2025 Royal Ascot Spot Plays for Friday

We’ve got a field of 22 runners set to go postward in Friday’s featured handicap race at Royal Ascot. That’s the third, where the massive group will travel 2,400 meters (or 1 1/2 miles). While I won’t be taking many wacky swings in this one, I still think there’s room for a nice score given the field size we’re working with.

Here’s how I see it.

Race #3: 10:40 a.m. ET

I think there’s a lot to like when it comes to #7 HAND OF GOD (7-1), the second choice on this race’s morning line. He got quite good last summer, when he stretched a win streak to three with a win in a handicap here in June. He went to the sidelines for more than 10 months after that event, though, and his 2025 debut wasn’t a good one.

However, I think there are reasons to draw a line through that effort. He ran like a horse that needed a race, as he used his tactical speed to get into a good spot but didn’t have the stamina to kick on. It stands to reason that he’ll be much more fit second off the bench, and the presence of William Buick is a big plus. He likely had several options and wound up here, aboard a horse he piloted to victory at this meet a year ago.

I’ll also be using the top two finishers from a race at this distance on May 14th at York. #14 ALMOSH’HER (8-1) won by a head over #9 STRESSFREE (12-1), and I think both are pretty logical. The former makes just his fifth lifetime start, so there may be some room for improvement, and the latter came back and took a May 31st race at Haydock Park going this distance.

Race #7: 1:10 p.m. ET

While my opinion of the third was a bit conservative, I’ll swing with a bit of a price in the Friday finale. My top pick in this 1,000-meter/five-furlong sprint is #24 JORGE ALVARES, who gets a considerable weight break and an equipment change I like a lot. He’s been competitive in similar spots in Ireland, but he’s carried much more weight in those events. Here, he gets in relatively light, with 124 pounds.

I’m also a big fan of this gelding adding blinkers for the first time. He has eight top-three finishes in 10 starts to date, but just one win. His three seconds have come by a half-length or less, and adding blinkers should help him focus considerably. Jockey Colin Keane has already enjoyed plenty of success at Royal Ascot, and I think his mount here is primed to run a big race and provide some value.