The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes is a handicap run over 5f. It takes place at 18:10 on Friday 20th June, which is the fourth 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

26⁽³¹⁾

1012-7

Brighton Boy

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

8-11

107

Won twice as 2yo (6f on good to soft) and ran well for second in a Newmarket sales race last October (only start in cheekpieces); gelded prior to his reappearance over 7f at Goodwood, where he impressed with how well he travelled; whether he has the pace for 5f on fast ground remains to be seen, though.

13⁽²¹⁾

3-1213

Ruby's Profit

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

9-2

112

Speedy filly who made all at Wolverhampton and Goodwood either side of chasing home Redorange at Chester; made another bold bid when third to Stormy Impact at Epsom two weeks ago; however, this stiffer test could leave her vulnerable.

NR⁽³⁰⁾

29045-

Vingegaard

T: Julie Camacho

9-1

107

Useful early 2yo for Archie Watson, good fifth in the Windsor Castle (C&D) and runner-up in the Super Sprint (both good to firm); progress stalled thereafter and he changed hands for 38,000gns in October; gelded soon after; tough task on his stable debut after nine months off.

4⁽¹⁵⁾

111-67

Candy

J: George Wood

T: Richard Spencer

9-7

106

Ended 2024 in good form, completing a 6f hat-trick with the final leg in the Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar (soft; Listed); well drawn there and it was a substandard renewal, so he'll need to find plenty more to defy this mark.

22⁽⁵⁾

76-973

King Of Bears

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

8-12

108

6f win at Newbury for the Coles last summer; improving run by run for new yard this season but he is in deeper today and needs to pull out extra to feature.

25⁽²²⁾

1-2622

Brosay

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Paul Attwater

8-11

112

Well beaten at 125-1 in the Windsor Castle here last year; progressive for new yard, though, winning at Southwell in December and runner-up in three of his four runs since; edging up the weights and hasn't always looked straightforward but further improvement couldn't be ruled out.

21⁽¹³⁾

417-78

King Of Light

J: Shane Foley

T: K R Burke

8-13

109

Fair effort in first-time cheekpieces (absent today) at York five weeks ago but he looks on a tough mark and his stable may hold stronger claims with Miss Lamai.

17⁽⁸⁾

404-06

Englemere

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

8-13

107

Busy 2yo campaign yielded three wins, notably in Listed grade at Newbury in August (5f, good); unplaced in two Listed events this spring; dropped 3lb for her troubles but the first-time blinkers need to have a positive effect.

28⁽¹²⁾

137-0

Mearall

J: Shane Gray

T: Richard Fahey

8-10

102

Ripon win on 2yo debut (6f, good) and he ran creditably in a Listed race over that C&D two weeks later; neither subsequent start has been comparable and the addition of a hood isn't enough to recommend him this time.

5⁽²⁶⁾

165-53

Miss Lamai

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-6

109

Made a bright start to her 2yo career, winning on debut before finishing second in a York Listed race and fourth in the Queen Mary over C&D; easy win in a Naas Listed event last July (5f, yielding); beaten four times since but she ran well in Listed grade at York five weeks ago and should go well on this handicap debut.

19⁽²⁷⁾

37-143

Dark Cloud Rising

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

8-13

108

All runs at 6f, winning a Thirsk maiden as a 2yo and a Pontefract handicap on his return in April; two creditable efforts have followed but the drop to 5f needs to spark something extra.

NR⁽²⁸⁾

21-17

Red Sand

T: Ed Walker

8-13

104

Won 6f novice at Goodwood last May in good style; 11 months off before hard-fought win at Wolverhampton in April; only seventh on his handicap debut at York Dante meeting (7f, good to firm) but he travelled well before meeting trouble at a crucial stage; still has untapped potential and not short of speed but dropping back to 5f in a race of this nature asks a question of him.

6⁽³⁾

92-568

Maw Lam

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

9-5

106

In the same ownership as Miss Lamai and finished just in front of that rival when third of 24 in last season's Queen Mary; unplaced in three starts this year but looks to retain all her ability, faring better than the result when sixth in a strong Listed race at Cork (5.5f, good) last month; a big run at rewarding odds can't be ruled out in this her first handicap.

9⁽⁴⁾

321-31

Redorange

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

9-4

108

Much improved for the addition of a tongue-tie and switch to handicaps, winning a 6f nursery at Yarmouth last September and progressing again this year when third at Sandown before rewarding strong support at Chester (both 5f, good); could well have more to offer for a yard that had a near-miss in this race in 2023, but the handicapper didn't miss with a 9lb rise for Chester.

24⁽¹⁶⁾

-31223

Jorge Alvares

J: Colin Keane

T: G M Lyons

8-12

113

Fitted with blinkers for the first time when making all in a 6f maiden at Dundalk in April; he has followed that with three solid placed efforts in Irish sprint handicaps; ran well in his one run on good to firm ground (as a 2yo); should give his running but minor money perhaps his best hope.

14⁽⁷⁾

-12469

Enola Holmes

J: David Probert

T: Jack Jones

9-2

102

She has already proved herself a bargain buy at 1,600gns, winning at Wolverhampton on her stable debut in February (6f) and acquitting herself with credit in Listed/Group 3 events since; 5f in a strongly run race may suit but she looks on a tough mark for her handicap debut.

2⁽²⁹⁾

470-25

Mr Lightside

J: Kevin Stott

T: Michael Appleby

9-8

109

Well beaten on his 2yo debut (6f, good to soft) but his form took off on faster ground subsequently, winning 5f novices at Redcar and Nottingham before big efforts at Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor meeting (Group 3/Listed); two solid efforts in defeat this year, hamstrung by a refusal to settle when a close fifth in a York Listed race five weeks ago (5f, good to firm); this test might suit better and a big run wouldn't be a surprise.

23⁽²⁴⁾

1105-3

Adrestia

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

8-12

109

Two 5f wins as a 2yo, notably a Sandown nursery, before coming up short in Listed/conditions races on final two runs in 2024; pleasing seasonal return at Windsor 11 days ago and she's far from exposed just yet.

NR⁽²⁰⁾

171-96

Jungle Drums

T: Jamie Osborne

9-8

109

3-5 for Karl Burke as a 2yo, notably a front-running success in a 6f Listed event at York in October (soft ground); sold for 75,000gns later that month and gelded; showed speed but ultimately well beaten in two 6f runs in Dubai early in the year; drops back to 5f with enough to prove.

7⁽¹⁸⁾

156-47

Zayer

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

9-5

108

Didn't look obviously well handicapped ahead of his reappearance at Sandown in April and he was only fourth of nine despite being notably strong in the betting; again only midfield in a hot York handicap three weeks ago but that run was eyecatching, slowly away and in rear before finishing his race with a flourish (fastest finishing split); he wouldn't want to repeat the slow start today but he's dropped 2lb and this race could be more receptive to those held up; stable won this in 2023; won his only start on good to firm; strong suspicion there's a bigger performance looming and new cheekpieces could help.

1⁽¹⁷⁾

2-2111

Hammer The Hammer

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

9-9

100

111

Improving at a rate of knots, blowing away limited opposition in a 5f Southwell maiden in March before winning a competitive Class 3 handicap by daylight back at Southwell one month later; another dominant display at Chester last month (6f, good), fast away from a wide draw and settling the race quickly when surging clear off the home turn; dropping back to 5f should be fine but the form of the latest win hasn't worked out, he's up 12lb and is untried on quicker than good; remains a promising sprinter but this may not be his day.

8⁽⁶⁾

251-61

Stormy Impact

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

9-4

111

Promise at Newmarket on seasonal return (6f, good) and she duly built on it when coming from an unpromising position to lead late in the 3yo Dash at Epsom 13 days ago (5f, good); this more conventional track should suit and a 5lb rise is justified, but she will need to take another step forward.

11⁽²⁵⁾

6-4700

King's Call

J: Dale Swift

T: Seb Spencer

9-3

107

Faced some tough tasks as a 2yo after his winning debut; 50-1 and dropped away in the closing stages at York on last week's stable debut (6f, good to firm); up against it once more.

12⁽⁹⁾

23-1

Realign

J: James Doyle

T: William Haggas

9-2

110

Green in the closing stages when second to subsequent Middle Park and Dewhurst winner and 2,000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light on Newmarket debut last August (6f, good); followed that with a third of 17 in a hot York maiden three weeks later (7f, good to firm); off nine months before a bloodless success at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) four weeks ago; the strength of his 2yo form suggests he's a Group-race performer in waiting (entered in the Commonwealth Cup) and an opening mark of 93 could seriously underestimate him; he is tackling a new trip and hasn't always looked straightforward, so there are possible negatives, but there is also plenty of potential upside.

27⁽²⁾

110-02

Lexington Blitz

J: Sean Levey

T: Robert Cowell

8-11

111

Lightly raced 3yo who left his York reappearance behind him with a good second at Epsom 13 days ago (split Stormy Impact and Ruby's Profit); could yet rate higher.

20⁽¹⁾

515127

Suhail Star

J: Ashley Lewis

T: M Al Attiya

8-13

102

Two wins over further in Qatar this year and also ran well over an extended 1m2f in April; tailed off in a 1m Listed event at Sandown (first British attempt) three weeks ago; hard to recommend now dropped markedly in trip.

10⁽¹¹⁾

321-14

Bodhi Bear

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: J A Stack

9-3

106

Irish raider who ended 2024 with a 6f maiden win at Navan and returned to action with a smooth success at Cork in April (5f, good); pitched into Group 3 at Naas last month (6f, good) and found things happening too quickly for him in the final 2f; this should be more suitable but others are perhaps better treated.

NR⁽¹⁹⁾

318-

Arctic Voyage

T: Ralph Beckett

9-1

105

Ran away with a heavy-ground Nottingham novice (6f) last October before finishing tailed off in a Listed event at Doncaster 17 days later; bred to be smart but he drops to 5f on significantly faster ground than he's faced before; returns from 237 days off.

RACING POST TIP

Zayer

There are no prizes for observing that the most interesting contender, and by some way, is William Haggas's Realign. In the mix against smart horses as a 2yo, he didn't come out of second gear to beat modest opposition by daylight on his Salisbury return. He comes here in preference to the Commonwealth Cup and there is surely mileage in his mark but this is his first crack at 5f and the best pace looks to be middle to high, so stall 9 may not be ideal. The search for an alternative isn't an easy one but Adrestia still has potential, Redorange is improving all the time and Miss Lamai and Maw Lam provide their owner with a strong two-pronged attack. If there is a dark one it could be ZAYER, who failed to live up to market billing on his reappearance then caught the eye with some good late headway in a hot all-aged sprint at York. Cheekpieces could unlock his potential.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Pilgrim [12]	3	9-1	18/1	David & Nicola Barron	Joe Fanning
2023	Rhythm N Hooves [25]	3	8-8	12/1	Archie Watson	Hollie Doyle
2022	Latin Lover [11]	3	8-2	5/1	Harry Eustace	Hayley Turner
2021	Significantly [24]	3	9-1	10/1	K R Burke	Clifford Lee
2020	Art Power [19]	3	9-0	6/4F	Tim Easterby	Silvestre De Sousa

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Won previous start, 3/5
Carried 9st 1lb or less, 5/5
Contested at least two handicaps, 3/5

Other factors

None of the five winners have come from a single-figure draw

What happened in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes last year?

PILGRIM could not be caught in the concluding sprint handicap for three-year-olds on day four last year. Joe Fanning’s mount, trained by David and Nicola Barron, had a progressive profile coming into the race and picked up well to score by half a length from Blue Storm. The third, No Half Measures, ran a particularly good race from stall one, given she was the only runner from a single-figure draw to finish in the first ten. The first four home returned odds of 18-1, 18-1, 50-1 and 10-1, with a tote Trifecta dividend of £26,381.40 to a £1 stake.

Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes Handicap

18:10 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2025

What happened in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes last year?

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