The Norfolk Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 5f. It takes place at 14:30 on Thursday 19th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2025. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

4⁽¹⁶⁾

214

Clear Force

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-3

Second on Musselburgh debut (5f, good) in April and easily went one better in a five-runner Ripon novice (5f, good; 1-4) 13 days later; 15-8 favourite for the Listed National Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) three weeks ago but could manage only fourth of the seven runners (just over 2l behind First Legion); something to find; one of two runners for last year's winning stable.

6⁽¹²⁾

332

Exclamation

J: Finley Marsh

T: Grace Harris

9-3

100

Made a promising debut when third of 17 in the Brocklesby at Doncaster (5f, good to soft) in March; although that race hasn't really worked out, the form of his third of six in a Newmarket novice (5f, good) and second of eight in the Lily Agnes at Chester (5f, good) certainly has; maidens have won this race in recent years and he could outrun his likely big odds.

8⁽⁴⁾

3231

Graft

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Mme J Soudan

9-3

103

Placed in his first three starts over 4.5f-6f before off the mark in a Listed event at Chantilly (5f, good to soft) this month, just getting the better of a stablemate of Clear Force and Naval Light; a player on form, but he still has something to prove having raced only on ground softer than good.

15⁽¹¹⁾

621

Star Material

J: Connor Beasley

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

9-3

Finished a long way behind Clear Force on Musselburgh debut (5f, good) in April but has improved, going down narrowly to the subsequent Hilary Needler winner at Pontefract (5f, good) later in month and winning a Ripon novice (5f, good) 15 days ago; will need to step up again to play a part here, though; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.

3⁽¹⁵⁾

411

Charles Darwin

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-3

116

Brother to three winners including the Prix Morny and Middle Park winner Blackbeard; only fourth of seven when sent off 4-6 for his Curragh debut (5f, good) in April, but has since made all to win easily in a Navan maiden (5.8f, soft; 8-11) and a four-runner conditions event at Naas (5f, good; 1-14); he wouldn't be certain to get his own way in front again, but a major player nonetheless; stable has won this three times, the latest in 2017; entered in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

NR⁽¹⁾

London Boy

T: Raphael E Freire

9-3

90,000gns foal, 300,000gns yearling; 15-8 when beating his four rivals on Brighton debut (5f, good to firm) ten days ago; the bare form needs improving upon, but that's never an easy track for a 2yo to have their first start and a Phoenix Stakes entry suggests he is held in some regard; tongue-tie is given a go; could go well.

10⁽⁸⁾

Irish Fighter

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ismail Mohammed

9-3

Promising second of nine (clear of the third) on Wolverhampton debut (5f, AW; 20-1) last month; should win races but it's unlikely to be this one.

2⁽²⁾

Ameeq

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

9-3

Midfield on Beverley debut (5f, good to firm) but stepped up from that when winning a Nottingham maiden (5f, good) 18 days ago (runner-up filled same position at Chester last weekend); open to further progress but that form leaves him with plenty to find at this level; stable won this in 2011.

16⁽³⁾

Wise Approach

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

9-3

101

1,000,000gns yearling; half-brother to two winners including Perfect Power (5f-7f including 2yo/three Group 1s; RPR 119); 16-5 when making a winning debut against previous winners in a conditions race over C&D (good to firm) in April, but a bit disappointing when beaten 2l into fourth of 11 behind First Legion at York (6f, good to firm) five weeks ago; 5lb better off with that rival (who was making his debut) and may fare better now returned to Ascot.

7⁽¹³⁾

First Legion

J: Shane Foley

T: Richard Hannon

9-3

102

500,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; 6-1 when coming from off the pace to make a winning debut at York (6f, good to firm) last month and, despite things not entirely panning out his way, he again ran well to be beaten a length into second of seven in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) a fortnight later; this stiff 5f should also suit him; trainer won this in 2014; high on list.

5⁽⁶⁾

Comical Point

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

9-3

140,000gns yearling; half-brother to a 6f AW winner out of a Listed-placed 5f winner; 17-2 when making all and holding on by a neck on his Salisbury debut (5f, good to firm) five weeks ago (first two clear); open to improvement but the form leaves him with a lot to find in this company; stable saddled the runner-up in this last year.

14⁽⁷⁾

Sandal's Song

J: James McDonald

T: George Weaver

9-3

106

Made a successful debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park (5f, firm) last month which gained him automatic entry into this race; should be suited by the ground and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the market; trainer's previous runner in this race finished ninth of 14 in 2023.

9⁽¹⁰⁾

Hey Tru Blue

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

9-3

175,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; 9-2 when beaten just over a length into second of 13 on his Leicester debut (6f, good) last month; plenty to find on ratings but wins by the third and fifth last weekend give the form some substance; not ruled out each-way.

11⁽¹⁴⁾

Lil Brother

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Paul Attwater

9-3

50-1 for last month's Bath debut (5f, firm) but beaten under a length into second of six and went one better with a half-length success at Nottingham (5f, good) a week ago; needs to improve plenty to make an impact in this.

13⁽⁹⁾

Naval Light

J: James Doyle

T: K R Burke

9-3

101

360,000gns breeze-up purchase in April; made his debut in the same Beverley contest (5f, good; 3-1) in which connections' Shareholder made a successful debut last year before taking this, but this colt could manage only second of six; still of interest, though, and very much one for the shortlist; holds a Phoenix Stakes entry.

1⁽⁵⁾

Afjan

J: Alexis Pouchin

T: H-F Devin

9-3

105

Half-brother to two 5f winners in France whose dam finished runner-up here in the Queen Mary; won a newcomers' contest at Chantilly (5.5f; good to soft; 16-5) this month and his RPR suggests that was a useful performance; shouldn't be passed over at all lightly.

RACING POST TIP

First Legion

Charles Darwin looks the obvious starting point given he has won his last two starts in good style and is the one to beat on RPRs. However, the form of neither race has received a significant boost and he may not be left alone in front, so might be worth taking on at the likely short odds. Naval Light is interesting given the similarities with last year's winner Shareholder for the same connections, even though unlike his stablemate he didn't make a winning debut at Beverley, while Afjan and Sandal's Song, winners of their only starts in France and the US respectively, are also worth a second look. Wise Approach could well figure if the return to this venue reinvigorates him, but the vote goes to FIRST LEGION who won well on his York debut before finishing runner-up in the National Stakes, in which things didn't entirely go his way. The maiden Exclamation could go well at a big price.

Royal Ascot Free Bets

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2024	Shareholder [4]	2	9-3	12/1	Karl Burke	James Doyle
2023	Valiant Force [5]	2	9-3	150/1	Adrian Murray	Rossa Ryan
2022	The Ridler [2]	2	9-3	50/1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2021	Perfect Power [10]	2	9-1	14-1	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan
2020	The Lir Jet [1]	2	9-1	9/2	Michael Bell	Oisin Murphy
2019	A’Ali [9]	2	9-1	5/1	Simon Crisford	Frankie Dettori
2018	Shang Shang Shang [4]	2	8-12	5/1	Wesley A Ward	Joel Rosario
2017	Sioux Nation [2]	2	9-1	14/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2016	Prince Of Lir [10]	2	9-1	8/1	Robert Cowell	Luke Morris
2015	Waterloo Bridge [8]	2	9-1	12/1	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2014	Baitha Alga [7]	2	9-1	8/1	Richard Hannon	Frankie Dettori

Key race stats 2025

Key trends

Won within last two starts, 8/10
Top-three finish last time, 8/10 (six won)
Adjusted RPR of at least 100, 7/10
Beaten on debut, 6/10 (all exceptions once-raced winners)

Other factors

Six winners had scored over 5f.

Six fillies have run in the last decade, finishing 901560.

What happened in the Norfolk Stakes last year?

Charles Darwin confirmed himself as one of the best juveniles around with a dominant display in the Norfolk Stakes. Sent off the 8-13 favourite, Ryan Moore’s mount was prominent throughout and quickened up smartly to win by two and a quarter lengths. Aidan O’Brien’s two-year-old was rated the best winner of the Norfolk in the past ten years. Godolphin’s Wise Approach and US raider Sandal’s Song filled the places

Norfolk Stakes

14:30 Royal Ascot