15:40 Royal Ascot
Tuesday 17 June 2025
All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:3518:10
King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
- 3YO plus | Class 1 | 5f | Good to Firm (Good in places) | 20 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 59.64s
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Selected odds by:
Very likeable sprinter who continues to go from strength to strength this season, looking a pattern-class performer in a handicap when easily winning at York last month. Upped to Group 2 company, he shaped as though still in top form in the Temple Stakes, not seen to best effect.
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Smart colt who was highly tried as a juvenile and hit the ground running last year with a decisive success in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes over 6f at Ascot. Campaigned solely in Group 1 that season and eased in class, he looked a really hard ride at Haydock. Hood needs to help him settle down.
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Won the Group 2 Temple at Haydock (5f, good to soft) last May and mostly respectable efforts in defeat later in the season, including when fifth in this race. Shaped as though in need of the run on 6f reappearance at York and while he'll step up on that, this is a tall order.
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Highly-progressive sprinter in 2022 and made a really encouraging return to action behind race-fit rivals when third to Vadream in the Palace House at Newmarket in May 2023. Off the track since so some training performance were he to get seriously involved in Group 1 company.
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Rounded off his 3-y-o campaign with an impressive 3¾-length defeat of Annaf in 6f Newcastle listed race in November, taking his AW record to 4-4. Went with bags of enthusiasm when third of 8 to Inisherin in 1895 Duke of York Stakes and this first crack at 5f looks the correct move.
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Smart performer who ran right up to form when second of 17 to Asfoora in this race a year ago. Enhanced excellent record fresh when ½-length third of 11 to Believing in Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in April and he needs considering.
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Ended last season better than ever with a win in listed company over C&D and picked up where he left off when much too strong for 10 rivals in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on return. Needs to bounce back from a tame display in the Temple Stakes 3 weeks ago, though.
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Very smart at best, winning three times last season, notably Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar where he was well suited by strong tempo. Not in same form in Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin and could never really land a blow under his penalty in the Temple Stakes on reappearance.
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Smart sprinter for Henry Candy at his best, but looked in need of the run on debut for these connections in Palace House Stakes. Failed to build on that at Haydock and he looks up against it these days at this level.
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Surprise winner of Abernant Stakes at Newmarket last year, and largely campaigned in Group 1 company after. Respectable-enough efforts this season but his level is a notch below this one.
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Very smart sprinter and multiple Group winner from Australia who, sharper for run in the Temple, proved better than ever when landing this a year ago (several of these behind). Hit the frame both starts that summer but no British prep this time having finished mid-field over 6f in April. Blinkered.
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Four wins during a very productive second half to 2024 and cranked it up another notch when excellent neck second in listed race at Doncaster (6f, heavy). Picked up where she left off this spring, confirming the promise of Chester reappearance with listed glory at Haydock. Needs to improve again.
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Shaped really well when fourth from off the pace in this race a year ago. Filled same spot over 6f at the meeting 4 days later before making most of the drop to Group 2 company at the Curragh. Changed hands for 3,000,000 and gained deserved top-tier breakthrough in Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in April.
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Speedy sort who didn't need to improve to land listed contest at Haydock (6f) 4 weeks ago. Return to 5f won't be an issue but this calibre of opposition may well be.
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Useful performer, successful at 2 yrs in minor event at Compiegne. Better than ever when winning 8-runner Prix Texanita at Chantilly last time by ½ length from Classic Flower, staying on to lead close home. Unexposed over 5f but a lot went her way on that occasion.
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Lightly raced filly who showed big improvement on final outing for Johnny Murtagh in September 2023, winning the Firth of Clyde at Ayr in good style. Restricted to just 2 runs since, excellent neck second to Frost At Dawn in listed race at Haydock and this her first crack over 5f.
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Very useful and likeable juvenile who bagged his fourth win of 2024 in Doncaster's Flying Childers in September. Not disgraced when 2½ lengths sixth of 12 in Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar final run. Failed to give his running on York reappearance but we know he's much better than that.
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Useful performer, won newcomers and minor event (by head from Epson Blue Cen) at Deauville on first 2 starts in 2024. Best effort when 4¼ lengths third of 10 to Rayevka in listed race at Chantilly last time but that well shy of the required level here.
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Posted a useful effort when landing listed event at York in August. Looked rusty after 8 months off when sixth of 11 in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and duly left that effort well behind when doubling his tally back on the Knavesmire last month. Further jolt of improvement needed.
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Smart gelding who enhanced excellent strike rate in 15-runner Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint at Meydan in March. Found good run of form coming to a halt when 6¼ lengths eighth of 11 to Believing in Al Quoz Sprint at same venue the following month but he's likely to bounce back given overall profile.
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Rule 4
Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 10p in the pound
Non-Runners
2
(2)
Bucanero Fuerte30
Weight: 9-7| Age: 4
T: A Murray J: D Egan
NR
16
(8)
Mgheera24
Weight: 9-4| Age: 5
T: E Walker J: W Buick
WD
18
(13)
No Half Measures17
Weight: 9-4| Age: 4
T: R Hughes J: H Crouch
NR
Forecasts
Believing (3/1), Asfoora (7/2), Mgheera (8/1), Regional (9/1), Night Raider (10/1), Rumstar (10/1), American Affair (11/1), Starlust (16/1), Jasour (18/1), West Acre (18/1), Bucanero Fuerte (20/1), No Half Measures (25/1), Frost At Dawn (28/1), Washington Heights (40/1), Aesterius (40/1), Balmoral Lady (50/1), Tropical Storm (50/1), Kerdos (66/1), Estepona (66/1), Prime Art (66/1), Manaccan (80/1), Twilight Calls (100/1), Monteille (150/1)
Given his free-going tendencies, the drop to 5f could be what NIGHT RAIDER has needed all along and with his York reappearance indicating that he can be as effective on grass, this lightly-raced 4-y-o could be the answer. Last year's winner Asfoora has had a different preparation this time and has blinkers on for the first time, so Believing, who shaped really well in this 12 months ago, may emerge as the chief threat.
- Night Raider10/1
- Believing3/1
- Asfoora7/2
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £411,573.002nd: £156,036.003rd: £78,091.004th: £38,900.005th: £19,523.006th: £9,798.00
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