Ascot Gold Cup 2025 Tips: Famous silks to the fore once more in the big one?

It's the centrepiece of the Royal meeting - the Ascot Gold Cup, off-time 16:20, and first run way back in 1807. Some truly great horses have won it down the years - the likes of Yeats, Sagaro, Stradivarius, Le Moss, Ardross, Kyprios - the list is long and deeply impressive.

The class of 2025 tackle the stamina-sapping 2m 4f trip today hoping to join their illustrious number, and with only eight slated to face the starter there shouldn't at least be any traffic difficulties. Let history unfold ...

16:20 Royal Ascot (Gold Cup)

Fast Racing Results

16:20 - Candelari @ 3/1

Illinois is the latest from the seemingly endless Ballydoyle production line concerning classy older horses becoming Cup superstars; especially here. Kyprios x2, Order of St George, Leading Light, Fame And Glory, Yeats x4 - and that's all in the last 20 years or so.

Aidan saddles the likely fav fresh from taking Chester's Ormonde Stakes from Al Qareem, who then did wonders for that form by dotting up in York's Ebor Grand Cup at weekend.

Illinois is a worthy successor-in-waiting to those illustrious stablemates but I feel he might just have his hands full courtesy of an inmate of Chantilly-based Francis Henri Graffard's yard in France - Candelari. 

The four-year-old gelded son of the legendary Frankel, out of a Barathea mare (Breeders' Cup winner), has an extremely inexperienced profile. Just the five starts so far, but highly progressive. Last time was a real eye-opener, turning a Longchamp G1 into a bit of a 3.5l rout at the finish, admittedly at just short of 2m, and on good-to-soft.

I suppose the swift ground has to be a slight concern, but his magnificent sire was pretty adaptable in that regard, and he looks every inch the stayer. Mickael Barzalona has the mount, and has ridden him a couple of times previously.

He's got the proven experience of Illinois to cope with (he's had 10 career starts), plus the quality of the likes of the ultra-consistent Sweet William for Team Gosden, and Godolphin's Trawlerman, a gallant 1l second in this last term, and comfortable winner of a Sandown G3 when last seen in May.

It looks a fine renewal, and I think we might have a new kid on the block to be reckoned with. A bit of a prodigy, arguably; short on experience but long on potential and excitement.

Candelari races in the iconic Aga Khan silks, carried to victory in 1999 courtesy of Enzeli, and Johnny Murtagh. Time they were on the Gold Cup podium's top step once again?

Royal Ascot Tips from Betfred Insights.