Royal Ascot 2025: running order, TV schedule and day-by-day guide to the big races

Royal Ascot’s marvellous five days of racing is just a week away, and anticipation is building ahead of the finest Flat action in the world.

The Royal Ascot schedule runs from Tuesday, June 17, through to Saturday, June 21, with all 35 races broadcast live on ITV and Sky Sports Racing. Races can also be streamed via the Racing Post website and app by logging in through your bookmaker account.

The first six races each day will be shown live on ITV's main channel, with coverage starting from 1.30pm, before switching to ITV4 for the final race of the day from 6pm and the entire shows can be streamed live on ITVX and the STV Player.

The Opening Show will be live every morning of the festival from 09:30–10:30 on ITV4 

Below you'll find a day-by-day guide to Royal Ascot 2025 with all the important races and the big horses to follow.

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Tuesday: Royal Ascot tips and schedule

The opening day at Royal Ascot isn’t short of blockbuster action with three Group 1s on the card. The Queen Anne (2.30), the King Charles III (3.40) and St James’s Palace (4.20) make the first three of the eight Group 1s over the five days. 

The Group 2 Coventry Stakes, exclusively for two-year-old colts, is sure to see the emergence of some future stars (3.05), while competitive handicaps the Ascot Stakes (5.00) and Copper Horse Stakes (6.10) are sure to offer punters some lively opportunities to land a big-priced winner.

The big race: If you're after a thriller, look no further than the Queen Anne. Rosallion, Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini and Notable Speech are poised for a fascinating rematch of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. They are the the top four in the betting and also the same quartet who filled the frame that day.

Rosallion returns as last year’s St James’s Palace winner, while Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini have already exchanged blows upon each other this season. Notable Speech will be hoping to improve on his fourth in the Lockinge. The likes of Sardinian Warrior, Lake Forest and Diego Velazquez for top trainer Aidan O'Brien will be looking to spoil their party.

Field Of Gold (nearside) and Ruling Court are set to renew rivalry at Ascot next TuesdayCredit: John Grossick

The big horse: Field Of Gold has arguably been the biggest talent of the Flat season so far. After all the drama surrounding Kieran Shoemark’s ride on the Juddmonte colt in the 2,000 Guineas, and his ludicrously good showing in the Irish 2000 Guineas, a win in the St James’s Palace Stakes would cement his rise to the top. 

Colin Keane barely had to move at the Curragh as Field Of Gold blew his rivals away with an explosive turn of foot in the final two furlongs. He looks set for a huge rematch with his 2,000 Guineas conqueror Ruling Court after Godolphin's star colt was a late non-runner in the Derby and this could prove whether the rides of Shoemark and William Buick really did make the difference at Newmarket.

Tuesday Royal Ascot racecard:

2.30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) ITV
3.05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) ITV
3.40 King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) ITV
4.20 St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) ITV
5.00 Ascot Stakes (Handicap) ITV
5.35 Wolferton Stakes (Listed) ITV
6.10 Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) ITV4

Wednesday: Royal Ascot schedule, big races and runners

Wednesday has a tough act to follow after a sparkling Tuesday, but there's still plenty on the card to thrill the crowds.

While the day features just one Group 1, the Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20), it’s backed up by a high-quality trio of Group 2s: the Queen Mary (2.30) for speedy two-year-old fillies, Queen’s Vase (3.05), won last year by Gold Cup favourite Illinois, and the Duke of Cambridge (3.40), which is run over a mile and restricted to fillies and mares aged four and above.

The card is rounded off by two fiercely competitive handicaps. The Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) is a notorious puzzle, with winners at 20-1, 22-1 and 25-1 in the last decade, and it's followed by the Kensington Palace Stakes (5.35) for fillies. The Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (6.10) – a lightning-fast five-furlong dash for the juveniles – brings proceedings to a close in frantic fashion.

The big race: All eyes will be on the Prince of Wales's and it promises to be a summer spectacular if the current entries stand their ground. Los Angeles and Anmaat could reoppose after a cracking duel in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, which Los Angeles edged by half a length. Map Of Stars for big-spending operation Wathnan Racing is a big player too for French trainer Francis Graffard.

Los Angeles: multiple Group 1 winner is favourite for the Prince of Wales's StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

The big horse: Los Angeles is the standout for the day’s feature. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, likely to be partnered again by the red-hot Ryan Moore, showed real grit to fend off Anmaat last time. Moore timed the run perfectly and Los Angeles appeared to relish the battle to the line. If a similar duel unfolds at Ascot, there’s every chance he comes out on top again.

Wednesday Royal Ascot racecard:

2.30 Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) ITV
3.05 Queen’s Vase (Group 2) ITV
3.40 Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) ITV
4.20 Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) ITV
5.00 Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) ITV
5.35 Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) ITV
6.10 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) ITV4

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Thursday: Gold Cup day at Royal Ascot 2025

Ladies' Day may have lost a bit of shine with the retirement of superstar stayer Kyprios, but that merely means a new king of the stayers will be crowned in the Gold Cup (4.20).

The day begins with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (2.30), a blistering five-furlong sprint for two-year-olds which has had some major upsets in recent years with 50-1 and 150-1 winners in 2022 and 2023. The Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40) brings more Group 2 action, while the Hampton Court (5.35) adds some Group 3 flair to the mix.

The big race: There’s no finer test of stamina in Flat racing than the Gold Cup. Run over 2m4f, it’s a race steeped in history, having been first contested in 1807 and won by some of the sport’s most iconic stayers. The roll of honour includes the only four-time winner, Yeats, the brilliant Stradivarius with three victories, and two-time champion Kyprios.

Illinois, trained by nine-time Gold Cup-winning trainer Aiden O’Brien, heads the market. Among his challengers is Godolphin's Trawlerman, second last year, while Candelari brings strong form from France. Willie Mullins is also in the mix with Absurde, a previous Royal Ascot and Cheltenham festival winner, looking to add to his trainer's already bulging trophy cabinet.

Trawlerman was beaten by Kyprios twice at Ascot last season but does not have that rival to worry about this timeCredit: Getty Images

The big horse: Trawlerman has unfinished business in the Gold Cup. He pushed Kyprios all the way in last year’s contest, going down by just a length, and won’t have the Ballydoyle star to worry about this time. The John and Thady Gosden trained stayer also holds the distinction of being the last horse to beat Kyprios, and connections will have high hopes for his Ascot return. A below-par effort in Dubai in April is easily forgiven, and his win in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month showed he's right back on track.

Thursday Royal Ascot racecard:

2.30 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) ITV
3.05 King George V Stakes (Handicap) ITV
3.45 Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) ITV
4.20 Gold Cup (Group 1) ITV
5.00 Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) ITV
5.35 Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) ITV
6.10 Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) ITV4

Friday: Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes take centre stage

The quality keeps coming as we’re treated to two more Group 1s – the Commonwealth Cup (3.05) and the Coronation Stakes (4.20). Joining them on the card are the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (5.35) and the Group 3 Albany Stakes (2.30).

And if that wasn’t enough, there are three big-field handicaps to keep punters guessing: the Duke of Edinburgh (3.40), the Sandringham (5.00), and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (6.10).

The big race: The Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs for three-year-olds only is shaping up to be a cracker. Heading the betting is Charlie Appleby’s Shadow Of Light, who was third behind stablemate Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas but could now drop back in trip having won the Group 1 Middle Park over that distance last year.. Babouche and Whistlejacket follow in the market – the pair have clashed twice already, with Babouche coming out on top both times.

Zarigana: big favourite for the Coronation Stakes following Lake Victoria's withdrawalCredit: Aga Khan Studs

The big horse: The Coronation Stakes presents a big opportunity for Zarigana – even more so following the withdrawal of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Lake Victoria.

Zarigana was awarded the French 1,000 Guineas in controversial fashion after finishing second to She’s Perfect, only for the result to be overturned in the stewards' room. The trip to Royal Ascot will mark her first start outside France, having won four of her five races to date.

Friday Royal Ascot racecard:

2.30 Albany Stakes (Group 3) ITV
3.05 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) ITV
3.40 Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) ITV
4.20 Coronation Stakes (Group 1) ITV
5.00 Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) ITV
5.35 King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) ITV
6.10 Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) ITV4

Saturday: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes headlines the final day

Just when you think the racing couldn’t maintain its top-class standard, Saturday arrives and delivers in style, headlined by the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.40). The Group 1 is supported by the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (3.05) and the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (4.20).

The Listed Chesham Stakes (2.30) gets the final day underway before the meeting concludes with three handicaps – the Wokingham Stakes (5.00), the Golden Gate Stakes (5.35), and the Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10), a staying race which often attracts runners from the top jumps stables.

The big race: The Jubilee is the final Group 1 of the festival, run over six furlongs for horses aged four and up. The last two editions were won in surprise fashion by Khaadem, including a stunning success at 80-1 in 2023. This year, exciting French sprinter Lazzat, who was recently purchased by Wathnan Racing, heads the market

After twice being beaten over a mile, Lazzat dropped to a six-furlong trip to devastating effect at Chantilly in MayCredit: Goffs London Sale

The big horse: It’s tough to look past Lazzat. Trained in France by Jerome Reynier, the colt will make his British debut having won his first six starts, including a three-length romp in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last August. He was beaten on international trips to Australia and Hong Kong at the end of last year and again at Saint Cloud in March, but those were over a mile and he looks an altogether different prospect as a sprinter.

Saturday Royal Ascot racecard:

2.30 Chesham Stakes (Listed) ITV
3.05 Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) ITV
3.40 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) ITV
4.20 Jersey Stakes (Group 3) ITV
5.00 Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) ITV
5.35 Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) ITV
6.10 Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) ITV4

Read more:

Colin Keane 'hugely excited' to be Juddmonte's new number one with 'Baby Mick Kinane' set for star-studded book of Royal Ascot rides 

Lake Victoria to miss Royal Ascot - but unbeaten filly to add spice to the Coronation in her absence 

Every Ryan Moore winner at Royal Ascot will bag £5,000 donation for Retraining of Racehorses

Get 60% off with Racing Post+

To help you get set for Royal Ascot, we're offering you the first month of Racing Post+ Ultimate for £20 when you sign up via web using code JUNEJEWELS20 – that's a whopping 60% discount. Available only to new and returning customers. Subscription will auto-renew at £49.95 unless you call our cancellation line to cancel. Sign up now.