With summer fast approaching, excitement is building for one of the most prestigious sporting events in Britain: Royal Ascot.
The Gold Cup is the highlight of the five-day extravaganza, testing the best stayers in the United Kingdom and Ireland over a demanding two and a half miles.
At the ultimate challenge of class and stamina, only the cream will rise to the top in Berkshire on June 20.
As the early markets begin to take shape for Royal Ascot 2025, we take a look at the horses who are already emerging as favourites for the crown jewel of the flat racing calendar.
Kyprios – 1/1
As short as even money in places, defending champion Kyprios is currently the outright favourite to complete the hat-trick in the Gold Cup.
Overcoming a career-threatening injury in 2023, the seven-year-old had a remarkable campaign last year, impressively winning all of his seven races for Aidan O’Brien.
Victories at Listed and Group 3 level at Navan and Leopardstown, respectively, proved the perfect prep for the Gold Cup, as Kyprios regained his crown in a one-length win over Trawlerman.
The son of Galileo won four more times after that in a busy campaign and will be very hard to beat at Ascot if replicating last season’s form.
Jan Brueghel – 6/1
A late bloomer, Jan Brueghel didn’t waste any time last season when going from a maiden winner at the Curragh in May to a Classic champion at Doncaster in September after just four starts.
Skipping a juvenile campaign, the Coolmore horse made his debut at three when winning comfortably by eight lengths and kicked on from there.
He looked raw in many of those runs but scored wins regardless, and it will be interesting to see what O’Brien wants to do with him this campaign.
However, it’s worth noting that the master trainer has stated that there’s probably no point’ in any of his horses running against Kyprios, so a mile and a half might be more likely.
Vauban – 10/1
A three-time Grade 1-winning hurdler, Vauban was switched to the flat by Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci a couple of years ago with the Melbourne Cup in mind.
He made an emphatic debut at Royal Ascot when winning the Copper Horse Handicap by over seven lengths and followed up in a Group 3 at Naas before a disappointing 14th in Australia’s big contest.
He attempted to win the Gold Cup last year but was fourth, over nine lengths behind Kyprios, as he perhaps didn’t stay the marathon distance.
Vauban stayed in Australia after another crack at the Melbourne Cup in November, being sold for A$2 million.
He won over a mile and two furlongs for his new connections on debut at Rosehill and was third when stepped up by two furlongs next time out. It will be interesting if they send him back to Britain.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained Uxmal, who won the two-mile, five-furlong Queen Alexandra Stakes at Ascot in June, is 12/1, while 2023 Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami is 14/1 to regain his crown, though he hasn’t been seen since August 2023.
