2025 Royal Ascot Spot Plays for Saturday

Saturday is closing day at Royal Ascot, and we’ve got seven more top-class races on tap before we close the door on one of racing’s most prestigious meets. There are two handicap races on tap, and while the sixth features “only” 19 horses, the fifth has more than 30. Since I’m a glutton for punishment (just look at Twitter), that’s where I’ll focus my attention.

Race #5: 12 p.m. ET

This race took a significant blow Thursday morning, when #8 Symbol Of Honour (6-1), a winner of four of his last five events for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, was announced as a non-runner. He was my top pick (and, in fact, a “lone A” for wagering purposes), so I had to go back to the drawing board.

I’ve settled on #21 More Thunder (5-1), who’s 2-for-2 since cutting back to sprinting. His wins at Newmarket have been solid, and although I think he faces tougher here while carrying a few extra pounds, he’s not illogical. The scratch of my original top pick makes things a bit easier, and at least he’s getting significant weight from a few runners in here. He’ll carry 127 pounds, which means he gets up to 11 from his rivals in this spot.

If you’re looking for a slightly bigger price, #5 Jarraaff (8-1) may drift up a bit after disappointing in his 2025 debut. He was fourth as an odds-on favorite that day, but it was his first outing since October, so he may have been a bit short. He loves Ascot, with two wins and a second in three prior starts here, and he particularly loves firmer going. He should get such a surface here, and if you liked him last time at a much shorter price, I could see backing him for at least a piece of it here.

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

This is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Cup, and it’s attracted a world-class field of turf sprinters. I really like this race, in large part because I’m against the 5/2 morning line favorite.

French invader #8 Lazzat (5/2) ran very well last time out to take a stakes race at Chantilly, and he does have some back class. He’s a Group 1 winner in his native country, and his connections shipped him to Australia and Hong Kong late last year to run against some good groups. However, I think he’s far, far better over softer going. It shouldn’t be soft on Saturday, and for that reason, he hits me as a massive underlay. If he wins, I’ll tip my cap and move on, but this one seems like a vulnerable favorite.

By contrast, #11 Satono Reve (9/2) loves to hear his feet rattle. He’s long been one of the top turf sprinters in his native Japan, and he’s run up against Hong Kong buzzsaw Ka Ying Rising twice. While Lazzat may be a bit out of his element, I think this is exactly what Satono Reve wants, and with that in mind, should he really be almost twice the price of Lazzat? I think that’s a bit bonkers, and I hope the morning line holds up.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if #5 Inisherin (4-1) runs well. When he’s good, he’s exceptional, as he proved when winning last summer’s Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at this route of ground. When he’s bad, it’s not pretty to watch. However, his 2025 debut was a winning one against Group 2 company at York. If he can string two top-class races together (like he did in mid-2024), he and Buick stand a chance at another Royal Ascot score.