Royal Ascot represents the highest level of British flat racing and serves as the summer’s premier racing and social occasion, mixing world-class sport with elegance and timeless tradition.
Now over 300 years since the first running, Royal Ascot has developed into one of the events of the year, featuring a prize fund exceeding £10m, including two races worth £1m each.
There are seven races per day over the five days with eight elite Group 1 contests on the cards, from sprints to the epic Gold Cup spectacle.
Royal Ascot 2025: Festival overview
The Royal Ascot festival runs from Tuesday, June 17, to Saturday, June 21 2025. Each day starts with the Royal procession (14:00), followed by the first race at 14:30, while racing ends around 18:15.
A total of 35 races in total are on the cards across the five days, including eight Group 1s: Queen Anne, King Charles III Stakes, St James’s Palace, Prince of Wales’s, Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup, Coronation Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Royal Ascot 2025: Day-by-day schedule & tips
Royal Ascot kicks off in style with a blockbuster opening card featuring four Group 1 contests, headlined by the Queen Anne Stakes.
Tuesday 17 June – Opening Day
- 14:30 Queen Anne (G1)
- 15:05 Coventry Stakes (G2)
- 15:40 King Charles III Stakes (G1 sprint)
- 16:20 St James’s Palace (G1)
- 17:00 Ascot Stakes (Heritage)
- 17:35 Wolverton Stakes (Listed)
- 18:10 Copper Horse Stakes
Tip: The St James’s Palace Stakes brings us a rematch between Ruling Court and Field of Gold. After a frustrating near-miss at Newmarket, Field of Gold bounced back with victory at the Irish Guineas 2,000, and if the draw and conditions suit, he could be the one to beat in this race.
Wednesday 18 June – Midweek Highlight
- 14:30 Queen Mary (G2)
- 15:05 Queen’s Vase (G2)
- 15:40 Duke of Cambridge (G2)
- 16:20 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1, £1 million prize)
- 17:00 Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage)
- 17:35 Kensington Palace Stakes
- 18:10 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
Tip: Following three consecutive wins, including one course and distance victory at Ascot, My Cloud looks a standout shout in the Royal Hunt Cup, and will be hard to beat if he cracks a favourable draw.
Thursday 19 June – Ladies’ Day & The Gold Cup
- 14:30 Norfolk Stakes (G2)
- 15:05 King George V Stakes (Heritage)
- 15:40 Ribblesdale Stakes (G2)
- 16:20 Gold Cup (G1, 2 miles+)
- 17:00 Britannia Stakes
- 17:35 Hampton Court Stakes (G3)
- 18:10 Buckingham Palace Stakes
Tip: Thursday looks like a tough one from a betting perspective, with no runners jumping off the page as a standout. Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old Illinois is an interesting sort with a good record over similar trips, winning this season’s Ormonde Stakes, and could prove good value each way in the Gold Cup as a progressive stayer.
Friday 20 June – Sprints & Finer Females
- 14:30 Albany Stakes (G3)
- 15:05 Commonwealth Cup (G1, £650k)
- 15:40 Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
- 16:20 Coronation Stakes (G1)
- 17:00 Sandringham Stakes
- 17:35 King Edward VII Stakes (G2)
- 18:10 Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes
Tip: Having recently won the Lacken Stakes G3 and possessing proper straight-six furlong pedigree, Babouche looks primed for a big run in the Commonwealth Cup on Friday. Don’t leave this one off any bets for the day.
Saturday 21 June – Grand Finale
- 14:30 Chesham Stakes (Listed)
- 15:05 Hardwicke Stakes (G2)
- 15:40 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1, £1 million)
- 16:20 Jersey Stakes (G3)
- 17:00 Wokingham Stakes (Heritage)
- 17:35 Golden Gates Stakes
- 18:10 Queen Alexandra Stakes
Tip: Our get-out-of-jail pick on the final day of the festival is the Michael Appleby-trained Annaf, who is fresh off handicap success and boasts bags of form and class. This looks a solid pick for an each-way punt in the wide-open Wokingham Stakes.
With over £10 million in prize money and the eyes of the racing world watching, Royal Ascot is once again set to deliver moments of drama, tactical battles, and hopefully, a few big wins too.
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