The curtain comes down on another enthralling Royal Ascot with a seven-race card packed full of quality, competitive handicaps and international intrigue.
Saturday’s action brings together runners from Britain, Ireland, Japan, Australia and the United States, underlining once again why Royal Ascot remains one of the premier meetings in world racing. From the precocious juveniles in the Norfolk Stakes to the marathon test of the Queen Alexandra, there is no shortage of betting opportunities on the final afternoon.
With several major stables still chasing valuable prizes and overseas challengers bringing compelling form lines into the meeting, here are the leading selections for the closing day.
Royal Ascot Day Five Betting Tips
- 2:30 – Carry The Flag 9/4
- 3:05 – Goliath 6/1 (e/w)
- 3:40 – Satono Reve 4/1
- 4:20 – Saber Strike 2/1
- 5:00 – Ten Pounds 11/1 (e/w)
- 5:35 – Sahara King 5/1 (e/w)
- 6:10 – Le Destrier 2/1
*Odds are subject to change.
Royal Ascot 2:30 – Group 2 Norfolk Stakes (5f)
Aidan O’Brien has an outstanding record in the Norfolk Stakes and could enhance it again with CARRY THE FLAG, whose recent form has worked out exceptionally well.
The son of No Nay Never had to dig deep to shed his maiden tag at Naas, but subsequent events have given that performance considerable substance. Earlier in the campaign he chased home Great Barrier Reef, who advertised the strength of the form with victory in the Coventry Stakes earlier in the week.
The return to a stiff five furlongs should play to Carry The Flag’s strengths and further improvement looks likely from a colt who has mixed it with some of the best juveniles seen so far this season.
Flight Signal rates an interesting alternative after showing abundant early speed, while Where Is The Love and Social Symbol also merit consideration in an open renewal.
- Selection: Carry The Flag 9/4
- Danger: Flight Signal 6/1
Royal Ascot 3:05 – Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (1m4f)
Kalpana sets the standard on recent achievements after backing up a sequence of elite-level performances with another polished display at Newbury on her seasonal return.
However, the value may lie with GOLIATH, who appears to be rediscovering the level that saw him produce one of the standout middle-distance performances of 2024.
His demolition of a high-class field in the King George remains fresh in the memory, and subsequent exploits by horses he defeated have only strengthened the form. Francis-Henri Graffard has carefully managed his campaign and his comfortable Chantilly success suggested the seven-year-old is returning to peak condition.
Back at a venue where he has already excelled, Goliath could reward supporters at rewarding odds if reproducing anything close to his best.
Willie Mullins-trained Ethical Diamond, proven at Ascot and effective at this level, is another capable of outrunning his price.
- Selection: Goliath 6/1
- Danger: Kalpana 9/4
Royal Ascot 3:40 – Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f)
The international flavour continues in the feature sprint, where Australia’s Joliestar and Japan’s SATONO REVE headline a fascinating contest.
Satono Reve has steadily established himself among the elite sprinters in Asia and arrives in top form. Crucially, he already has valuable Ascot experience, finishing an excellent second in this race 12 months ago.
Competing regularly against the exceptional Ka Ying Rising is no easy assignment, and this represents a slightly less demanding challenge. Ryan Moore’s booking further enhances confidence that the seven-year-old can go one better.
Joliestar commands enormous respect but faces a unique examination around Ascot’s demanding six furlongs, while Lake Forest and Flora Of Bermuda appeal most of the each-way contenders.
- Selection: Satono Reve 4/1
- Danger: Joliestar 15/8
Royal Ascot 4:20 – Group 3 Jersey Stakes (7f)
Several progressive three-year-olds line up for the Jersey Stakes, but the unbeaten profile of SABER STRIKE is particularly compelling.
His Listed success this spring was more impressive than the bare result suggested. Slowly into stride, he travelled strongly throughout before producing a decisive change of gear inside the final furlong to settle matters with authority.
Being by Night Of Thunder, stamina for seven furlongs and more is no concern, while natural progression from only two career starts could make him very difficult to oppose.
Catullus arrives after an eye-catching handicap victory and looks capable of stepping up in grade, while The Prettiest Star has enough quality to make the principals work.
- Selection: Saber Strike 2/1
- Danger: Catullus 12/1
Royal Ascot 5:00 – Wokingham Stakes (6f)
As ever, the Wokingham presents punters with a fiendishly difficult puzzle, but draw position has been an important factor throughout the week and could again prove decisive.
Binhareer remains firmly on the shortlist despite successive rises in the handicap following another excellent effort at York, but preference goes to TEN POUNDS.
Now representing Joey Ramsden after changing stables, he hinted that a return to top form was imminent when narrowly denied over five furlongs at Carlisle. Significantly, he finished third in this race last season and competes from the same handicap mark.
If building on that latest effort, and with a favourable draw to exploit, Ten Pounds looks capable of improving on last year’s placing.
Sondad would become a major player if conditions favour those drawn low, but current evidence points towards higher numbers being advantageous.
- Selection: Ten Pounds 11/1
- Danger: Binhareer 7/2
Royal Ascot 5:35 – Golden Gates Stakes (1m2f)
The Wathnan Racing pair dominate the market after fighting out a close finish on their latest starts, and there is every chance they will again feature prominently.
Lost Boys narrowly denied SAHARA KING when the pair met previously, but first-time cheekpieces could help swing the balance in favour of the latter.
Sahara King has progressed steadily with racing and remains open to further improvement. If the new headgear sharpens him at the crucial stage, he can reverse previous placings.
Evanesco impressed with a front-running display at Newmarket and commands respect despite questions surrounding the race set-up, while the progressive Perisher also enters calculations.
- Selection: Sahara King 5/1
- Danger: Lost Boys 10/3
Royal Ascot 6:10 – Queen Alexandra Stakes (2m6f)
The longest race of the meeting provides a fitting conclusion to Royal Ascot and could offer Willie Mullins yet another success in one of his favourite targets.
LE DESTRIER shaped with abundant promise when finishing behind subsequent Gold Cup hero Scandinavia on his first outing for the Closutton yard after a lengthy absence. Formerly a Listed winner in Poland, he travelled with plenty of purpose before understandably tiring late on.
Natural improvement from that comeback effort should leave him spot on for this marathon assignment, while Mullins has repeatedly demonstrated his expertise in preparing stayers for this unique contest.
Illinois rates the chief threat now able to race on his own merits rather than in a supporting role, while Joseph O’Brien’s A Piece Of Heaven is another capable of making the frame if seeing out the distance.
- Selection: Le Destrier 2/1
- Danger: A Piece Of Heaven 7/1
