Royal Ascot Racecards

Royal Ascot Day 1 takes place on Tuesday 18th June 2024

Royal Ascot begins with a bang on Tuesday, June 18th as day one kickstarts Flat racing’s marquee summer meeting. If you’re struggling to work out who to bet on, check out our Royal Ascot day 1 tips from our top team of experts.

The Queen Anne Stakes is typically won by the best older milers of the year, not only in Britain and Ireland but from across the globe. The great Frankel cruised to victory in this race in 2012, while the high-class Baaeed landed the spoils last year. Queen Anne winners typically go on to contest the best mile events internationally, including the QEII Stakes back at Ascot in October as well as the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Coventry Stakes is the first big juvenile contest of the week. Many champion two-year-olds have been victorious in the Group 2 over 6f, while some winners such as Dawn Approach went on to Classic glory the following year.

The King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King’s Stand Stakes) gives the sprinters their first opportunity of the week and the 5f Group 1 has an illustrious roll of honour, including the likes of Battaash, Blue Point and Sole Power. Top Australian sprinter Nature Strip was an impressive winner last year.

The St James’s Palace Stakes is a Group 1 run over a mile on the round course and often throws up clashes between the best milers of the Classic generation. Restricted to three-year-olds only, the winners of the British, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas usually take each other on in a defining bout. Last year’s race was won by Coroebus, who had won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on his previous start.

The Ascot Stakes is the first staying contest of the week and is a handicap run over 2m4f. Jumps trainers have dominated this race recently, with Willie Mullins (four times), Nicky Henderson, Jonjo O’Neill and David Pipe – all top trainers in that sphere – successful in the last decade. However, Flat trainer Andrew Balding took the race last year with Coltrane.

The Wolferton Stakes has thrown up some top-class performers since it was switched from being a handicap in 2018. Addeybb was victorious in 2019 and has since gone on to win four Group 1s, while Godolphin struck with Dubai Future last year.

The Copper Horse Stakes was introduced to the meeting in 2020 and has retained its place on the card. It is a Class 2 handicap run over 1m6f and is named after a statue of the Copper Horse, of King George III on horseback that signals the end of the Long Walk in the adjacent Great Windsor Park. Last year’s running was won by Get Shirty, who completed a double on the day for Danny Tudhope.

Royal Ascot Day 2 takes place on Wednesday 19th June 2024

Royal Ascot’s second day this year will take place on Wednesday, June 19th. Check out our Royal Ascot day 2 tips if you do not know who to bet on.

The Queen Mary Stakes opens proceedings on the second day. It is a Group 2 over 5f for two-year-old fillies and was first run in 1921. US-based trainer Wesley Ward has a strong record in the race with three wins, but last year’s running went the way of Yorkshire-based trainer Karl Burke with Dramatised.

The Queen’s Vase has a strong history of producing top-class performers, not only at staying trips but middle distances too. The Group 2 has been run over 1m6f since 2017 and was won by three-time Gold Cup hero Stradivarius that year. St Leger winner Kew Gardens triumphed a year later before Santiago, trained like Kew Gardens by Aidan O’Brien, scooped the prize in 2020 before going on to win the Irish Derby later in the month. The Queen’s Vase and St Leger double was completed again last year by Eldar Eldarov.

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes was first run in 2004 as the Windsor Forest Stakes before switching to its current name in 2013, it is exclusively for older fillies and mares over a mile. Winners of the £100,000 race have gone on to land big-race fillies’ Group 1s later in the campaign such as Integral and while Lady Bowthorpe was beaten by Indie Angel last year, she went on to top-level glory in the Nassau Stakes.

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes was first run in 2004 as the Windsor Forest Stakes before switching to its current name in 2013. It is exclusively for older fillies and mares over a mile. Winners of the race have gone on to land fillies’ Group 1s later in the campaign. Saffron Beach was an impressive winner of the race last year before going on to more Group 1 glory.

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the feature race on day two and the 1m2f Group 1 is for horses aged four and up. It typically throws up the best older horses of the middle-distance division, including Brigadier Gerard (1972), Bosra Sham (1997), Dubai Millenium (2000) and So You Think (2012). Last year it was the turn of Cox Plate winner State Of Rest to be victorious. Established in 1862, it was named after Queen Victoria’s son, who became King Edward VII.

The Royal Hunt Cup is a cavalry charge handicap run over a mile and is one of the biggest betting events of the Flat season. The race gave the Queen her first Royal Ascot winner with Choir Boy in 1953 and she subsequently won it two more times. The contest was first run at the meeting in 1843 and was last year won by Dark Shift.

The Windsor Castle Stakes is a Listed contest run over 5f for two-year-olds. Wesley Ward made history here when Strike The Tiger became the first US-trained winner at Royal Ascot in 2009 and was successful with Hootenanny five years later. Tactical won it in 2020, giving the Queen her 53rd Royal Ascot winner, while Little Big Bear took this on the way to Group 1 glory in the Phoenix Stakes last year.

The Kensington Palace Stakes brings down the curtain on day two. Run over a mile on the round course, it is a handicap for fillies and mares aged four and up. It is named after the palace set in Kensington Gardens and has been a residence for members of the royal family since the 17th century.

Royal Ascot Day 3, also known as Ladies Day, takes place on Thursday 20th June 2024

Royal Ascot’s third day on June 20th is widely known as Ladies’ Day, but for racing enthusiasts, it is the day when the top stayers take centre stage in the Ascot Gold Cup. If you don’t know who to bet on then check out our Royal Ascot day 3 tips.

On day three, the opening race this year will once again be the Norfolk Stakes. A 5f Group 2 for two-year-old colts, it produced a dramatic winner last year when The Ridler sprang a 50-1 shock.

The King George V Stakes is a handicap for middle-distance three-year-olds and run over 1m4f. The race was transferred to Royal Ascot in 1948. One of the best-known recent winners was Brown Panther (2011), a homebred owned by former top footballer Michael Owen. Secret State was victorious for Godolphin last year.

First run in 1919, the Ribblesdale Stakes is typically contested by three-year-old fillies who were defeated in the Oaks at Epsom, but the race itself has thrown up some of the best of its generation too. The Group 2 run over 1m4f regularly throws up top-level winners and was won last year by Magical Lagoon, who followed up in the Irish Oaks.

The Ascot Gold Cup is the highlight of Thursday’s card and the feature race of the whole meeting. An extreme test of stamina and run over 2m4f, the Group 1 was won by Stradivarius for three years between 2018 and 2020. Kyprios became the new star of the staying division with victory last year.

The Britannia Stakes, a mile handicap for three-year-old colts and geldings, is an opportunity for the leading yards to strike with horses from the Classic generation who fall just shy of Group class. It can typically be a minefield for punters, but was won by the well-fancied Thesis last year before he went to continue his racing career in Hong Kong.

The Hampton Court Stakes is a 1m2f Group 3 for three-year-old colts and has been won by Group 1 winners Cannock Chase (2014), Hawkbill (2016) and Benbatl (2017). Claymore landed the race last year.

The day concludes with the Buckingham Palace Stakes, which is run over 7f and is a fiercely competitive handicap for three-year-olds and up.

Royal Ascot Day 4 takes place on Friday 21st June 2024

The fourth and penultimate day of Royal Ascot takes place on Friday, June 21st. If you don’t know who to bet on then check out our Royal Ascot day 4 tips.

Friday’s opening race is the Albany Stakes, a 6f Group 3 for two-year-old fillies. It frequently throws up the best female juveniles for the season. Last year’s winner Meditate went on to become one of the best two-year-olds last season and was successful at the Breeders’ Cup.

Also known as the Ascot Derby, the King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 run over 1m4f for three-year-old colts. It has a tendency to throw up Group 1 stars, including Nathaniel (2011), Old Persian (2018) and Japan (2019). Changingoftheguard won the race last year for Aidan O’Brien.

The Commonwealth Cup was introduced only in 2015, but it has quickly established itself as one of the meeting’s top contests. A 6f Group 1 restricted to three-year-olds colts and fillies, it has been won by leading sprinters such as Muhaarar, Caravaggio and Advertise. Perfect Power made two wins at the royal meeting when victorious here last year.

The standout race on the Friday is the Coronation Stakes, a mile Group 1 for three-year-old fillies. It usually attracts the winners of the British, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas in a pulsating clash. Inspiral produced a stunning performance when winning last year under Frankie Dettori.

The Sandringham Stakes is a fiercely competitive handicap run over the straight mile and is restricted to three-year-old fillies only. Jockey Hayley Turner and trainer Charlie Fellowes have a fantastic record in the race, taking two of the last four runnings. Heredia was victorious for Richard Hannon last year.

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is a 1m4f handicap for three-year-olds and up. Two heavily backed favourites obliged in 2018 and 2019 and outsider Scarlet Dragon won it in 2020. Candleford was victorious for William Haggas and Tom Marquand last year.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes will once again be run as the final race. The 5f handicap for three-year-olds was run for the first time in 2020 at last year’s meeting when Art Power won before placing in two Group 1s later in the season. It has retained its place at the fixture after it was added in 2020 as part of the extended races at Royal Ascot due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Significantly was last year’s winner.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes will once again be run as the final race on Friday’s card. The 5f handicap for three-year-olds was run for the first time in 2020 and has retained its place at the fixture as part of the extended programme at Royal Ascot due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Latin Lover was last year’s winner.

Royal Ascot Day 5 takes place on Saturday 22nd June 2024

The final day of Royal Ascot takes place on Saturday, June 22nd. Like the first four days, there will be seven races on the card. It begins with the Chesham Stakes, a 7f Listed race for two-year-olds that has produced Group 1 stars such as Churchill (2016) and Pinatubo (2019). If you don’t know who to bet on then check out our Royal Ascot day 5 tips.

The Jersey Stakes is a Group 3 run over 7f for three-year-olds and typically features those who fall just short of Group 1 company. That has not stopped previous winners going on to achieve success at that level, however, as Ribchester (2016) and Expert Eye (2018) both went on to post international honours in top global contests. Godolphin have landed the race for the last two years, Noble Truth proving successful in 2022.

The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 run over 1m4f for four-year-olds and up. Sir Michael Stoute has a terrific record in the race, winning it 11 times including with the likes of Crystal Ocean (2018), Telescope (2014) and Sea Moon (2012). Broome won the last year before going on to win at Group 1 level in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in honour of the late monarch, is a 6f Group 1 for horses aged four and up and one of the great global sprints. It was elevated to Group 1 status in 2002 and is the meeting’s most prestigious sprint. It is also the final top-level event of the royal meeting. No international raider could land a blow last year, Naval Crown springing a 33-1 shock under James Doyle.

The Wokingham Handicap is run over 6f and is for horses aged three and up. It is the oldest handicap at Royal Ascot, having first been run in 1813. The fiercely competitive contest is one of the biggest betting heats of the week and last year it provided one of the feelgood stories of the week when remarkable improver Rohaan stormed to victory for the second year in succession.

Another race that has been retained since its inaugural running at Royal Ascot in 2020 is the Golden Gates Handicap, run over 1m2f and restricted to three-year-olds. Missed The Cut won the race in 2022.

The final race of Royal Ascot is the Queen Alexandra Stakes, run over the marathon trip of 2m6f and a conditions race restricted to older horses. It is not only the longest race of the meeting but also the longest contest in Flat racing. Brown Jack, one of Royal Ascot’s greatest performers, won this race six times in a row between 1929 and 1934. Jumps trainers unsurprisingly do well in this race nowadays and Stratum won it for the second year in succession for Willie Mullins in 2022.