Ribblesdale Stakes 2025 Tips: All is calm ahead of ‘Ascot’s Oaks’

One of Thursday's highlights is the Ribblesdale Stakes, something of an Oaks-style contest for the Classic generation (three-year-old fillies), a G2 over the same Epsom mile-and-a-half distance. 

It looks an open affair (where have I heard that before?) and some top yards are represented. Strong Irish challenge, too - and not just from the usual quarter. Let's delve a little deeper ...

15:40 Royal Ascot (Ribblesdale Stakes)

Fast Racing Results

15:40 Royal Ascot - Serenity Prayer @ 11/4

Tradition dictates that one of the premier trials for the Betfred Oaks at Epsom is York's Musidora. Second and third that day were Serenity Prayer and Go Go Boots, and they clash in this afternoon's G2 Ribblesdale.

The winner on the Knavesmire was Aidan O'Brien's Whirl, over 5l clear, who then very nearly won the big one itself, failing by a just a neck to contain stablemate and resolute champion Minnie Hauk.

Making good late progress in Yorkshire, admittedly at a respectable distance, was daughter of Dubawi Serenity Prayer, and I'm hoping the extra furlong-and-a-half here will help showcase her very best at this new 1m 4f trip.

The selection is very inexperienced still - just two runs, with an encouraging Newbury maiden win in April preceding York. Serenity Prayer is in the care of Andrew Balding, and Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride, as for both her starts so far.

Go Go Boots is a far bigger price today despite finishing just a neck behind the selection in the trial, but that factors in the likely improvement for the trip of her opponent, and the fact that Go Go was reeled in somewhat late in the piece and might not appreciate the step up - we shall see.

Billy Lee and Paddy Twomey combine with Catalina Delcarpio, and Billy has already been in the winners' circle this week; while Aidan O'Brien runs three, and we know the strength-in-depth the yard possesses in this sphere.

Eleven are scheduled to face the starter and one can but hope the scenes of frantic jockeys looking for room on the inside up the short straight as they turn in aren't repeated from previous races this week. The last few furlongs of Tuesday's Ascot Stakes for example resembled a sunny Bank Holiday afternoon on the M25, but I suppose there were 20 runners.

Fingers crossed for a clear passage for all, and a cracking race to savour.

Royal Ascot Tips from Betfred Insights.