Norfolk Stakes 2025 Tips: Two picks for Thursday’s opener

Day three of Royal Ascot opens with the Norfolk Stakes, a race that appoints the fastest early two-year-old of the season. 

This Group 2 has been won in the recent past by horses like No Nay Never, Prince Of Lir and A'Ali. Aidan O'Brien had the winner of Tuesday's Coventry Stakes, a similar race over a furlong further, and he has the favourite for this race in Charles Darwin. Below are my two selections for my Norfolk Stake 2025 tips.

Afjan @ 8/1

Maidens on big cards often throw up smart horses and the opening race on French Derby day was expected to do the same. The Aga Khan-owned Vardif was backed into favouritism and, after a slow start, got onto the shoulders of the leaders and drew six and a half lengths clear of the main field in the closing furlongs.

Only he did not win. AFJAN was able to concede a couple of lengths' head start to Vardif, then circumnavigated the whole field and went past the favourite as if he was not there. He put nearly 10 lengths into most of the field in the last couple of furlongs and marked himself as a top prospect.

This horse has the pedigree for Royal Ascot, even for two-year-old races here. His dam was called Al Johrah, and she was second in the Queen Mary (the fillies' equivalent of the Norfolk) in 2016 to the brilliant Lady Aurelia.

Afjan has a good chance of going one better than his mother, as Charles Darwin has been impressive but is unlikely to be on Lady Aurelia's level.

Graft @ 22/1

The French-trained two-year-olds this year look strong. They have generally been rated closer to the British and Irish than usual on Racing Post Ratings, indicating a decent crop.

On top of that, Chantilly's straight course has a lot in common with Ascot. Both have notable climbs, before levelling off in the last furlong. A good run there is solid practice for a tilt at one of Ascot's big two-year-old prizes.

It therefore makes a degree of sense to back up main fancy Afjan with a compatriot. GRAFT has already run four times, and is therefore seen as more exposed than most, but at this stage experience can hold him good stead against some truly inexperienced rivals.

Graft won a Listed race at Chantilly last time, on the same card where Afjan made his debut. Graft showed a smart change of gear to go past Super Soldier and always holding on as that rival rallied.

The first three were quite a way clear, so the form looks solid for the grade. Plenty are likely to improve past Graft as the season wears on, but for now his professionalism can help him get in the money in this Group 2 contest.

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