Royal Ascot (Day Five) Preview - 21/06/25
- JN Value Betting
- Jun 19
- 5 min read
BEST BETS:
BELLUM JUSTUM - 15:05 (HARDWICKE STAKES) - 20/1 (BET365) - 0.25PTS E/W (4 PLACES)
SATONO REVE - 15:40 (QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES) - 9/4 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
COMANCHE BRAVE - 16:20 (JERSEY STAKES) - 5/2 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
JARRAAF - 17:00 (WOKINGHAM STAKES) - 11/2 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
ZOUM ZOUM - 17:00 (WOKINGHAM STAKES) - 14/1 (WILLIAM HILL) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
SERAPH GABRIEL - 17:35 (GOLDEN GATES STAKES) - 11/4 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
The curtain comes down on the Royal meeting at Ascot on Saturday, with the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes taking centre stage on the final day of the five day meeting. Japan will be hoping to claim their first Royal Ascot winner with Satono Reve, who is the market leader.
The day kicks off with the Listed Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs, where Treanmor for Charlie Appleby and William Buick will be hoping to bring a first Royal Ascot success for Appleby since 2022. He was successful in this race in 2019 with Pinatubo, and will be hoping this son of Frankel will land him another royal honour. His colt will have to get the better of the juggernauts of Coolmore and Wathnan Racing as they saddle the other main market protagonists by way of Moments Of Joy and Humidity respectively. Aidan O'Brien has won this contest in five of the last nine seasons, and will be hoping he can land this one with a daughter of Justify.
We turn to group action in the second race of the day with the Hardwicke Stakes over 1m 4f, where the globetrotting Rebel's Romance heads the market, looking to land a thirteenth group level success. It's a return to a more suitable trip for him today, despite winning the Yorkshire Cup over 1m 6f last time out. He looks to tick plenty of boxes and is a worth favourite. However, I do wonder whether one of the younger horses may be able to get the better of him. My eye was drawn to one at the bottom of the betting, the Andrew Balding trained BELLUM JUSTUM. This son of Sea The Stars landed a Group 2 at Newmarket last month, but was then beaten comprehensively at Epsom last time out. The ground went against him that day, and a return to a much sounder surface should prove beneficial. He has form figures of 21321 on ground firmer than Good, and that gives him an each-way chance here.
BELLUM JUSTUM - 15:05 (HARDWICKE STAKES) - 20/1 (BET365) - 0.25PTS E/W (4 PLACES)
History awaits in the day's feature race where SATONO REVE looks to give Japan their first winner at Royal Ascot. He looks just held with Ka Ying Rising based on his form in Asia, however, he is widely regarded the best sprinter in the world, so narrow defeats provide him with the best level of form in this. Last year's Commonwealth Cup victor Inisherin heads the domestic challenge, and his comeback run was impressive, he should give a good account of himself here. There is a three-pronged attack from France in this race, with Lazzat, Topgear & Sajir take their chance at Group 1 honours. The fast ground could prove a concern for them though, with most races in France being ran on Soft ground.
SATONO REVE - 15:40 (QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES) - 9/4 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
It's the Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs for the final group action of the meeting, where the Donnacha O'Brien trained COMANCHE BRAVE heads the market. This son of Wottoon Bassett holds leading claims, especially given that his dam Ishvana landed this prize in 2012. He is the highest rated in the field, and a return to seven furlongs could unlock further improvement, with his half a length second to subsequent French 2000 Guineas winner Henri Matisse providing hope that he should suit a return to that distance. The booking of Ryan Moore can only be seen as a positive, also. Amo Racing owned California Dreamer steps back in trip following an impressive second in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind Field Of Gold. However, he has been comfortably beaten on his two starts over this trip, and that has put me off his chances.
COMANCHE BRAVE - 16:20 (JERSEY STAKES) - 5/2 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
The day's big field handicap comes in the Wokingham Stakes over six furlongs, where More Thunder for William Haggas and Tom Marquand looks set to go off favourite. He has won both his starts for this yard, getting the better of Aramram on both occasions, he just managed to get up on the line last time out, and it remains to be seen whether a 6lb rise will be enough to stop him. My eye was drawn to the Owen Burrows trained JARRAAF who was successful over course and distance twice last year. He was just denied a Group 3 victory here in October, and any replication of that will see him go close.
ZOUM ZOUM was fifth in the Jersey Stakes on this card last year, and returns to six furlongs here could suit with him being runner-up in a Listed contest over this distance. He has been drawn in stall 27, and there is potential that a stands side draw will suit. Just two of the last twelve winners have come from a single figure draw, so there is every chance that Ralph Beckett's runner will outrun his odds.
JARRAAF - 17:00 (WOKINGHAM STAKES) - 11/2 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
ZOUM ZOUM - 17:00 (WOKINGHAM STAKES) - 14/1 (WILLIAM HILL) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
The final handicap action of the meeting comes in the penultimate race, the Golden Gates Stakes where the Ralph Beckett trained SERAPH GABRIEL heads the market following his runner-up effort in the Esher Cup at Sandown last time out. That race provided the winner of this contest last year, and this progressive son of Saxon Warrior looks still well treated, and can take this. He has been drawn high, which has proved crucial in this race in previous years, and he should go close here.
SERAPH GABRIEL - 17:35 (GOLDEN GATES STAKES) - 11/4 (BET365) - 1PT WIN
Champion National Hunt trainer Willie Mullins looks to land the final race of Royal Ascot for the fifth time, where he saddles Sober who won on his hurdle debut for Mullins, and looks to be the class act in what looks a weak running of this race. His main challenge comes from another National Hunt trained runner, Samui, who ran in the Copper Horse Stakes on Tuesday, when a fast finishing third, should that have not left it's mark, he could benefit from the run.
