Royal Ascot 2025 Day 1 tips and best bets as Dancing Gemini napped for glory
Daily Record tipster Garry Owen has you covered for Royal Ascot Day 1
ROYAL ASCOT DAY ONE TIPS
2:30 DANCING GEMINI (NAP)
3:05 GSTAAD
3:40 MGHEERA
4:20 RULING COURT
5:00 PONIROS
5:35 ENFJAAR
6:10 CHARLUS
GARRY’S DOUBLE: DANCING GEMINI (NAP) AND PONIROS
Dancing Gemini (2:30) can waltz to victory in the Queen Anne Stakes on Day 1 of this year’s Royal Ascot. Roger Teal’s challenger looks tailor-made for the demands of this world-class Group 1 contest. The colt looked top-class when pipped by Metropolitan in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp. He then clearly didn’t stay 1m 4f when well-down the field behind City Of Troy in the Epsom Derby. The bay confirmed his lack of stamina when unplaced once again in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. He was feeling the effects of those runs when flopping over a mile at Goodwood and this venue. Given time to recover, he hit back by bolting-up on his comeback in the Doncaster Mile in March. The four-year-old continued his revival by powering home from Tamfana in a Group 2 at Sandown. He was then slightly unlucky not to reel-in Lead Artist in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. Sean Levey will not give that rival as much leeway today so the star can exact his revenge in style.
Gstaad (3:05) can open Aidan O’Brien’s account for the meeting in the Coventry Stakes. The colt wasn’t expected to beat Listed-placed stablemate True Love on debut at Naas last month. However, the two-year-travelled powerfully through the race, cosily upstaging his rival by a length. The son of Starspangledbanner has a bright future so he can get the better of some exciting rivals.
Mgheera (3:40) can call the tune for Andrew Lloyd-Webber in the King Charles III Stakes. The speedster looked smart for Manon Scandella-Lacaille when third in a Group 3 at Longchamp. She stayed upwardly mobile when second to the classy Ponntos in Group 2 company at Chantilly. The mare then held her form well after hammering Batwan in a Listed contest at the same venue. Those excellent efforts saw her being bought by her new owner and switched to Ed Walker. The five-year-old began to justify her price tag by slamming Ciao Pa’ returned to Longchamp. She kept up the good work by brushing aside She’s Quality in the Group 2 Temple at Haydock. That is often the best trial for this Group 1 so the daughter of Zoustar can deny a cracking field.
Ruling Court (4:20) can reign supreme for Charlie Appleby in the St James’s Palace Stakes. The colt has always been highly regarded by Godolphin and he was a 4-9 jolly on debut at Sandown. He fully justified that confidence by bolting-up from Pantile Warrior in a typically hot novice there.
The bay was let down by his inexperience when third to The Lion In Winter in the Acomb at York. Allowed time to mature, he thrashed The Fingal Raven in the Dubai 2000 Guineas at Meydan. That triumph saw the three-year-old become a big fancy for the UK equivalent at Newmarket. The son of Justify showed a nice mix of class and guts to deny a late challenge from Field Of Gold. Forced to miss the Epsom Derby, the superstar can gain compensation at the expense of his old foe.
Poniros (5:00) looks the best of Willie Mullins powerful squad in the gruelling Ascot Stakes. The gelding showed enough on the Flat for Ralph Beckett to be bought as a hurdler by Tony Bloom. Willie Mullins didn’t rush things with his new recruit, waiting-out the early part of the new season. However, he was thrown in at the deep end on debut in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. An unconsidered 100-1 outsider, the bay sprang a massive surprise by narrowly defeating Lulamba. The four-year-old wasn’t disgraced again when second to his old rival at the Punchestown Festival. The bay looks well-treated back on the level so he can claim a terrific renewal under William Buick.
The Closutton Maestro can enjoy a double with Charlus (6:10) in the Copper Horse Stakes. The gelding kicked-off for Jean-Claude Rouget by routing Edoardo on the all-weather at Pau. He raised his game again for that trainer with an impressive defeat of Swing City back there. The four-year-old proved just as good on Turf by comfortably dismissing Bruant at Bordeaux. Charlus ran yet another stormer when runner-up to Sibayan in Listed company at the same venue. Mover to Ireland, he stayed two miles well when caning Holy See on his hurdle bow at Naas. He then found Grade 1 company too much when well-beaten in the Triumph at Cheltenham. The bay doesn’t lack pace so he can strike over 1m 6f on the Flat in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Roger Varian likes to target the Wolferton Stakes so I’m rowing in with Enfjaar (5:35). The five-year-old relished stepping-up 1m 2f when hacking-up from Stay Well at Chelmsford. He looked even better when brushing aside Botanical in the valuable John Smith’s Cup at York. The gelding ran to a similar level when second to Take Heart from a terrible draw at Goodwood. He didn’t enjoy the run of the race when fifth to See The Fire in a Group 3 back on the Knavesmire. However, the bay hit back with a near-miss to Persica back over 1m 2f in the Doonside Cup at Ayr. The Shadwell raider returned with a respectable fifth to Almaqam in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. The son of Lope De Vega will be primed so he put that run to the best possible use from a kind draw.