2025 Royal Ascot tips: Harry Allwood's best bets

Race: Royal Hunt Cup (5.00, Wednesday).

Best odds: 11-2. 

A group horse in a handicap? This four-year-old is a half-brother to five winners, including star miler Palace Pier and Group Three winner Castle Way, so is certainly bred to be smart, and looked above average when winning a 0-95 handicap over course and distance in April off a rating of 80 having shown bundles of promise in three starts last year. 

He effortlessly went from last to first there to defeat some decent handicappers and was clearly miles ahead of the assessor. 

Although he was not as impressive at Newbury off a 10lb higher mark next time out, that was a muddling race, and he was at a disadvantage being held up plus raced keenly. He was certainly value for more than the winning margin suggests, and again defeated some useful handicappers. The return to Ascot plus a stronger pace will undoubtedly be advantageous, and he clearly relishes fast ground. 

The selection has been raised a further 5lb since and has sneaked in at the bottom of the weights here, with Silvestre de Sousa booked to ride. I’m convinced Roger Varian’s charge remains well handicapped and his breeding, and low mileage, hints he has plenty more to offer. 

Varian advised this contest has been the aim, and it will be disappointing if he is not competitive. 

Race: Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.10, Thursday).

Best odds: 10-1 (each-way).

This five-year-old was sent off the well-supported favourite when fifth in the Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire on his return this season where he raced keenly and travelled strongly into contention before his early exertions, and lack of race fitness, took a toll.

He again caught the eye next time out when narrowly denied in the Victoria Cup over this course and distance and was arguably an unlucky loser considering he challenged solo towards the near side. That was a career-best effort from the lightly-raced performer, and his handler quickly earmarked the Buckingham Palace Stakes as his next target. The stiff seven furlongs at Ascot and good to firm ground clearly suits, and the Victoria Cup looked a strong race on paper. He’s been raised 3lb since but remains low mileage, and has been purchased by Amo Racing, (exclusively revealed by Johnny Ward on racingtv.com) ahead of Royal Ascot, so hopes are clearly high. A repeat of his latest effort will see him involved in the finish and I would nominate him as my strongest each-way fancy of the week. 

Race: Commonwealth Cup (3.05, Friday).

Best odds: 7-4.

Last year’s European Champion Two-Year-Old produced some strong form when completing the Middle Park and Dewhurst double in 2024, and it was no surprise he was sent off a leading fancy for the Betfred 2000 Guineas on his return this season. 

He’s closely related to dual six-furlong Group One winner Earthlight, so it was always a question mark whether he would stay a mile, and his latest performance strongly suggests a stiff six furlongs at Ascot should be his optimum test, especially as he had the stamina to score over seven furlongs at Newmarket last year. 

The youngster made a strong move when travelling powerfully into contention in the Guineas, and the RaceiQ data shows he clocked 11.04s in the penultimate furlong when hitting the front following a sedate gallop, only to run out of steam late on. 

That effort also proved he had trained on, and the Guineas form looks strong. I expect him to prove too good for his rivals here – he’s also clear on the ratings - and is my strongest fancy at Royal Ascot this week. 

Race: Coronation Stakes (4.20, Friday).

Best odds: 100-30.

There are some performances that leave you with the ‘wow’ factor, and that was the feeling after Falakeyah bolted up in the Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes on her first start since scoring stylishly on debut at Wolverhampton last year where Jim Crowley struggled to pull her up.  

Her overall time was nothing special at Newmarket, nor were the sectionals she clocked in the final three furlongs (the fourth finished the race quicker in the latter stages, according to the RaceiQ data), but it is what Falakeyah did mid-race that was impressive. 

Owen Burrows’ filly tanked through that ten-furlong contest after a quick start and had her rivals toiling from just after halfway. She raced exuberantly, without being overly keen, and maintained her strong cruising speed on the bridle. 

She began to flounder in the final couple of furlongs, and although she is bred to stay middle-distances, Crowley believes she possesses “plenty of speed”. That was showcased at Newmarket and the sectionals she clocked for the first mile suggests dropping down in trip will be beneficial. 

The form her rivals showed before and after that race indicates they are Listed level, and Falakeyah made them look ordinary. She is also entitled to strip fitter now and should have bundles of improvement in here given she comes from one of the best Shadwell families (her dam is a half-sister to the dam of Baaeed and Hukum). 

It is a slight concern she was forced to bypass the Prix de Diane due to a dirty scope, but the fact she has been supplemented for this is a positive sign, and

I expect Falakeyah to break smartly and gain a prominent position here before challenging early in the straight. Her main market rival, Zarigana, is a hold-up performer, so will require some luck in running, and unless I’m completely wrong about Falakeyah, it is going to take a very good horse to catch her, and she could prove hard to beat. 

Race: Sandringham Stakes (5.00 Friday).

Best odds: 20-1 (each-way).

I have been following this filly since she caught the eye in defeat at Yarmouth on her seasonal return where she appeared to finish with running left in her, and David Simcock's three-year-old made light work of a rating of 75 when scoring at Newmarket on her next outing. 

She cruised into contention on the bridle there before drifting under pressure, and has appeared a work in progress. 

Given her authoritativeness at HQ, it was therefore disappointing she could not cope with a 6lb rise when second at Haydock next time out where she raced exuberantly, and was no match for Oolong Poobong.

However, Arabian Leopard did not appear to show her true colours there and it was interesting to hear Simcock's thought when quizzed about his Royal Ascot team by Nick Luck on Racing TV on Saturday. He said:

'"There's only one (Arabian Leopard) I want to run, and I think she will run very, very well. She will get in off a very low weight and we got the scenario wrong last time at Haydock, but she's not bad. Running round a bend on dead ground over seven furlongs wasn't her gig. Fast ground over a mile should be a different scenario."

I don't think this daughter of Ghaiyyath is one to give up on just yet, and she remains on a rating of 81. She has also attracted some support in recent days and is a youngster Simcock clearly holds in decent regard considering his comments on Racing TV, and the fact Arabian Leopard made her debut in a class 2 maiden at Goodwood last year. 

Her handler has been operating at a strike-rate just shy of 20 per cent in the past fortnight, at the time of writing, and Jamie Spencer would be a positive jockey booking. 

33-1 was available with Bet365, but she is now a best-priced 20-1 with that firm, and is a general 16-1 chance with others.