17/6/2025 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Royal Ascot, King Charles III Stakes day

The iconic Royal Ascot Carnival begins on Tuesday, with elite class animals right across the program.

Watch 📺 – Watch the Royal Ascot races live at swiftbet

Queen Anne Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Queen Anne Stakes

King Charles III Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the King Charles III Stakes

St James’s Palace Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the St James’s Palace Stakes

I like 8 Notable Speech (Bet Now:  $SP.00) here. Most of the key chances here comes through the Lockinge. He was first up and had the back of Rosallion and just missed out on picking up third from that guy, with the 1-2 from that race being race fit. I think this pair turn the tables, but I do think there may be a touch more upside to come with Notable Speed.

10 Rosallion (Bet Now:  $SP.00) commands respect. He ran third and just held off Notable Speech that day. He gave that horse the drag up and tried hard but condition just gave way late. He was a brilliant winner of the St James Palace last year and looks spot on to shine at Royal Ascot again.

5 Docklands (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes through the Epsom Carnival when racing over the mile. He got held up in behind them and while say he was unlucky, I thought he had his chance when third because IMO he did get out in time to let down and chase the leaders down. He is a good horse…not sure he wins, but a first four prospect.

I thought there was a lot of quality about the debut win of 1 American Gulf (Bet Now:  $SP.00). He did early work to land outside the leader but was absolutely bolting before being clicked up by Murphy and away he went to gap his rivals in impressive fashion. 1200m looks ideal, good racing style, strong late…like him.

12 Postmodern (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has to be given respect off his debut win at Yarmouth. He led throughout under Jamie Spencer and what I liked is that when clicked up, away he went and he gapped them to win and win well. He looks a really good mover, keen to see how he goes.

15 Rock Of Thunder (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been given a mini freshen up since a debut win at Leicester where he got better as the race went on, knuckling down with purpose late to win and win well. He faces clearly harder opposition here but I like the way he went about it at Leicester. Definite threat.

If she runs up to her best, 12 Asfoora (Bet Now:  $SP.00) wins. Simple as that. Is she at her best though? Not entirely sure, because she was just fair last time she raced in the Sangster, but from all reports, she has lit up the track in the UK this week to get ready and she has the runs on the board.

14 Believing (Bet Now:  $SP.00) comes here with fresh legs, having not raced since March when a sharp winner of the Al Quoz at Meydan and several ratings sites suggest she went through the roof in winning. Looks to have returned in beast mode and is hard to beat.

7 Regional (Bet Now:  $SP.00) ran second to Asfoora in this race last year and did a good job after leading the main pack, only getting caught late. He did more than enough first up and has a good racing style. One of the leading contenders.

Looks a race in two. Leaning towards 1 Field Of Gold (Bet Now:  $SP.00), who was runner up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before going to the 2000 Guineas at Curragh for Ireland and gee he was impressive the way he gave them a start and a beating in an electric performance. If he produces that effort here, he wins I say.

6 Ruling Court (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has been kept on ice since the 2000 Guineas triumph at Newmarket. He was there to be beaten but he found under pressure to fend them off and win, though helped by the slow tempo. He will land near the front and give his all.

3 Henri Matisse (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has to be given serious respect, though I do think he is a bit behind the first two. He won the French 2000 Guineas last time, knuckling down with purpose late under Ryan Moore to get the win. He needs to improve, but no reason why he can’t.

16 Comfort Zone (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is worth a throw at the stumps each way. Joseph O’Brien trained gelding that ran over 4727m in a jumps race at Punchestown when far from disgraced in defeat, beating more than half the field home. He’ll have no issue running the trip and is more than capable on a firm deck.

15 Reaching High (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is bred in the purple and has the Mullins/Moore combination, which has won this race on several occasions. His first run for the stable came over 2400m at Leopardstown when chasing strongly from off speed but couldn’t quite get there. Hard to beat with good upside to come.

13 Nurburbring (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a key threat. He did nice things over the jumps before racing on the flat at Curragh when it was pretty much a prep run, getting back and failed to get involved. Big improver up in trip with the run under the belt.

8 Enfjaar (Bet Now:  $SP.00) on top for me. He resumed over this trip in a Group lll at Sandown where he got into a decent spot off speed and tried hard but just couldn’t quite see it through and felt the pinch late. Better for the run and his form from last prep does read well.

3 Military Order (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a key threat. Loved the way he let down to win first up before going to the same race that Enfjaar contested. He was chasing the speed from a fair way out and tired late in the piece to run fourth. I think with a more conservative steer, he’s dangerous.

11 Kings Gambit (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is suited back to 2000m after racing over 2400m at Newbury last time when far from disgraced in defeat but I just think the 12 furlongs was a bit much. Better suited here IMO and does get J Mac to steer.

7 French Master (Bet Now:  $SP.00) seems the straight bat play. He won over this trip at Goodwood last time out, knuckling down strongly over the final 100m to fend them off and score. He looks a horse with real progression/upside and off last run, the trip is fine and I say is hard to beat.

9 Charlus (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a very interesting runner for Willie Mullins. He had two runs over the jumps a couple of months ago, winning a maiden hurdle at Naas before being outclassed during the Cheltenham Festival. Good platform for the 2800m and is in the right camp.

5 Crypto Force (Bet Now:  $SP.00) will love the drop in grade/depth after racing in the Tatts Gold Cup at Curragh last time when outclassed on paper and ran accordingly when down the track behind Los Angeles. Back to this level suits and his best is good enough to be dangerous.

BEST BET: Race Two Number 1 American Gulf

NEXT BEST: Race Four Number 1 Field Of Gold

LONG SHOT: Race Five Number 16 Comfort Zone