Royal Ascot Tips Days Three, Four & Five

Get expert Royal Ascot tips for Days 3, 4 & 5. Find value bets, banker selections, and horses to watch for the final stretch of Ascot 2025.

THURSDAY (Day 3)

2.30 - Norfolk Stakes
Charles Darwin will be a warm favourite but for those who are pessimistic, the favourites have a horrific record in this race and he looks very short at 8/11. He is clearly extremely talented but in a week in which a few fancied horses have been turned over, I think there is value to be had elsewhere. AFJAN looks a big player on the back of an extremely impressive run at Chantilly, beating a well-touted Graffard horse in the process. It didn’t look likely for a while but when let down by Alexis Pouchin, this son of Mehmas flew down the outside to win cosily at the line. His RPRs suggest he is more than capable of getting involved in this so he gets the nod. Naval Light was a big eye-catcher behind a decent horse of Andrew Balding’s on debut. Although he found plenty of trouble, there was an engine under the bonnet so I would expect him to put himself in the picture today.

3.40 - Ribblesdale Stakes
The Musidora at York tends to be a significant trial for the Betfred Oaks and this year proved no different when Whirl almost landed the spoils on Epsom’s Ladies Day before getting run down by Minnie Hauk, her stablemate. Back in second that day and possibly overlooked given the winner won so impressively, was SERENITY PRAYER. Andrew Balding’s filly shaped as if the extra distance that she will encounter today will be to her liking and if in the same vein of form, I am hoping Oisin Murphy puts her stamina to good use around Swinley Bottom. She gets the vote but Go Go Boots can put her disappointing run at Epsom behind her. She finished behind the selection at York, only by a nose and first-time blinkers may spark a quick revival.

4.20 - Gold Cup
ILLINOIS (NAP) will look to keep the crown back at Ballydoyle and follow in his stablemate Kyprios’s footsteps following his injury. He looked as good as ever at Chester on seasonal reappearance and Ryan Moore felt he was as good as he has ever been. This route appears the obvious one, given the situation at Ballydoyle, and he looks to be the relentless type to relish the step up in trip that the Gold Cup brings. Trawlerman won well at Coltrane and looks like an obvious threat hailing from a yard that is firing in the winners at the Royal meeting. He has to be taken seriously given this looks like his best chance of winning a Gold Cup with no Kyprios in here. Candelari is the new horse in the division and bolted up in a Group 1 at Longchamp last time out. The Graffard horses haven’t run too well though and he will be hoping his young star can shed them in a better light.

THURSDAY (Day 4)

3.05 - Commonwealth Cup
SHADOW OF LIGHT looks to be one of the best short-priced favourites of them all this week despite the looming fact Charlie Appleby hasn’t trained a Royal Ascot winner since 2022. That stat is remarkable given his horses are pulled from the very top drawer however his horses have run okay this week so there is hope this horse can too. This also looks to have been the plan for quite some time following the Guineas where he looked to get outstayed over the mile. A classy sprinter last year, expect him to put that to good use and I expect him to win well. Babouche is the choice of Colin Keane over Jonquil following his new role as Juddmonte's retained rider. She put distance between herself and Whistlejacket who also reappears on Friday but I cannot see that form being reversed. Jonquil must be respected given he brings top-class form to the table and he was unlucky in the French Guineas where he was collared late on by Henri Matisse.

4.20 - Coronation Stakes
This year’s Coronation Stakes looks a belter on paper and long-time favourite, ZARIGANA looks to have plenty in her favour following her controversial French Guineas success. Following a stewards inquiry between herself and Shes Perfect, it was deemed that the latter had interfered enough to make the result seem worthy of overturning. But Zarigarna burst down the outside showing a blistering turn of foot and one that would stand her in great stead come Friday. I would expect her to be held up as usual and come with one late run and as long as she doesn’t meet too much trouble, I think she is the best in the field. Falakeyah has seen plenty of financial support in recent days and heads the market with the French filly following two impressive performances at Newmarket and Wolverhampton. Owen Burrows will be seeking revenge following the narrow defeat of Anmaat in Wednesday’s feature so he will be hoping his superstar filly can get the job done. Of the rest, Flight has run consistently well for some time now and whilst maybe finding a few in here too good, if they disappoint she will be on the premises.

FRIDAY (Day 5)

3.40 - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

LAZZAT was a cut above his rivals on last month’s showing at Chantilly and was later swooped up by Wathnan Racing. Described as a “sensational sprinter and huge talent”, he will bid to give his trainer Jerome Reynier his first success at the Royal meeting. Despite being beaten on seasonal reappearance on bottomless ground at Saint Cloud, he bolted up to win by over five lengths at Chantilly in May. I expect him to stamp his class on this field. Inisherin proved he was as good as ever when winning at York last time, showing a great attitude to deny Flora Of Bermuda in the later stages when giving weight away. He can run well for William Buick who picks up a great spare.