Focus On The Flat: Royal Ascot 2025 – The Big Review

Resident racing expert Adam Smith (@Smido11) is back with the latest edition of his Focus On The Flat column, reviewing all eight of the Group 1 races from this week's 2025 Royal Ascot meeting.

Flat racing insight – Royal Ascot 2025 Group 1 reviews

Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of the season for most, whether that be punters, owner, trainers or jockeys.

There’s nothing like a Royal Ascot but it’s a reminder that we are only half way through another fantastic flat season. Eight Group Ones across the week produced some scintillating performances in their own right, but we quickly move on in this game and thoughts are already looking ahead to the next set of high-stakes clashes.

The first all age top level races are on the horizon where this year’s Classic generation test themselves against the older horses. The ante post markets are aplenty at this time of the year.

Docklands springs Queen Anne shock

I was half right in looking away from the Lockinge front four for my Queen Anne winner, as only one of those from Newbury managed to finish in the first three in the Royal opener. “Half right” might be pushing it, though – my two ante post selections were a day before non runner (Sardinian Warrior) and an on the day ninth of ten runners (Diego Velazquez).

The signs were there for the winner, Docklands. Loves Ascot, second last year, first this year. A 14/1 shock to start the week. Cairo was 100/1 in third. Lockinge winner Lead Artist ran a stinker. Dancing Gemini ran flat to say the very least.

The Queen Anne itself was run at a very slow pace early. A borderline joke in fact. Two and a half seconds behind standard. No pace at all early doors.

The first three passed the post sat in the final four until the two pole. Rosallion looked all over the winner as he made his move stand side but Docklands travelled far side and nabbed him fair and square.

I posed the question pre-race that Rosallion and Notable Speech just might not be that good and won Classics last year against inferior rivals. It’s fair to say that point of view is gaining momentum.

Rosallion is 6/1 for the Sussex Stakes with Docklands at 16/1. There’s a lot of water to pass under that bridge between now and the last Wednesday in July (more of that later).

Races Now finds their American hero

The second Group One on Tuesday went as predicted for the Races Now contributors in many ways.

American Affair is very quick and tipped by both SD and myself following what we thought a poor ride at Haydock. Asfoora ran a little flat after very different preparation this year compared to last and Believing was drawn badly in stall one.

The next five furlong Group One race in Britain isn’t until August 22nd so the King Charles performers have a decision to make; wait eight weeks, go to the Goodwood Group Two (winner would carry a penalty), or step up to six for the July Cup.

You could certainly see Jim Goldie’s winner keeping busy and going to Goodwood and the Nunthorpe looks perfect for him – but there are no ante post prices for that race yet.

All about Gold in the St James's Palace

The performance of the week was surely from Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Confirming himself as the undisputed champion miler of the three-year-olds. Smashing fellow Guineas winners Henri Matisse (Irish) and Ruling Court (English) by over three lengths. He was 8/11, he was meant to win. But some, like me, still had question marks over how good he actually was.

Was he beaten fair and square at Newmarket? Did the Irish Guineas fall in his lap somewhat? Those questions were answered, quite emphatically – he could be a superstar.

From an ante post perspective, Field Of Gold impacts on many markets. He’s had four runs already this season so might need a mid-season rest. He’s 6/4 favourite for the Eclipse but that’s only three weeks after his most recent win. He’s even money for the Sussex Stakes in eight weeks. He has the option of the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France, he’ll be favourite for the Juddmonte International at York when that market goes up – a race his owners sponsor.

For the races listed that he does not run in, there has to be some ante post value. We have already mentioned 6/1 Rosallion for the Sussex which could look fantastic on the day, if the sun is shining.

Ombundsman delivers damning verdict

Onto Wednesday where Los Angeles disappointed in the Prince Of Wales’s, notably sweating beforehand and unable to dictate from the front as was his want.

Amnaat wasn’t again travelled like the winner but didn’t win, is this becoming a problem for the Owen Burrows horse?

But it was Ombudsman who challenged latest and fastest to win going away. The Godolphin owned, Gosden trained winner met all sorts of traffic and dead ends in the final couple of furlongs but looked electric when the road became clear.

Somewhat under the radar given Ombudsman only ran in two novice races in the UK last summer (didn’t run as a two year old) and finished last year unbeaten with Listed and Group Three wins in France at the backend. Clearly very talented, still on the up and an out and out summer ten furlong horse to my eye.

He’s 5/2 for the Eclipse, 10/1 for the King George and would be near the top of the market in the Juddmonte and Irish Champion for sure.

Field Of Gold and Ombudsman are both trained by the Gosdens but in different ownership. The preference would surely to keep them apart but the owners will ultimately decide. I’d run Ombudsman in the Eclipse for sure, he’s only had two runs this year, six runs in his life and his stablemate may well be having a rest.

Trawlerman lands us another touch

I flagged Trawlerman as the best each way value of the whole week on this very column early last week. He was 4/1 at the time of writing and went off 85/40 favourite for the Gold Cup as Illinois and Candelari drifted.

I didn’t have a lot on but all the signs were there for Trawlerman – second last year to the great Kyprios, as good as ever in his warm up for this race and question marks over four year olds Illinois and Candelari.

Illinois clearly didn’t see the marathon two and a half mile trip but he’ll certainly be a threat in potential rematches with Trawlerman over the less stamina sapping trips at Goodwood, York and back at Ascot in October.

But make no mistake, Trawlerman is the stayer to beat for the foreseeable.

Time for an outsider as Sandals lands Commonwealth

Two Group Ones on Friday and two upsets.

The 21 runner Commonwealth Cup won by 25/1 shot Time For Sandals, with 28/1, 20/1 and 66/1 filling the next three places.

I thought Shadow Of Light would win but he disappointed in fifth and never looked like winning in truth. Babouche came in 20th and my ante post pick Diablo Rojo was stone last. Big Mojo wants dropping to five furlongs by the way!

I wouldn’t write this off as poor form just yet. The winner was probably drawn on the wrong side in terms of pace (hit front plenty early enough) and won his side of the race with ease.

The usual next step would be the July Cup, but the winner would need supplementing.

I've always been a fan of the Commonwealth Cup in it's 11-year existence. Maybe because I have an affinity to the Classic generation in general. But now may be the time to start questioning the newest Group One in Royal Ascot's repertoire.

It's already on the European Pattern Committee red list for possible downgrade. And it's unlikely to be coming off said red list after last week's result. The Ascot Authority will be hoping those front four perform well for the rest of the season.

Cercene gives us a 40/1 winner

The Coronation Stakes went my way with a 40/1 winner tipped up on Races Now.

It didn’t go the way of hot favourite Zarigana who, not for the first time in her life, looked all over the winner and didn’t pass Cercene.

The fillies mile division takes care of itself in the UK and Ireland, so we’ll see Cercene in races like the Falmouth.

I’ve got no idea what the plan was with Falakeyah who took a keen hold, tried to lead and was ultimately disappointed. I’ve got no idea what they do with her next.

But we certainly enjoyed this result!

Lazzat tastes Jubilee success

The Group One feast ended with the Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs, a race I had no betting opinion on given the French and Japanese topped the market and my lack of knowledge on their form.

Nevertheless, the market got it right as the favourite and third favourite went way clear of the rest and Lazzat (9/2) fought off his Japanese rival to top a fantastic week for James Doyle and Wathnan racing.

The good news for British flat fans is that Lazzat has now proven himself on quick ground and is a massive player in all the sprint races going forward – currently 7/2 for the July Cup.

Shout out to Flora Of Bermuda, also owned by Wathnan, who ran another stormer in these type of races to be third.

As usual, there’s plenty to look forward to...