Royal Ascot 2025: The Full Day Two Wrap

Welcome to Idol Horse‘s live coverage of Day 2 of Royal Ascot.

Check out the storylines to watch from Jack Dawling, Andrew Hawkins and David Morgan ahead of the second day.

Stay tuned throughout the card as this page updates with results and post-race analysis from the Idol Horse team.

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2025 G2 Queen Mary Stakes

The G2 Queen Mary Stakes is one of two features for the two-year-old fillies, along with Friday’s G3 Albany Stakes. The five-furlong scamper brings together the fastest and most precocious fillies, as well as those likely to progress to Classic stardom at three.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	23. TRUE LOVE	RYAN MOORE
2nd	7. Flowerhead	Colin Keane
3rd	11. Lennilu	Luis Saez
4th	3. Cardiff By The Sea	Oisin Murphy

Analysis

True Love looked like a woman against girls pre-race and her class was too much for her rivals. The Coolmore-owned filly deposed Zelaina as favourite, with the latter unwanted in the market as the American raider Lennilu was also backed late. When the gates opened Zelaina showed electric pace and led centre-track; Lennilu raced close behind, while True Love broke sweetly enough on the stand side and had the leader in range should she fold. Zelaina weakened at the furlong pole and faded out as True Love powered to the lead and drew clear like a serious candidate for next season’s 1,000 Guineas. It was her trainer Aidan O’Brien’s first win in the race. Lennilu hung on for third as Flowerhead ran home strongly to second.

The Quote

Ryan Moore (jockey, True Love): “She’s a tall, scopey girl, she’ll be better suited when she goes six (furlongs). She looked a bit different from the rest of them at the start. She’s a No Nay Never and they’re usually big, strong, powerful, class two-year-olds: she’s got all that size, I thought she’d be better suited when she goes a bit further.” 

Michael Tabor (part-owner, True Love): “I believe she stood out against all the other fillies in the race. (We were) pretty confident, we really were. Aiden always said she is very, very fast and in actual fact she probably needs a bit further, that’s the reality of it. The great thing is her mother is in foal to City Of Troy.”

Aiden O’Brien (trainer, True Love): “She had two very good runs. She was second to a good filly (Lady Iman) first-time out and then our own colt (Gstaad) beat her the second time. Ryan gave her a beautiful ride. She’s like a four-year-old really. She’s a big, mature, strong filly, she’s scopey and something to look forward to.”

The Stat

Aidan O’Brien had won 27 juvenile races at Royal Ascot up to the end of Day 1. He had won each of the other two-year-old races on at least three occasions. However, he had never won the Queen Mary until True Love’s success.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	TRUE LOVE
2024	LEOVANNI
2023	CRIMSON ADVOCATE
2022	DRAMATISED
2021	QUICK SUZY
2020	CAMPANELLE
2019	RAFFLE PRIZE
2018	SIGNORA CABELLO
2017	HEARTACHE
2016	LADY AURELIA
2015	ACAPULCO

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2025 G2 Queen’s Vase

The G2 Queen’s Vase is a stepping stone for three-year-olds bound for the St Leger later in the season as well as Cup races at four. Once run over two miles, it was reduced to 1m 6f in 2017 – just in time for future staying superstar Stradivarius to land the race.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	3. CARMERS	BILLY LEE
2nd	5. Furthur	Oisin Murphy
3rd	8. Rahiebb	Silvestre de Sousa
4th	10. Shackleton	Ryan Moore

Analysis

Trainer Paddy Twomey’s fifth Royal Ascot runner was a winner as late market support for his Carmers was rewarded. Jockey Billy Lee sent the Irish raider to press the lead three deep on the home turn and banked on stamina. Carmers – named for his owner Fiona Carmichael’s late husband – kicked a length clear and maintained a determined gallop as the chasers struggled to get to him. The colt’s ears were flicking over his blinkered face as the post came into view but he was always holding on as Furthur maintained his gallop for second and Rahiebb closed steadily from deep for third.

The Quote

Billy Lee (jockey, Carmers): “The race went to plan all the way, jumped well, had a great position when Harry (Davies on Spinning Wheel) came around, I just let him go and I was able to track away. I got him rolling early from five out, just to get him going forward because he takes a while to build up a head of steam and I knew he’d stay well. I wanted to stretch them, I didn’t want to get beat for being caught for toe, I wanted to make it a stamina test. You can just see him there pricking his ears at the line, he’s just doing enough.”

Paddy Twomey (trainer, Carmers): “I knew he’d stay and I knew turning in Billy looked comfortable. And I was happy to see the horse come out outside him and just not have him at the front and he was able to get a fill into him around the bottom. When the bell rang, I was thinking, ‘We have a chance here.’ He’s done everything we’ve asked, he’s obviously going to have an entry in the St Leger at Doncaster and we’ll see.” 

The Stat

Carmers is the first Irish winner of the Queen’s Vase not trained by Aidan O’Brien since the Dermot Weld-trained Gordo in 1996.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	CARMERS
2024	ILLINOIS
2023	GREGORY
2022	ELDAR ELDAROV
2021	KEMARI
2020	SANTIAGO
2019	DASHING WILLOUGHBY
2018	KEW GARDENS
2017	STRADIVARIUS
2016	SWORD FIGHTER
2015	ALOFT

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2025 G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes

Run over the straight mile, the older mares get their opportunity to shine in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. It was introduced in 2004 as part of a wider change across Europe to encourage fillies to stay in training beyond their three-year-old season. Originally known as the Windsor Forest Stakes, it was renamed in 2013 for Prince William, who was made the Duke Of Cambridge on his wedding day in 2011.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	2. CRIMSON ADVOCATE	JAMES McDONALD
2nd	1. Cinderella’s Dream	William Buick
3rd	4. Fallen Angel	James Doyle
4th	6. Running Lion	Oisin Murphy

Analysis

Crimson Advocate nailed her second Royal Ascot victory with a swooping last-to-first run under Sydney’s star jockey James McDonald. The filly won the Queen Mary Stakes in 2023 for American trainer George Weaver and stayed to sprinting in two runs last year, but under the watch of trainers John and Thady Gosden nowadays, and sporting the Wathnan Racing second silks, the four-year-old showed she is a top miler in the making. Last season’s winner Running Lion tried to make all but was out of steam inside the last furlong as the winner, second-placed Cinderella’s Dream and the rallying Fallen Angel in the Wathnan first silks under James Doyle all passed her. 

The Quote

James McDonald (jockey, Crimson Advocate): “She gave me an absolutely beautiful ride, she did everything we asked; we got last crack and she was really, really strong, and it’s a pleasure to ride a winner for Wathnan. It makes James’s (Doyle) job so hard picking such nice horses all the time and I’m just very lucky to be jogging on the spot at the right time. ‘Doyler’ said when we crossed the line, ‘I’ll take it from here,’ so I’ll leave it to him.”

Richard Brown (owner’s racing manager, Crimson Advocate): “She’s in the Falmouth Stakes. She’s a Queen Mary filly and when John rang me early in the year and said, ‘She’s showing no speed, I think we need to go a mile,’ I thought we were in terrible shape, but we’re not. That was impressive, the way she quickened.”

The Stat

The last three American-trained winners of the Queen Mary Stakes have won again at Royal Ascot as older horses: Crimson Advocate, Campanelle and Lady Aurelia.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	CRIMSON ADVOCATE
2024	RUNNING LION
2023	ROGUE MILLENNIUM
2022	SAFFRON BEACH
2021	INDIE ANGEL
2020	NAZEEF
2019	MOVE SWIFTLY
2018	ALJAZZI
2017	QEMAH
2016	USHERETTE
2015	AMAZING MARIA

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2025 G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

The G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is the first 10-furlong major of the British season. It was established in 1862 and is one of two races across the week named for the Prince Of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII. It was not held from the outbreak of World War II until 1968, a year before then-Prince Charles – now King Charles III – became the Prince Of Wales. It has been restricted to horses aged four or older since it became a Group 1 in 2000.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	7. OMBUDSMAN	WILLIAM BUICK
2nd	1. Anmaat	Jim Crowley
3rd	9. See The Fire	Oisin Murphy
4th	6. Map Of Stars	James Doyle

Analysis

It looked like it could be a hard luck story for William Buick as the race heated up with two furlongs to go, but once he found clear running, Ombudsman went whoosh. The front-running Continuous had set a searing pace, tracked by his stablemate and race favourite Los Angeles, but with two furlongs to race, that pair paid the price of topping 41mph in the second furlong. Facteur Cheval moved briefly to the lead as Anmaat prepared to pounce; but to his inside, Buick was looking left and right for an opening. When Anmaat sprinted clear, Buick followed him and Ombudsman hit turbo, quickening past to win impressively. The lightly raced late developer could be one of the season’s stars.

The Quote

William Buick (jockey, Ombudsman): “This place tames lions. It’s so special to win here because it’s so tough. Ombudsman was stepping up in grade today and I rode him at home and he was really well. He’d have been a very unlucky loser, I was looking for room and had to switch him a couple of times and he’s won with a bit in hand. I was very impressed with what he did there. For the moment he’s a fast mile and a quarter horse.” 

John Gosden (trainer, Ombudsman): “We know when you’re drawn one, we saw what happened to Ryan (Moore) in the staying race yesterday, but with not many runners, the split will come. I think it’s all down to the owner because when we bought him with Anthony Stroud, I said, ‘Look, he’s an immature horse, give me a chance with him,’ and he said ‘take as long as you like.’ He is a horse now that’s fully grown and developed, a proper four-year-old, and because Sheikh Mohammed’s been very patient with him we get rewarded. He’s a horse that because he hasn’t overraced he’s a horse you could look at the Eclipse Stakes, yes.”

The Stat

Only two horses have won the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at their Group 1 debut since it was upgraded in 2000: Lord North and Ombudsman, both trained by John Gosden.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	OMBUDSMAN
2024	AUGUSTE RODIN
2023	MOSTAHDAF
2022	STATE OF REST
2021	LOVE
2020	LORD NORTH
2019	CRYSTAL OCEAN
2018	POET’S WORD
2017	HIGHLAND REEL
2016	MY DREAM BOAT
2015	FREE EAGLE

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2025 Royal Hunt Cup

The Royal Hunt Cup is arguably the meeting’s most prestigious handicap, contested over the straight mile. One of the best betting races of the week, it usually features a full field of 30 thundering down the track.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	27. MY CLOUD	SILVESTRE DE SOUSA
2nd	19. Bullet Point	Tom Marquand
3rd	22. Bopedro	Danny Tudhope
4th	25. Greek Order	Christophe Soumillon

Analysis

It wasn’t entirely straightforward for My Cloud, but the half-brother to two-time Royal Ascot winner Palace Pier showed he still had points in hand to win the Royal Hunt Cup handily. Slow to begin from a stands-side draw, My Cloud was near the back of the largest group as the field split into three divisions. The two groups closer to the far side appeared to be in front through the half-mile but the building momentum allowed My Cloud to work into the race near the stands-side rail. He was always travelling strongly for Silvestre de Sousa but just needed clear running. It wasn’t until they came inside a furlong and a half to travel that the Brazilian jockey was able to ask My Cloud for an effort, but he had already made his way into third among those in his group and it was merely a matter of whether that division would end up in front.

The Quote

Silvestre de Sousa (jockey, My Cloud): “I’m just so pleased to be sitting on a nice horse like him. You have to keep an eye on the whole race – he was drawn 32 but you have to cover the whole field. He pleased me through every furlong, he was wanting to go forward and I could see Christophe (Soumillon on Greek Order) travelling well and I thought he was the one that was going to open the gaps for me.

“He’s a nice horse going places. I think sticking to the mile is the right move at the moment.”

Roger Varian (trainer, My Cloud): “I’m delighted for his owner and the team at home have done a fantastic job with this horse. It’s worth mentioning how patient everyone has been, he has a very patient owner and it’s really coming good now so I’m delighted.

“A winner at Royal Ascot means everything. We haven’t been too busy this week, we were a bit unfortunate with Enfjaar yesterday and Rahiebb ran a great race in the Vase so I’m thrilled, our horses are running well.”

The Stat

My Cloud is the shortest-priced winner of the Royal Hunt Cup since Peter won under Fred Archer in 1881. Both were sent off at 3/1.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	MY CLOUD
2024	WILD TIGER
2023	JIMI HENDRIX
2022	DARK SHIFT
2021	REAL WORLD
2020	DARK VISION
2019	AFAAK
2018	SETTLE FOR BAY
2017	ZHUI FENG
2016	PORTAGE
2015	GM HOPKINS

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2025 Kensington Palace Stakes

The Kensington Palace Stakes is the newest race of the meeting, having been established in 2021. Run over the mile for the older fillies and mares, it is a race that has proven difficult to assess in its short history with all four winners sent off at double-figure odds.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	10. MISS INFORMATION	OISIN MURPHY
2nd	2. Snellen	Gary Carroll
3rd	21. Cheshire Dancer	David Probert
4th	11. Muddy Mooy	Eddy Greatrex

Analysis

The Kensington Palace Stakes continued its run as one of the week’s most unpredictable races as favourite Rainbows Edge, in the monarch’s colours, failed and Miss Information instead took the prize. Again a race where they split, this time into two groups, Miss Information – well beaten at Epsom last start – weaved through from near last to run down 2023 Chesham Stakes winner Snellen.

The Quote

Oisin Murphy (jockey, Miss Information): “I missed the break purposely and tried to get her to relax and allowed the race to unfold in front of me. She’s not very big but she’s very honest. Everyone wants to win at this meeting. We’ve got three days after today, hopefully we can get a few more.”

The Stat

Oisin Murphy’s success means that four of the top five riders in the 2025 World’s Best Jockey race have won on the Day 2 card – James McDonald (Crimson Advocate), Ryan Moore (True Love), William Buick (Ombudsman) and Murphy (Miss Information). Only Ryusei Sakai is missing.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	MISS INFORMATION
2024	DOHA
2023	VILLANOVA QUEEN
2022	RISING STAR
2021	LOLA SHOWGIRL

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2025 Listed Windsor Castle Stakes

This will be the final time the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes is run over five furlongs, the distance over which it has been staged since 1880. From next year, it will be contested over six furlongs and will be restricted to horses whose sire won a race over seven furlongs or further at two or over a mile or further as an older horse.

Results

Placing	Horse	Jockey
1st	10. HAVANA HURRICANE	CHARLIE BISHOP
2nd	6. Dickensian	Shane Gray
3rd	17. Rogue Legend	Billy Lee
4th	2. Azizam	Sam James

Analysis

Jockey Charlie Bishop was criticised for his ride on Havana Hurricane in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, committing into the dip before being outgunned by Maximised over six furlongs. Returning to the sharper five furlongs, Bishop rode Havana Hurricane quietly again but held on to him until the final furlong and a half before asking for an effort. He unleashed a withering turn of foot between runners and was clearly strongest at the line.

The Quote

Eve Johnson Houghton (trainer, Havana Hurricane): “I’m just thinking of my dad (Fulke, who died in February), he would have been proud. He’d have been the first person I would have called. He’d have been crying.

“Didn’t (Charlie) give him a perfect ride? He got slated for his ride at Epsom, unfairly, but I couldn’t be more proud of my jockey!”

The Stat

Eve Johnson Houghton has now had two winners of the Windsor Castle Stakes – both sons of the late Havana Gold.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025	HAVANA HURRICANE
2024	AIN’T NOBODY
2023	BIG EVS
2022	LITTLE BIG BEAR
2021	CHIPOTLE
2020	TACTICAL
2019	SOUTHERN HILLS
2018	SOLDIER’S CALL
2017	SOUND AND SILENCE
2016	ARDAD
2015	WASHINGTON DC

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The Idol Horse team will return for Day 3 on Thursday. ∎