Beautiful

J: Tom Marquand

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

114

Has raced three times and improved when upped to 1m2f at Newmarket (good to firm) latest, beaten about 3l when second in that Listed contest; the winner is a top prospect and the third won a Listed race next time; shaped as though 1m4f could be a good fit and she's firmly in calculations for a top stable which has a prolific record in this race and runs three this time.

8⁽⁸⁾

5-211

Lady Vivian

J: James Doyle

T: Ralph Beckett

9-2

108

Beat Caspi Star to win maiden at Southwell (1m4f, AW) in March on third start and followed up on handicap debut at Chester (12.2f, good) last month, when clear with the runner-up; this is a big step up in grade but she's just the type her trainer excels with and she could have lots more to offer.

2⁽³⁾

Catalina Delcarpio

J: W J Lee

T: P Twomey

9-2

111

Impressive on debut at Leopardstown (1m2f, good) in April; runner-up in Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan (1m2f, soft) when no match for the winner (subsequently fourth in the Oaks) but had to wait for a clear run and her pedigree provides optimism regarding this longer trip; this very lightly raced filly could take her form to a new level today; one to consider.

5⁽⁷⁾

1-139

Go Go Boots

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

113

2-2 (1m/1m2f, AW) before third to subsequent Oaks runner-up Whirl in Group 3 Musidora (10.2f, good to firm; Serenity Prayer a neck ahead in second); well beaten herself in the Oaks but perhaps the slow ground and/or track didn't suit; top stable (runs three) has fine record in this race and she retains potential; not written off in first-time headgear.

11⁽⁴⁾

Understudy

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-2

Built upon the promise of last month's debut run at Newmarket (1m2f, good) when winning comfortably at 5-4 at Southwell (1m4f, AW); takes on vastly tougher opposition today and has by far the worst chance on ratings, but she's one of three for a stable with an excellent record in this race and it remains to be seen where the ceiling of her ability lies.

4⁽⁵⁾

20-761

Garden Of Eden

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-2

113

Two wins from eight starts and opposable on the majority of her form but she took a big step forward when upped to 10.3f at Naas (good) latest, keeping on well to win that Listed race by 1l and shaping as though 1m4f could prompt further improvement; Ryan Moore's mount of the Ballydoyle three and trainer/jockey have combined to win the last two runnings; respected.

RACING POST TIP

Ecstatic

The stables of Aidan O'Brien and John and Thady Gosden are responsible for six of the 11 runners and one of them will become the winningmost yard in the race if they land this today for a sixth time. O'Brien saddles three and Ryan Moore rides Garden Of Eden (second choice) who improved for the step up to 10.3f to win a Listed race at Naas last time, in the process shaping as though she could be even better at 1m4f. However, preference is for her stablemate ECSTATIC, who didn't get the breaks at Newbury last time and could also have untapped potential now she's tackling 1m4f, with her dam Magic Wand having won this race in 2018. The Gosden-trained Life Is Beautiful was second in a hot-looking Listed race at Newmarket last time, and Musidora runner-up Serenity Prayer could be another major player up in trip. Catalina Delcarpio has the potential to rate higher.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Port Fairy [10]	3	9-2	12/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2023	Warm Heart [16]	3	9-2	13/2	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2022	Magical Lagoon [6]	3	9-2	11/4	Mrs John Harrington	Shane Foley
2021	Loving Dream [12]	3	9-0	18/1	John & Thady Gosden	Robert Havlin
2020	Frankly Darling [6]	3	9-0	11/8F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Star Catcher [6]	3	9-0	4/1	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2018	Magic Wand [1]	3	9-0	100/30	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2017	Coronet [1]	3	9-0	9/1	John Gosden	Olivier Peslier
2016	Even Song [5]	3	9-0	15/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Curvy [3]	3	9-0	9/2	David Wachman	Ryan Moore
2014	Bracelet [3]	3	9-0	10/1	A P O’Brien	Joseph O’Brien

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Raced no more than three times at two, 10/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 109, 10/10
Contested a Listed or Group race, 9/10 (two had won a Group race)
Won one of last two starts, 7/10
Won over at least 1m2f, 7/10

Other factors

In 2022, Magical Lagoon was the first RPR top-rated winner since Banimpire in 2011. The other nine were between 5lb and 18lb off top.

Six winners failed to shed their maiden tag the previous season.

What happened in the Ribblesdale Stakes last year?

The unconsidered 12-1 shot PORT FAIRY landed the spoils for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. O’Brien’s two runners in the race were sent off double-figure prices but it was Port Fairy, a Cheshire Oaks second on her previous start, who came to the fore. The daughter of Australia raced prominently in a first-time visor and found plenty for pressure to repel the keeping-on Lava Stream by a head. Kalpana was sent off the 9-4 favourite and was beaten two lengths in third. It was back-to-back wins for the trainer-jockey combination, who were successful with Warm Heart in 2023.

Ribblesdale Stakes

15:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2025

What happened in the Ribblesdale Stakes last year?

All Races