The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:05 on Saturday 21st June, which is the fifth 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

1⁽¹⁰⁾

123-14

Al Aasy

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

9-3

115

129

C&D Listed winner who has won seven Group 3s, the latest at Sandown (1m2f, good) in April; only fourth at Newbury last time but he was poorly positioned in rear off a modest gallop; no surprise if this 8yo is in the mix.

9⁽¹¹⁾

11-141

Rebel's Romance

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-3

123

134

Globetrotter who won 1m4f Group/Grade 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany and the US last year; not at his very best when beating Epic Poet by a head in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York (good to firm) last month but that was 1m6f and he was conceding 5lb to the winner (level weights today); leading contender if at the top of his game now back down to 1m4f.

5⁽⁴⁾

25/14-

Candleford

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-3

110

125

Has a fine reappearance record featuring wins at this meeting in 2022 (C&D handicap) and at the Curragh (Listed) last May; fair fourth in this race next time; there's every chance he'll run to form on this first outing since but that's unlikely to be enough for him to come out on top.

6⁽³⁾

-13232

Epic Poet

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O'Meara

9-3

111

123

In fine form over 1m6f-2m at Meydan and in Saudi Arabia earlier this year and continued the good work when staying on for a close second to Rebel's Romance in a slowly run Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good to firm); 5lb worse off with the winner here and drops back in trip, but could go well once more.

2⁽⁷⁾

210-34

Al Riffa

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-3

117

132

Runner-up in the Group 1 Eclipse (1m2f, soft) last July before 5l win in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin; not at his very best since and only fourth of six in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (10.5f, good to soft) last time, but the drop back in grade and possibly the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) will aid his cause today; strong claims if surging back to his best.

4⁽⁸⁾

0416-4

Burdett Road

J: Sean D Bowen

T: James Owen

9-3

110

124

Won the Golden Gates Handicap at this meeting in 2023 (1m2f, good to firm) and was a Listed winner at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) last September; runner-up in the Champion Hurdle in March, albeit fortunate; failed to settle when tailed off back on the Flat at Sandown (2m) last month and this drop back in trip seems a likely plus, but a Flat career best is required.

11⁽⁵⁾

430-35

Sunway

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

9-3

112

129

Runner-up in the Irish Derby (1m4f, good) last June and another fine run when third in the St Leger (14.5f, good) in September; not at the same level on either start this term but he may have needed his reappearance, then the steady pace was against him at Newbury; not ruled out in first-time blinkers.

3⁽⁹⁾

21-516

Bellum Justum

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

9-3

112

126

Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out.

7⁽²⁾

335-46

Ghostwriter

J: David Egan

T: Clive Cox

9-3

118

131

3-3 in 2yo season (including Group 2); 0-7 since and below par in Tattersalls Gold Cup last month but all of those were Group 1 races and he's shown some very strong form, including when third in last August's Juddmonte International (10.2f, good to firm); his dam was a 1m4f winner so there can be hope that today's new trip will suit, and he's a major player if he stays; changed hands for £2,000,000 at Goffs London Sale on Monday (remains with Clive Cox).

8⁽⁶⁾

1416-3

Palladium

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

9-3

111

126

Won the German Derby (1m4f, good to soft) last July before 6l last of six to Rebel's Romance in another German Group 1 (1m4f, good to soft); won maiden hurdle for Nicky Henderson in January and close Listed third at Goodwood (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on first run for the Gosdens; open to improvement and Ryan Moore rides but others have more substance to their claims.

10⁽¹⁾

2244-5

Space Legend

J: James Doyle

T: William Haggas

9-3

111

123

Ran well in defeat last season in Group 2s at this meeting (1m4f, good to firm) and at York (1m4f, good to firm); gelded in the off-season; this lightly raced 4yo is in top hands and may have needed last month's reappearance run at York, but improvement is required in first-time cheekpieces.

12⁽¹²⁾

315-22

Tabletalk

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

9-3

110

123

Won the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) last August and he's been a good second in Group 3 races at Newbury on both outings this season (1m4f, good/good to firm); this is just his ninth start and he could continue to progress, but he's down the pecking order on ratings.

RACING POST TIP

Ghostwriter

Rebel's Romance holds leading claims having won four Group or Grade 1 races over 1m4f last year but preference is for another class act in GHOSTWRITER, who was bought by Amo Racing for £2,000,000 at the Goffs London Sale on Monday. He is attempting this trip for the first time but his dam won over 1m4f and he possesses some strong Group 1 form, having been the only one to get anywhere near to City Of Troy and Calandagan in last August's Juddmonte International at York. Last season's Eclipse runner-up Al Riffa is another who could play a major role.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Isle of Jura [5]	4	9-3	16/1	George Scott	Callum Shepherd
2023	Pyledriver [5]	6	9-3	7/2	William Muir & Chris Grassick	P J McDonald
2022	Broome [7]	6	9-3	6/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2021	Wonderful Tonight [11]	4	8-12	5/1	David Menuisier	William Buick
2020	Fanny Logan [8]	4	8-12	17/2	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Defoe [7]	5	9-1	11/4F	Roger Varian	Andrea Atzeni
2018	Crystal Ocean [4]	4	9-1	4/7F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore
2017	Idaho [7]	4	9-1	9/2	A P O’Brien	Seamie Heffernan
2016	Dartmouth [4]	4	9-1	10-1	Sir Michael Stoute	Olivier Peslier
2015	Snow Sky [2]	4	9-1	12/1	Sir Michael Stoute	Pat Smullen
2014	Telescope [8]	4	9-1	7/4F	Sir Michael Stoute	Ryan Moore

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Group-race winner, 10/10
Adjusted RPR of at least 128, 10/10
Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, 10/10
Distance winner, 9/10
Top-two finish last time out, 8/10
Aged four, 7/10
Finished in the first three in a Listed or Group race that season, 7/10

Other factors

Six winners scored last time out.

Four winners were RPR top-rated.

What happened in the Hardwicke Stakes last year?

PYLEDRIVER hadn’t been seen since winning the King George the previous year, reportedly suffered a couple of setbacks after, but showed he retains all his ability despite having taken a keen grip from an early stage. West Wind Blows looks an improved performer since his gelding operation, stepping up on the form of his recent 1m2f Longchamp Group 3 win here with a second. Changingoftheguard was disputing second position when badly hampered by the winner inside the final 110yds.

Hardwicke Stakes

15:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the Hardwicke Stakes last year?

All Races