Royal Ascot 2025: The Full Day One Wrap

Welcome to Idol Horse‘s live coverage of Day 1 of Royal Ascot.

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

Preview

Royal Ascot 2025: What To Watch For On Day One Of The Royal Meeting

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

2025 G1 Queen Anne Stakes

The G1 Queen Anne Stakes is the traditional opener to Royal Ascot each year. A Group 1 over the straight mile for the older horses, it is one of the highlights of the week.

Results

Analysis

A race with little pace resulted in a sprint through the last two furlongs and a thrilling head-bobbing finish that went the way of last year’s runner-up Docklands and his Australian rider Mark Zahra. As the reluctant pacemaker Quddwah was swamped approaching the two-furlong mark, Carl Spackler’s white face set for home as Docklands on the far side of the pack and Rosallion on the nearside quickened past to battle out the finish. In behind, Godolphin’s Notable Speech struggled to find a way through. Zahra dropped his whip and two strides before the line Rosallion’s head was down, but Docklands had his nose in front when it counted. The Australian jockey flew in from Melbourne for just one ride and delivered for the five-year-old’s Australian owners OTI Racing.

The Quote

Mark Zahra (jockey, Docklands): “Everyone kept scaring me about the whip rules, I thought it was easier just to throw it away at the 200 (metres). It was a slow, slow speed and I just crept as much as I could and got room at the right time, burst through and he just kept responding, kept responding, it was such a tough effort. What an amazing feeling.”

The Stat

Docklands became the first horse ever to complete the Britannia Handicap-Queen Anne Stakes straight mile double.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025 G2 Coventry Stakes

There are six two-year-old races at Royal Ascot, but the G2 Coventry Stakes is considered the most prestigious of them all. It is the first Group race for juveniles in Britain each year.

Results

Analysis

The Coventry Stakes is a race that often comes down to luck in running and millimetres at the finish, but there was no doubting Gstaad‘s dominance as he burst away for a three-length victory – the largest winning margin since War Command raced clear by six lengths in 2013. The field separated into two divisions and Gstaad found himself among the stands side bunch, although closest to the centre of the track under Ryan Moore. Nothing took Gstaad into the race and the hulking son of Starspangledbanner, who towered over his rivals, had to accelerate of his own accord. When he balanced and quickened, he put the race to bed quickly. Do Or Do Not was best of the far side group, running into second at big odds.

The Quote

Aidan O’Brien (trainer, Gstaad): “I’m delighted. We always thought he was lovely and he’s making into a very nice horse. He’s not slow but looking at him today, he’d get seven furlongs. While Gstaad is a good horse in his own right, Albert Einstein (Coolmore’s original top seed for the race) has always been something else. He’s something that we didn’t have before. From the first day he worked he’s the most different horse we’ve ever seen. He’s so quick. He’s so big we had to back off him a little bit but he’s very exciting.”

The Stat

Aidan O’Brien won his 11th Coventry Stakes with Gstaad. His first ever win at the meeting also came in the Coventry Stakes with Harbour Master in 1997.

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Recent Winners

2025 G1 King Charles III Stakes

The five-furlong G1 King Charles III Stakes – formerly the King’s Stand Stakes – is arguably the most international race of the week. In the last 20 years, it has been won by horses from France, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States in addition to Great Britain, while runners have come from jurisdictions like Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Results

Analysis

Veteran Scottish trainer Jim Goldie had his first Royal Ascot winner and first Group 1 triumph thanks to a horse, American Affair, that was winning Class 2 handicaps at Musselburgh and York this spring. Regional broke best of all and held his spot in the front rank, joined at halfway by the smooth-travelling Frost At Dawn. But Paul Mulrennan was tracking in behind on American Affair and when Frost At Dawn made his move, Goldie’s gelding quickened to challenge. The pair went head to head through the final furlong, with a neck the margin at the finish. Last year’s winner Asfoora was there with every chance at the furlong pole but peaked and faded as Regional battled on for third, while the in-foal favourite Believing weakened tamely.

The Quote

Jim Goldie (trainer, American Affair): “I’ve trained the family for three generations so it’s very sweet. This horse’s grandpa came along not long after I started (in 1994). He’s just getting faster … we took him back to five (furlongs) and he’s just getting better and better.”

Paul Mulrennan (jockey, American Affair): “It all went pretty smooth, we got a lovely tow along there. We just tweaked a couple of things today, we put a hood on him … the last day, nothing went right at Haydock. Jim’s always had a lot of faith in this horse and he’s proved today, he’s a good horse.”

The Stat

American Affair became the first Scottish-trained winner at Royal Ascot since Linda Perratt-prepared Big Timer won the 2008 Wokingham Handicap. Before that, the last Royal Ascot winner trained north of Hadrian’s Wall was Lanercost, who won the Gold Cup all the way back in 1841.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025 G1 St James’s Palace Stakes

The G1 St James’s Palace Stakes is a notable stepping stone for three-year-olds from the classic in Great Britain, Ireland and France towards taking on their elders in the Sussex Stakes next month.

Results

Analysis

New York racecaller Frank Mirahmadi may have proclaimed that Sovereignty left “absolutely no doubt about who the best three-year-old in the world is” when the top American colt won the Belmont Stakes. Just 10 days later, Field Of Gold left absolutely no doubt that he has taken the throne – one that he perhaps had never ceded – with an emphatic success against fellow Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes. A brisk pace set by Officer and Windlord gave the three Guineas winners their opportunity to produce a top performance. While Ruling Court was under pressure before turning for home, Field Of Gold cruised up under Colin Keane and bounded past his rivals in a couple of strides. Henri Matisse tagged him early in the straight but was unable to accelerate on terms. He did close off late but the margin was well established by then.

The Quote

Colin Keane (jockey, Field Of Gold): “Good horses make it look easy. If anything the pacemakers didn’t bring us far enough and we got there soon enough, but he’s tough and genuine and a very good horse. At this moment he’s the best horse I’ve sat on. To ride a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot so soon is just brilliant.”

The Stat

Both of Juddmonte’s previous winners of this race, Frankel and Kingman, developed into top stallions. Field Of Gold, a son of Kingman, will likely be given every chance at stud.

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Recent Winners

2025 Ascot Stakes

The Ascot Stakes is the first of four races run across the five-day meeting in which horses pass the winning post twice. It often brings together National Hunt and Flat horses as well as dual purpose trainers.

Results

Analysis

Irish stayer Ascending made it three handicap wins in a row with a gritty success over Nurburgring to land a messy Ascot Stakes for top jumps trainer Henry de Bromhead. Trapped widest of all in midfield past the post the first time, Billy Lee managed to get into the three-wide line tracking Colin Keane aboard Nurburgring. Lee then pulled off Keane’s back approaching the four-furlong mark and the pair were travelling best of all upon straightening. Ascending raced past Nurburgring and put up a clear two-length margin, but he probably found the 2m 4f at the upper extent of his stamina reserves and he was out on his feet at the line. Nurburgring’s stablemate Comfort Zone closed for third.

The Quote

Billy Lee (jockey, Ascending): “He jumped a fraction steady and I was a bit further back than I wanted to be but we got a good trip throughout, and then we took off. I thought he’d stay and go close and he had that kick at the two-furlong pole. I was confident that he’d get the trip but I probably lit him up a bit soon and then I probably nicked a few lengths. Henry had him spot on for today. It’s just great to be here and to get a winner is extra special.”

The Stat

Henry de Bromhead has won all four of the Cheltenham Festival features and the Grand National among many National Hunt triumphs, but this is his first Royal Ascot victory.

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Recent Winners

2025 Listed Wolferton Stakes

The Listed Wolferton Stakes, run as a handicap until 2018, is open to horses who have not won a Group 1 or Group 2 since August 31 last year. It has produced a number of future Group 1 horses, particularly down in Australia.

Results

Analysis

Haatem won on the last day of Royal Ascot last year and returned to win on the first day this year over the longer trip in the Wolferton Stakes. Disappointing in two starts this season at a mile, he stepped up in trip and seemed to relish the distance. Settled midfield by James Doyle, he steadily made ground but couldn’t be fully unleashed until the two-furlong marker. At that point, Galen had raced to the lead but he seemed to wander about when out on his own, giving Haatem the opportunity to run him down. They matched motors for a half-furlong or so, but class prevailed over the concluding stages.

The Quote

James Doyle (jockey, Haatem): “First and foremost, well done to Richard Hannon and his team. He had a nasty enough injury last year and they’ve done a great job to get him back. For a couple of runs this season we were thinking he’s not quite there but he’s such a big boy he’s taken time to really get proper on his A-game.

“The last time in France I was thinking shall we take on the big boys in the Queen Anne or try and boss a race like this. He was the quality in this and he showed his class. Every Royal Ascot meeting is very high pressure and when you work for Wathnan Racing, who really target this meeting, you do feel it.

“You can never count your chickens at a meeting like this so to get one on the first day is brilliant and it can only be a good thing.”

The Stat

Haatem is the first Jersey Stakes winner to step up to 1m 2f since 2019 winner Space Traveller. He’s the first to win at the longer distance in almost 50 years.

Replay

Recent Winners

2025 Copper Horse Stakes

One of a number of handicaps that was introduced for the pandemic Royal Ascot in 2020, the Copper Horse Stakes provides a test of stamina over 1m 6f.

Results

Analysis

French Master looked every bit a promising stayer of the future with a sweeping victory from beyond midfield off a sedate tempo to land the Copper Horse Handicap, giving Wathnan Racing and jockey James Doyle a race-to-race double. Sent out as favourite having won three of his five starts, the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old powered through the line and shaped as though handicaps would soon be in his rearview mirror. Caballo De Mar continued his incredibly honest campaign with another fighting second but was no match for the winner.

The Quote

James Doyle (jockey, French Master): “He was very good. I was too far back and we were going no gallop at all. He walked out of the gate, they can do that sometimes with the blinkers on first time and he’s quite sleepy but, by god, did he pick up off the turn.

“He’s a character, the guys do a great job with him because you have to be on his case with him at home every morning. Rab Havlin, as we know, is a master at teaching these young horses and he’s brought him through his career very nicely.”

The Stat

John and Thady Gosden have won the Copper Horse Handicap twice – and both times, the jockey has been named “Doyle”. When Amtiyaz won in 2021, Hollie Doyle took the ride.

Replay

Recent Winners

The Idol Horse team will return for Day 2 on Wednesday. ∎