Bill Esdaile

WE HAVE reached the midpoint of Royal Ascot 2025, and for many tomorrow features the pinnacle of the meeting, the Gold Cup (4.20pm). A unique test, run over a trip of two-and-a-half miles, the field pass in front of the stands before embarking on one full lap of the Berkshire course. Any inadequacies in the [...]

TOMORROW afternoon’s Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40pm) might not be a vintage renewal on paper, but that doesn’t stop there being betting opportunities on offer, especially with the World Pool in operation. CATALINA DELCARPIO looks the best of this year’s bunch, and I can see why she’s toward the top of the market. Paddy Twomey’s filly only [...]

WHAT easier way to round off Gold Cup Day than a 29-runner seven-furlong handicap? That’s what punters have in store in the Buckingham Palace (or Getting Out Of Jail) Stakes (6.10pm). It is always dangerous to read too much into the draw at Royal Ascot, as any perceived bias can change on a daily basis, [...]

THERE are some fiendishly difficult puzzles to solve this week, but perhaps none more so than the 29-runner Britannia Stakes (5.00pm). Not only is the draw likely to play a huge part, half the field at least are totally unexposed and almost certainly well handicapped. That said, Ralph Beckett’s BRAVE MISSION leaps off the page [...]

PUNTERS are treated to two Group Ones on Friday at Royal Ascot, and the second of which, the Coronation Stakes (4.20pm), features some very promising three-year-old fillies over the round mile. Zarigana heads the betting and arrives here on the back of her controversial victory in the French 1000 Guineas. Francis-Henri Graffard’s filly was awarded [...]

FRIDAY’s Royal Ascot card is headlined by two Group One contests, and the first of them is the Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm). This is a relatively new addition to the list of top tier races at the Royal Meeting, being introduced in 2015. At that stage Mick Appleby was just establishing himself as a name and [...]

FRIDAY’s opening contest is the Group Three Albany Stakes (2.30pm), and I think there could be a few runners flying under the radar in the market, especially with the World Pool in operation. OH CECELIA comes from Jack Davison’s yard and could likely go off at a big price on the World Pool given her [...]

ROYAL Ascot this year has been a real bookies’ benefit after a long list of difficult-to-find winners across the four days so far. Saturday looks to serve up another seven races where us punters will be wondering where we can get ahead of the layers, and I think I’ve found a few plays with World [...]

THERE’S a real international flavour to the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3:40pm). SATONO REVE flies the flag for Japan, Lazzat and TOPGEAR line up for France, while Storm Boy, now stabled with Aidan O’Brien, brings some strong Australian form to the table. Of the home team, it’s great to have FLORA OF [...]

SATURDAY’s Wokingham Stakes (5.00pm) is a six-furlong handicap that always tests the sprinters and with hot weather forecast and rapidly drying ground, it’s set to be even more demanding. A fast-run race looks likely, and with a field of 27 runners, there’s plenty of value to be found with World Pool’s exotic bets like the [...]