Steve Ryder has three betting tips on Gold Cup Day at Royal Ascot 2025.
15:05 Thursday
The third day of Royal Ascot is commonly referred to as “Ladies Day” and it features the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for the fillies. The highlight of the day though, of course, is the Gold Cup for which a small but select eight runners have been declared.
I advised my one point win ante-post selection for the race here. Let’s get into the rest of my betting selections for Day 3.
Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips
3:05 Sing Us A Song 8/1 (0.5pt ew)
Ralph Beckett has won this race twice in the past four years and he looks to hold strong claims this year with SING US A SONG (advised at 8/1).
The three-year-old has progressed with each of his career starts and made a winning reappearance at Sandown at a time when runners from the stable were often needing their first runs of the season.
Sing Us A Song won by 2 ¼ lengths that day off a mark of 85 and a 7lb rise from the handicapper is fair. A wide draw is often beneficial in this race and he should run well with up to six places available
15:40 Thursday
3:40 Life Is Beautiful 7/1 (0.5pt ew)
In truth, this looks a poor renewal of the Ribblesdale Stakes but that means the 98 rated LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (advised at 7/1) can gain a Group 2 success.
The John & Thady Gosden trained filly, like many from the stable, made a winning debut in November on the AW at Kempton staying on well over a mile. She finished 2nd to Kon Tiki on her next start under a penalty and that rival has since won a listed race at York and is well fancied for the Coronation Stakes on Friday.
Life Is Beautiful then finished 2nd in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket at the Guineas meeting when she finished behind the impressive winner Falakeyah who has also been supplemented for the Coronation Stakes.
Behind her that day was Qilin Queen who an Oaks trial at Newbury and stablemate Sand Gazelle who finished 3rd in the same race. Life Is Beautiful should improve for this step up in trip to 1m4f and is expected to give the stable a record sixth victory in this race.
18:10 Thursday
6:10 Gleneagle Bay 15/2 (0.5pt ew)
Last year’s winner English Oak is respected in first time cheekpieces but the most solid option appears to be GLENEAGLE BAY (advised at 15/2) who was an unlucky 3rd here in the Victoria Cup.
The Stephen Thorne trained five-year-old was recently purchased by Amo Racing in the build up to this race which means David Egan gets on board for the first time.
Gleneagle Bay raced too keenly over a mile on his reappearance when 5th in the Irish Lincolnshire and was unlucky to challenge alone away from the front two last time when only beaten a short neck in total in the Victoria Cup.
The handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that success which is fair and hopefully a low draw isn’t too much of an inconvenience.
Key Royal Ascot Stats & Trends for Day 3
King George V Stakes:
- Nine of the previous 12 winners were came from in Stall 10 or higher
- Nine of the previous 12 winners carried 9st 1lbs or less
- Eight of the previous 12 winners won last time out
Ribblesdale Stakes:
- All 12 of the previous 12 winners were having their first run at Ascot
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least three runs prior to this
- 10 of the previous 12 winners were rated 94 or higher
Gold Cup:
- 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)
- *** Illinois hits all bar the Group 1 trend***
Key Races & Horses to Watch on Day 3 at Royal Ascot
Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won this race since 2017 but that hasn’t put punters off Charles Darwin who is a short price following two victories so far this season. French contender Afjan won his only start and the likes of Naval Light, First Legion and Wise Approach are all well fancied despite tasting defeat on their previous starts.
There are a few differing form lines from Oaks trials in this Group 2 contest and it looks an open renewal this year. Catalina Delcarpio finished 2nd to Oaks 4th Wemighttakedlongway at Navan and Serenity Prayer finished 2nd to Oaks runner-up Whirl. Both Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden have won this race five times each so the their runners need respect but both lack a standout contender.
The Gold Cup has only attracted eight runners this year despite the late defection of star stayer Kyprios. Aidan O’Brien will be hoping that Illinois can take his place and he should give himself every chance of staying this trip based on his racing style. He faces the Gosden trained duo Trawlerman and Sweet William who had shown good form with Kyprios as well as Candelari who won a Group 1 in France last time over 1m7½f.
The final group contest on the card is the Hampton Court Stakes where French Derby 4th Trinity College and 3rd Detain reoppose each other. Both High Stock and Jackknife ran well at pattern level last time as well as Derby sixth Tornado Alert who is likely to appreciate this drop back in trip. Both Glittering Legend and Arabian Force arrive in form but need to prove that they are up to this class.
What’s Coming Up on Day 4 at Royal Ascot
The highlight of the fourth day of Royal Ascot is the Coronation Stakes where the French 1000 Guineas winner Zarigana faces the supplemented duo Falakeyah and Kon Tiki as well as old adversary Exactly where finished fourth at Longchamp.
