The crown in the jewel on day three of Royal Ascot sees the best stayers in the world go head to head in search of a win seen around the world.
Here, we give you an unbiased, in-depth look at all eight runners for the 2025 Ascot Gold Cup.
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Gold Cup Runner by Runner Guide
8 ILLINOIS (1)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 3lb
- Form: 2221-1
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
- Current odds: 7/4
Since Kyprios was forced into early retirement, Illinois has been trusted to the top of the betting for the Gold Cup ever since. Last season's St. Leger runner-up made a winning return to the track at Chester and looks an ideal candidate for a test like this. He has always hinted that a trip like this may be well within reach, given his galloping racing nature.
You will never know for sure until you try it, but should he stay, he has that bit of class to see him over the line. However, even with those positives, Illinois appears somewhat short in the betting right now.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩🎩
4 TRAWLERMAN (2)
- Age: 7
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 323-51
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Current odds: 3/1
Last season's runner-up may never get a better chance of winning a Gold Cup now that he doesn't have to contend with his old foe, Kyprios. This top-class stayer had a perfect prep for the Gold Cup when comfortably winning the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown by five lengths.
The key to Trawlerman winning this is relaxing, and an unpestered lead would help his cause. If his rivals leave him to his own devices on the front end, it could spell trouble for his rivals. He sets the standard that they all have to get to, and if he is in peak form, he will prove hard to beat at a track he acts well on.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩
7 CANDELARI (4)
- Age: 4
- Weight: 9st 3lb
- Form: 1-1131
- Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
- Trainer: F-H Grafford
- Current odds: 7/2
This young French stayer is a significant player in this field. He has only tasted defeat once in his short career. He looked to be going nowhere at one stage of that race, but he picked up well, closing all the way to the line.
Faced with Group 1 company on his latest start, Candelari made no mistake while making a lasting impression to win by an impressive three lengths. That win was just shy of two miles, but given how he hit the line, there should be no worries with the son of Frankel seeing out the Gold Cup trip.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩🎩
3 SWEET WILLIAM (8)
- Age: 6
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 3212-3
- Jockey: Robert Havlin
- Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- Current odds: 6/1
An ever-present at Group level staying contents, but Sweet William just lacks that bit extra to be a proper Group 1 winning performer. You could argue that this is the easiest Group 1 that he has run in to date. However, he will still need to find that bit extra.
His comeback run was nothing spectacular, but it was in a race that was run at a crawl and turned into a sprint, which would not have suited him. He will be much happier under these conditions, and even though he may not have what it takes to win, he is a big player for a place.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩
6 YASHIN (7)
- Age: 6
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 3006-1
- Jockey: Callum Shepherd
- Trainer: Michael Bell
- Current odds: 28/1
Once a promising young stayer when trained by Jessica Harrington, Yashin ran so many bad races that his connections decided to move him on. It didn't take long for Michael Bell to get Yashin back on track to winning ways, a mere 30 days to be exact.
He was sent off the 11/1 outsider of four in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes, but it was like the old Yashin as he stayed on well to win by a length at the end. Even with the positives of his win for his new connections, it's hard to see him playing a significant role in this company.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩
5 WONDER LEGEND (3)
- Age: 5
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 31-211
- Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
- Trainer: James Ferguson
- Current odds: 33/1
Wonder Legend is one of the outsiders who looks to have a lot more to offer. He has won three of his last four starts on the all-weather, but he took his form to a whole new level when powering through just over one furlong to win the All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap by over four lengths.
Yes, this is a huge step up in class, and in any normal year, he would find it difficult to get involved, but there is an outside that he could sneak into a place. He doesn't have much to find on ratings.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩
1 COLTRANE (1)
- Age: 8
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 643-22
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Trainer: Andrew Balding
- Current odds: 40/1
Coltrane was well beaten in this last season, and it's impossible to see him getting to any of the main contenders based on his two starts this season. He was turned over as an odds-on favourite when beaten by Yashin in the Sagaro Stakes, and then was put in his place by Trawlerman at Sandown.
It could be a case that age is now catching up to this former classy stayer, and it's impossible to make a realistic case for him.
Royal Rating: 🎩
2 Dubai Future (5)
- Age: 9
- Weight: 9st 4lb
- Form: 04/119
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
- Current odds: 40/1
This nine-year-old has gotten a new lease of life since coming back to the track from a 427 break. He recorded two wins at Meydan, which included a win in the Dubai World Cup (Trawlerman was back in fifth).
You can forgive him for his below-par run behind Candelari in a Group 1 at Longchamp, and should he bounce back here, there is a small chance he could be fighting it out for the places if seeing out the Gold Cup trip. He's a massive price.
Royal Rating: 🎩🎩🎩
Ascot Gold Cup Top 3 Prediction
- 1st: Trawlerman 3/1
- 2nd: Candelari 7/2
- 3rd: Illinois 7/4
