Royal Ascot 2025 wrapped up on Saturday after five days of high-stakes racing, late-market moves, and growing tension between tradition and technology. Here’s a day-by-day breakdown of what mattered most to punters—on the course and off it.
Day 1 – Tuesday 17 June
Headline Result: Charyn wins Queen Anne Stakes
The meeting opened with a shock in the Queen Anne as 8/1 shot Charyn held off odds-on favourite Facteur Cheval. That result set the tone for a week where short-priced favourites rarely delivered. The King Charles III Stakes also saw 7/1 shot Regional triumph, leaving backers of 11/10 favourite Big Evs out of pocket.
From a betting perspective, Day 1 was profitable for the layers. Early Tote pools showed increased volume compared to last year, helped by integration with the World Pool. The opening-day Placepot paid a modest £315.90 to a £1 stake.
Day 2 – Wednesday 18 June
Headline Result: Inspiral takes the Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Punters who kept faith with Inspiral (9/2) were rewarded as she held off French raider Horizon Dore to win the day’s feature. It was a welcome result for bettors after a tough Tuesday, though several favourites continued to fall short in the supporting races.
Bookmakers reported strong turnover across the board, with the Tote confirming its World Pool handle for the day topped £17 million. However, the on-course ring saw a slight dip in activity, a trend that would continue throughout the week.
Day 3 – Thursday 19 June
Headline Result: Trawlerman wins the Gold Cup
Trawlerman, the 7/4 joint favourite, landed the biggest race of the week in dominant fashion, giving punters a much-needed win. He set a new course record in the process, clocking 4:15.02 over the 2m4f trip.
Elsewhere, winners at 11/1, 20/1 and 16/1 made the day volatile for multiples and exotics. The Placepot paid £3,745.80—a sharp rise driven by those surprise results.
On-course, the heat was intense. Medical teams treated over 40 people for heat-related issues, but the racing continued without delay. Jockey Ryan Moore notched his 90th Royal Ascot win.
Day 4 – Friday 20 June
Headline Result: Porta Fortuna wins the Coronation Stakes
Friday brought one of the few strong favourites to deliver, as Porta Fortuna (7/2) justified support in the Coronation Stakes. However, the biggest payout came via the Placepot, which returned a staggering £26,424.30 for a £1 stake. The sequence included winners at 25/1 and 33/1, wiping out most lines and triggering the highest dividend of the meeting.
This result was widely reported and praised by the Tote, which saw major interest in Saturday’s pools as a result. It also raised questions about the lack of place terms at some fixed-odds firms, where each-way returns were significantly lower.
Day 5 – Saturday 21 June
Headline Result: Khaadem wins Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Khaadem took the feature at 16/1, continuing the pattern of big-priced winners. Favourite backers were burned again, with 3/1 joint-favourite Art Power finishing unplaced.
The final day also saw an unusual incident: James Doyle, winning jockey on Khaadem, was unseated just after the line. As the race was complete, all bets were settled normally. Still, the footage was widely circulated, and bookmakers confirmed no material changes to payouts.
The final Placepot paid just £46.80—reflecting a more straightforward sequence despite the big win in the feature.
Betting Trends and Talking Points
Only 5 of the 35 races were won by favourites. High-profile defeats for the likes of Big Evs, Rosallion, and Facteur Cheval handed the advantage to bookmakers.
The World Pool, run in collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, recorded over £60 million in total turnover across the week. This included £17m on Day 2 and £14.5m on Day 3 alone. For UK punters, the integrated pools offered improved liquidity, though some remained confused about fluctuating dividend values compared to fixed odds.
Friday’s record-breaking Placepot was the standout moment for recreational punters, triggering major interest across social media and national press. Tote spokespersons said it “highlighted the value of pool betting”—particularly for those backing multiple selections per leg or using syndicates.
Self-Service Terminals Divide Opinion
For the first time, Royal Ascot featured self-service betting terminals across the course. These machines allowed bets of up to £100 and fed directly into the World Pool. They proved popular with younger racegoers and those betting in smaller stakes, offering quick, cashless transactions and a straightforward user experience.
However, not everyone welcomed the change. On-course bookmakers criticised the terminals for reducing engagement and eating into their trade. One rails layer said his takings were “down 25% on last year”, blaming the machines for pulling casual punters away from the ring. Others warned the shift could undermine the live betting market if rolled out more widely.
