Queen Anne Stakes 2025 Tips: Look to the Lockinge for the winner of this thriller

Royal Ascot 2025 kicks off with the Group 1 Queen Anne, over the straight mile, at 14:30 on Tuesday, June 17. The opener on a stellar seven-race afternoon, with the eyes of the racing (and sporting) world fixed firmly on this fabulous, historic venue.

Here's my idea of the winner, and a look at one or two of the many dangers. It's a fine renewal, and promises to be one of the absolute highlights of the meeting. 

14:30 Royal Ascot, The Queen Anne Stakes

Flat Racing Results

14:30 Ascot - Lead Artist @ 11/2

It's hard not to come to the conclusion that the G1 Lockinge Stakes, run at Newbury 31 days ago, holds the key to this exceptional renewal of the Queen Anne.

Some superstars have taken this in the past - the likes of Canford Cliffs, Frankel, Warning, Barathea, and Goldikova. It's top-drawer stuff all right - and the class of '25 have much to commend them.

Back to Newbury - and the game winner that day was Team Gosden's Lead Artist, a four-year-old son of Dubawi out of a Frankel mare (a G2-winner, Obligate).

He was ridden prominently on the day and though briefly headed by the re-opposing Dancing Gemini he bravely fought back close home in the gamest fashion to prevail.

A couple of lengths behind were another two of today's field, Godolphin's 2024 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech, and the second that day, Richard Hannon's Rosallion.

The latter is favourite as I write at around 5/2, 11/4, mainly I suspect on the premise that the Lockinge was his first run for 333 days - since winning the St James's Palace in fact on this day last year.

Now it's entirely feasible and logical that he'll benefit enough from that outing to have come on and be capable of turning around the form with Lead Artist, but I'm not so sure.

The Gosden charge produced a career-best in the manner of an improving and importantly very tough individual, and I'd like him on my side if this develops into a bit of a street fight in the last 150 yards.

Dancing Gemini faltered close home at Newbury, and it's even stiffer here at Ascot; while Notable Speech is another who could improve for the run (first for 196 days), but I've a feeling my selection is going to benefit too, now everything seems to be coming together beautifully for him.

It's a cracking edition of the Queen Anne, commemorating the lady who had such a hand in creating this fabled racecourse all those years ago. Can't wait - and what a way to commence proceedings.

New Juddmonte jockey Colin Keane has a big day, a big week indeed, ahead of him and this could just be the dream start, ahead of Field Of Gold in the St James's Place later today.

Stunning stuff.

Royal Ascot tips from Betfred Insights.