Royal Ascot 2025 Day 1 tips and best bets as Sardinian Warrior napped for glory
ROYAL ASCOT DAY ONE TIPS
2:30 SARDINIAN WARRIOR (NAP)
3:05 GSTAAD
3:40 MGHEERA
4:20 RULING COURT
5:00 PONIROS
5:35 ENFJAAR
Article continues below
6:10 CHARLUS
GARRY'S DOUBLE: SARDINIAN WARRIOR (NAP) AND PONIROS
Sardinian Warrior (2:30) can show his mettle in the Queen Anne Stakes on Day 1 of this year's Royal Ascot. Team Gosden's horse oozed potential when second on his only juvenile start at Kempton in 2023. Given time to develop, he rewarded that patience by slamming T'challa at Southwell in April 2024. The colt continued his rapid rise with an impressive defeat of Silver Sword in a Kempton handicap. Sardinian Warrior wasn't seen again until his comeback in the trial for this contest over track and trip in April. He duly made a bold statement of intent with a decisive half-length defeat the talented Docklands. That triumph saw the five-year-old promoted to Group 1 level in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp. He showed that he belonged in that company with an excellent second to the world-class Sosie. There is plenty more to come from the star who prevail under big-race ace Christophe Soumillon.
Gstaad (3:05) can open Aidan O'Brien's account for the meeting in the Coventry Stakes. The colt wasn't expected to beat Listed-placed stablemate True Love on debut at Naas last month. However, the two-year-travelled powerfully through the race, cosily upstaging his rival by a length. The son of Starspangledbanner has a bright future so he can get the better of some exciting rivals.
MgheeraA (3:40) can call the tune for Andrew Lloyd-Webber in the King Charles III Stakes. The speedster looked smart for Manon Scandella-Lacaille when third in a Group 3 at Longchamp. She stayed upwardly mobile when second to the classy Ponntos in Group 2 company at Chantilly. The mare then held her form well after hammering Batwan in a Listed contest at the same venue. Those excellent efforts saw her being bought by her new owner and switched to Ed Walker. The five-year-old began to justify her price tag by slamming Ciao Pa' returned to Longchamp. She kept up the good work by brushing aside She's Quality in the Group 2 Temple at Haydock. That is often the best trial for this Group 1 so the daughter of Zoustar can deny a cracking field.
Ruling Court (4:20) can reign supreme for Charlie Appleby in the St James's Palace Stakes. The colt has always been highly regarded by Godolphin and he was a 4-9 jolly on debut at Sandown. He fully justified that confidence by bolting-up from Pantile Warrior in a typically hot novice there.
The bay was let down by his inexperience when third to The Lion In Winter in the Acomb at York. Allowed time to mature, he thrashed The Fingal Raven in the Dubai 2000 Guineas at Meydan. That triumph saw the three-year-old become a big fancy for the UK equivalent at Newmarket. The son of Justify showed a nice mix of class and guts to deny a late challenge from Field Of Gold. Forced to miss the Epsom Derby, the superstar can gain compensation at the expense of his old foe.
Poniros (5:00) looks the best of Willie Mullins powerful squad in the gruelling Ascot Stakes. The gelding showed enough on the Flat for Ralph Beckett to be bought as a hurdler by Tony Bloom. Willie Mullins didn't rush things with his new recruit, waiting-out the early part of the new season. However, he was thrown in at the deep end on debut in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. An unconsidered 100-1 outsider, the bay sprang a massive surprise by narrowly defeating Lulamba. The four-year-old wasn't disgraced again when second to his old rival at the Punchestown Festival. The bay looks well-treated back on the level so he can claim a terrific renewal under William Buick.
The Closutton Maestro can enjoy a double with Charlus (6:10) in the Copper Horse Stakes. The gelding kicked-off for Jean-Claude Rouget by routing Edoardo on the all-weather at Pau. He raised his game again for that trainer with an impressive defeat of Swing City back there. The four-year-old proved just as good on Turf by comfortably dismissing Bruant at Bordeaux. Charlus ran yet another stormer when runner-up to Sibayan in Listed company at the same venue. Mover to Ireland, he stayed two miles well when caning Holy See on his hurdle bow at Naas. He then found Grade 1 company too much when well-beaten in the Triumph at Cheltenham. The bay doesn't lack pace so he can strike over 1m 6f on the Flat in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Roger Varian likes to target the Wolferton Stakes so I'm rowing in with Enfjaar (5:35). The five-year-old relished stepping-up 1m 2f when hacking-up from Stay Well at Chelmsford. He looked even better when brushing aside Botanical in the valuable John Smith's Cup at York. The gelding ran to a similar level when second to Take Heart from a terrible draw at Goodwood. He didn't enjoy the run of the race when fifth to See The Fire in a Group 3 back on the Knavesmire. However, the bay hit back with a near-miss to Persica back over 1m 2f in the Doonside Cup at Ayr. The Shadwell raider returned with a respectable fifth to Almaqam in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The son of Lope De Vega will be primed so he put that run to the best possible use from a kind draw.
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