Hardwicke Stakes 2025 Tips: Al Riffa to rise to occasion

The Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes is the feature race on the closing day of Royal Ascot, but the Hardwicke Stakes is a strong race in its own right, and a 12-runner field has been assembled for the 1m4f contest for older horses. Often used as a stepping stone for the King George in July, there is a competitive look to it with Yorkshire Cup winner Rebel’s Romance stepping back in distance to headline the field at 15:05.

However, trainer Charlie Appleby hasn't had a Royal Ascot winner since 2022, and a few of his fancied runners this week have disappointed, so there could be value in opposing the likely favourite. Read on for my Hardwicke Stakes 2025 Tips.

Al Riffa to win @ 11/2

Rebel’s Romance, a successful globetrotter for Godolphin and third in last year’s King George over course and distance, deserves to be favourite but there are legitimate grounds to take the highest-rated runner in the field on.

Recent big-money purchase Ghostwriter has his stamina to prove, so Al Riffa may be the one that they all have to beat.

Joseph O'Brien’s charge was runner-up to City Of Troy in last season’s Eclipse at Sandown and made a pleasing seasonal return when fourth in the Prix Ganay behind subsequent Prix d'Ispahan scorer Sosie 64 days ago.

Hardwicke Stakes Odds

Al Riffa shaped that day like a step up to 1m4f was required, the trip that saw him run out a five-length winner of the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, and a drop back in grade with first-time blinkers could see him return to the winner’s enclosure.

The ground will be of no inconvenience, and this five-year-old is still relatively lightly-raced, having had just 12 career starts and only two tries at this trip.

Sunway each-way @ 12/1

If there is to be a fly in the ointment, then it could be the David Menuisier-trained Sunway, who had lofty targets as a three-year-old, having run in the King George, the St Leger and the Arc De Triomphe.

Those efforts came on the back of a second-placed finish in the Irish Derby behind Los Angeles, and a return to that kind of form could see him in the mix.

Two starts as a four-year-old have been disappointing, but a strongly run contest against better opposition could be exactly what he needs to thrive, and he gets on well with Oisin Murphy, who has ridden him in 10 of his 13 career starts.

Likely to be held up for a late run, Sunway was a Group One winner as a two-year-old and, with stamina assured, the forecast quick tempo makes him look a fair each-way price.

Offers

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