Royal Ascot 2025: Wednesday full card preview and betting tips

Royal Ascot 2025 got up and running on Tuesday and with little time to catch our breath, it's already time to turn an eye to Wednesday's action.

Races Now's Harry Fowler (@Harry_Fowler8) guides us through the card along with his betting fancies.

Day two of Royal Ascot is here, bringing another seven races packed with top-class action to dissect.

The feature race of the day is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) over ten furlongs, where Aidan O’Brien aims to win back-to-back renewals with the favourite, Los Angeles.

Royal Ascot betting tips – Wednesday June 17, 2025

2:30pm – Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) – 5f

A field of 25 two-year-old fillies will dash over the minimum trip to kick off day two.

Zelina is the clear favourite after a sparkling debut at Nottingham — notably the same route last year’s winner took, and she represents the same connections. The form is untested, but she won well despite reportedly missing 10 days of training before her debut.

In a race of this nature, I believe it’s worth opposing a short-priced favourite.

The one I’m looking to back is True Love. She’s had two starts, finishing second both times.

Her first run was behind the very promising Lady Iman, who skips Ascot. She then took on the boys over six furlongs and was narrowly beaten by Gstaad, who won the Coventry in blistering fashion on Tuesday.

The drop back to 5f should suit, and her race experience will be valuable.

3:05pm – Queen’s Vase (Group 2) – 1m6f

An Irish-dominated market here, with the top three contenders all trained across the water. The absence of Amiloc, who’s been rerouted later in the week, has opened things up somewhat.

Aidan O’Brien saddles two: Shackleton and Scandinavia, but neither looks in the mould of last year’s winner Illinois.

Carmers, trained by Paddy Twomey, looks like this race has been the plan for him from the start. He made his debut just last month over 1m5f, winning despite being weak in the market, and then backed that up with a strong second win.

One at a bigger price to consider is Rahiebb, who finished second last time out to Merchant — now favourite for Thursday’s King George handicap — despite giving that horse 8lbs. The step up in trip should suit, and that form may look even better come Thursday.

3:40pm – Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) – 1m

Cinderella’s Dream heads the market after an impressive win at Newmarket, where she had Elmalka well beaten.

Fallen Angel is next in the betting but looks unsuited by the quick ground. Running Lion is talented but inconsistent, and I’m not convinced she can repeat her best form here.

The one I’m most intrigued by is One Look, once again from the shrewd yard of Paddy Twomey.

She’s been handled patiently at this level and her second last time out behind Porta Fortuna reads well. She could take another big step forward here.

4:20pm – Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) – 1m2f

A rematch from the Tattersalls Gold Cup, where Los Angeles beat Anmaat — and the betting reflects that form.

I expect it to be upheld. O’Brien runs Continuous as a likely pacemaker, helping to ensure the race unfolds to suit Los Angeles.

Anmaat tends to travel well but can lack a finishing kick, and the ground is a slight concern.

The danger to the favourite could be Map Of Stars, who comfortably beat Horizon Dore (third in this last year), and was just edged out by Sosie. If he gets luck in running, he could challenge late — but Los Angeles is tough and gritty, and will take some passing.

5:00pm – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) – 1m

30 runners take on the straight mile in one of the season’s premier handicaps. My Cloud is a clear case, and the market reflects that — but 9/2 in this sort of race is plenty short.

There are two I like at double-figure prices.

Greek Order has been well backed from big prices earlier in the week off a mark of 95 — the same as when he was a close second in the 2023 Cambridgeshire, where he arguably should have won. He hasn’t done much in the U.S., but he could be thrown in here.

Then, there's Bullet Point. Won his last two at Newmarket, beating the same rival more decisively the second time. Proven on quick ground and still looks to be improving.

5:35pm – Kensington Palace Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap) – 1m

Despite being a 24-runner handicap, this doesn’t look the strongest renewal.

The more I looked at this race, the more I kept coming back to Rainbows Edge and she stands out for me in this field.

She’s had only four starts and beat Arisaig last time — who had race fitness on her side. That form looks solid, and I expect her to take a lot of beating as she progresses through the ranks.

6:10pm – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) – 5f

A big field of 24 two-year-olds rounds out the day.

Rogue Supremacy made a strong impression on debut, beating Vlad, who had previously run into Treanmor, the Chesham favourite. The market spoke volumes that day, opening at 4/1 and going off at 8/13 — and he justified that confidence.

I’m glad connections have opted to run here and expect a big run for our money.

Good luck with your bets and enjoy the action!