Royal Ascot 2025: Northern Angle

Sky Sports Racing presenter and attheraces.com writer Simon Mapletoft spotlights 10 exciting Northern-trained horses he expects to run big races at Royal Ascot this week.

Tuesday

REGIONAL

3.40 - King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) - 5f

Regional is no stranger to top level success, having won the Sprint Cup at Haydock in 2023, but his upwardly mobile young trainer Ed Bethell insists he’s never had him better ahead of this assignment. Second to the re-opposing Australian sprinter Asfoora last year, he comes into the race a fresh horse after his gallant third in the Al Quoz in Dubai at the end of March and can have his say on what looks like being his favoured fast ground.

ECUREUIL SECRET

5.35 - Wolferton Stakes (Listed) - 10f

Group-placed in Ireland last year, this gelding made a jaw-dropping impression at Epsom last time, turning a Class 2 handicap into a procession. On that evidence he looks ready to make his mark in this better grade off a 9lb higher rating. If there is a question mark it’s the forecast fast ground, as all his racing has been on good to soft or worse. That said, he’s a good moving son of Wootton Bassett who looks to be Richard Fahey’s best chance of a Royal Ascot winner.

Wednesday

ZELAINA

2.30 - Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) - 5f

Karl Burke has won this fillies’ sprint twice in recent years with Dramatised in 2022 and Leovanni 12 months ago and has a live chance of a follow-up for Wathnan Racing with this speedy daughter of Mehmas. She was sent off a short-priced favourite to make a winning debut at Nottingham – a path Burke chose for Leovanni – and didn’t disappoint, making every yard of the running to win unchallenged for James Doyle. She will almost certainly head the market on Tuesday and can give the Leyburn trainer his third Queen Mary in four years.

VOLTERRA

5.00 - Royal Hunt Cup - 1m

Shane Gray is more often busy at the smaller tracks in the north but gets a rare opportunity to shine on a horse he has struck up a productive partnership with. Kevin Ryan’s colt has a genuine aptitude for this track, putting his rivals to the sword in a 7f heritage handicap last October. He was too keen to justify joint favouritism in last season’s Britannia but has looked much happier being ridden with less restraint as he demonstrated again when third in the Group 3 John O’Gaunt Stakes at Haydock Park last month. This fast-run, stiff mile is tailor-made for the improving son of Farhh who looks well treated off a mark of 103.

Thursday

NAVAL LIGHT

2.30 - Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) - 5f

Another Karl Burke juvenile with leading prospects, this once-raced son of Havanna Grey is held in high regard at Spigot Lodge and follows the same path to the Norfolk as last year’s winner for the yard, Shareholder. Like him, Naval Light debuted in the two-year-old trophy at Beverley and may have won but for a slow start. A 360,000gns breeze-up purchase, he will be wiser for the experience and can at least turn around the Westwood form with Old Is Gold.

CASPI STAR

3.40 - Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) - 1m4f

On the face of it, Charlie Johnston’s filly has work to do with the principals off her new mark of 96 but has the potential to become a triple digit performer this summer. She was raised 16lb for finishing third in the Cheshire Oaks to Aidan O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk, who franked that form in no uncertain style with a brilliant display in the Oaks. Caspi Star stayed on with purpose on The Roodee and should be doing her best work in the closing stages on this stiff track.

Friday

FITZELLA

2.30 - Albany Stakes (Group 3) - 6f

Hopefully by Friday Fitzella’s debut form will have been franked in some way by Royal contenders Military Code and Old Is Gold, who she finished in between over 5f at Ascot at the end of April. Like both of those rivals, she went on to win next time out, relishing the extra furlong and fast ground in a Haydock Park maiden. Oisin Murphy, who rode her that day, looks set to maintain the partnership, which is another boost for Hugo Palmer’s promising daughter of Too Darn Hot.

STRESSFREE

3.40 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes - 1m4f

David O’Meara’s ultra-consistent five-year-old gained reward for some solid efforts in top handicaps this year, including the City & Suburban at Epsom and the Jorvik at York when getting up late to win over this distance at Haydock Park last time. He remains unexposed at this trip and can find more improvement on this stiffer track despite a 5lb rise in the rankings.

Saturday

INISHERIN

3.40 - Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f)

Kevin Ryan’s powerhouse sprinter burst onto the scene in style last year, winning the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock en route to glory in the Commonwealth Cup. A below-par performance in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock prompted wind surgery which seems to have put him right back on track if his re-appearance win in the Duke Of York Stakes is any indication. Ryan insists he will improve again for that display – his first run in eight months – so keep him on your shortlist.

GERMANIC

5.00 - Wokingham Stakes - 6f

Julie Camacho’s four-year-old needs a few to come out to get a run in this cavalry charge off a rating of 97. Bought out of William Haggas’s powerful yard at the autumn sales for 140,000gns, the chestnut looks well prepared following a highly encouraging second to the progressive Ferrous in a hot handicap at Newcastle last month. The forecast fast ground shouldn’t be a problem and the frenetic pace of this handicap should see him settle a little better than he did on the Tapeta.

Simon’s Royal Ascot Selections:

TUESDAY:

3.40 REGIONAL

5.35 ECUREUIL SECRET

WEDNESDAY:

2.30 ZELAINA (NAP)

5.00 VOLTERRA

THURSDAY:

2.30 NAVAL LIGHT

3.40 CASPI STAR

FRIDAY:

2.30 FITZELLA

3.40 STRESSFREE

SATURDAY:

3.40 INISHERIN (NB)

5.00 GERMANIC