Royal Ascot Gold Cup

The Gold Cup is run on the Thursday (Day 3 of 5) at Royal Ascot and is the most prestigious staying contest of the season. 

The race has been won on multiple occasions by the same horse with Yeats (2006-2009) winning it four times and Sagaro (1975-1977) and Stradivarius (2018-2020) winning the race three times each. 

Kyprios (2022 & 2024) was a short-priced favourite for the race prior to his retirement through injury which has made it a more interesting betting heat this season. Here’s a few trends to be aware of:

  • All 12 previous winners were aged between four and six
  • 10 of the previous 12 winners won last time out
  • Eight of the previous 12 winners were favourites or joint favourites
  • Seven of the previous 12 winners had already won a Group 1 
  • Eight of the previous 12 winners have been trained by Aidan O’Brien (four) or Gosden (four)

 

Gold Cup Runners Guide

18 horses hold entries for the Gold Cup ahead of confirmations on Friday 13th June at 12:00. We will learn the final runners for the race at the declaration stage on Tuesday 17th June at 10:00.

Illinois

Tremendously consistent son of Galileo who is yet to finish outside of the top 3 in any of his 10 career starts. The Aidan O’Brien trained four-year-old won the Queen’s Vase at the meeting last season over 1m6f before finishing a neck 2nd behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the St Leger last season. 

He has since won a Group 2 at Longchamp over 1m7f and the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester over 1m5½f under a penalty. Without the retirement of Kyprios, he would no doubt have had different targets this season but he is likely to stay this trip based on running style and could dominate this division over the next few years if that is the case.  

Candelari

French raider trained by Francis-Henri Graffard who has a good record in the UK. A progressive four-year-old who won his first three races at Chantilly before finishing a close 3rd beaten only ½ length at Longchamp in a Group 3 in April. 

The son of Frankel bounced back to win the Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 1m7½f at the same track by 3 ½ lengths staying on well at the finish. On breeding, he should stay this marathon trip and is a fascinating contender if coping with the unique nature of Royal Ascot.  

Trawlerman

Best known for beating Kyprios in the 2023 renewal of the Group 2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot but that rival then went on to beat him in this race and the Long Distance Cup last season. A beaten favourite in Meydan on his reappearance, he got back to winning ways in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown when he beat Coltrane by five lengths. 

As he was only beaten a length in this race last season when finishing five lengths ahead of stablemate Sweet William, he looks one of the more solid contenders but is up against it on trends being aged seven. 

Sweet William

Only rated 1lb inferior to his stablemate Trawlerman and has a very consistent profile despite frequently being described as quirky. Yet to finish outside of the first three in his 16 career starts, he is unlucky not to have won more than five of those as three were behind Kyprios last season. 

He finished 3rd in this race last season when beaten only six lengths before winning the Doncaster Cup later in the year. The John & Thady Gosden trained six-year-old is yet to taste victory at Ascot in his five attempts here and was beaten in a slowly run Yorkshire Cup on his reappearance at York this season. 

Jan Brueghel

Will likely be kept in the race in case something happens to stablemate Illinois but he would rate an unlikely runner this year. Last year’s St Leger winner was beaten over 1m2f on his reappearance at the Curragh but bounced back to form last time when beating Calandagan in the Group 1 Coronation Cup over 1m4f at the Derby festival. This would be less than a fortnight turnaround and he is likely to have other targets this season. 

Sevenna’s Knight

Another French raider, this time from Andre Fabre who last won at Royal Ascot with Byword in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in 2010. 

The five-year-old won the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier last season before outrunning big odds to finish 5th in the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe behind Bluestocking. He was sent off favourite when beaten by Candelari at Longchamp last time in a Group 1 and looks more of a place contender in this race. 

Absurde

A high-class dual purpose performer for Willie Mullins who is a Cheltenham Festival winner but also an Ebor winner. A close fifth in the Melbourne Cup last season following a victory at listed level at Chester, he finished 3rd in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival before winning the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumtpon. 

The seven-year-old finished 3rd beaten only 1 ¾ lengths by Illinois in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester but would have to prove his stamina over this trip. He also has an entry in the listed Grand Cup at York on Saturday 14th June so may head there instead over 1m6f.

Yashin

Made the perfect stable debut for Michael Bell winning the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his reappearance over 2 miles. Previously trained in Ireland by Jessie Harrington, he won the Group 3 Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown in 2023 over 1m6f. He will need to be improve given his rating of 106. 

Coltrane

Won the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes last season but has yet to win since. Beaten by the likes of Kyprios and Sweet Reward on his subsequent runs last season, including when 5th beaten 11 ½ lengths in this race, he has finished 2nd on his two starts this year. 

A beaten odds-on favourite behind Yashin at Ascot on his reappearance, he finished 2nd beaten five lengths by Trawlerman at Sandown last time. The Andrew Balding trained eight-year-old seems to be slightly regressing according to his official rating.  

Gold Cup Trainers & Jockeys To Watch 

Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in this race with nine victories since Yeats in 2006. He won it a further three years in a row, Fame And Glory won in 2011, Leading Light won in 2014, Order Of George win in 2016 and Kyprios won it in both 2022 and 2024. The Gosden yard have had a good recent record though with Stradivarius winning it three times in a row between 2018 and 2020 and Courage Mon Ami winning in 2023. 

Ryan Moore has ridden more winners of this race than any other jockey still competing in the UK with victories of Estimate (2013), Order Of St George (2016) and Kyprios (2022 and 2024). In the previous 20 renewals, William Buick has had 14 rides without success. 

Gold Cup Tips

ILLINOIS (best priced at 7/4) looked the obvious successor to Kyprios next season but following the injury and subsequent retirement of his stablemate, 2025 can be the first year of success for him. Aidan O’Brien holds the record with nine victories in the race and he would have plenty of options for this race including Jan Brueghel and Tower Of London. 

A winner of the Queen’s Vase at the meeting last season over 1m6f, his relaxed style of racing should really suit this step up in trip. He was a model of consistency last season and the form of his defeats behind Sosie, Los Angeles and Jan Brueghel have all been boosted with all three winning Group 1 contests already this season. 

Illinois himself made a winning reappearance at Chester in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes under a penalty and he is high up on the shortlist based on trends. He can gain his first Group 1 victory in the most prestigious staying race of all. 

Recommended bet: Illinois (7/4) 1pt win