2025 Royal Ascot Spot Plays for Wednesday

Wednesday’s handicap race of choice at Royal Ascot is the Royal Hunt Cup. A field of 33 (yes, 33) thoroughbreds will go the 1,600-meter distance (roughly a mile) as part of the meet’s second day of racing, and I’ll do my level best to provide some insight. After all, with so many different directions for betting money to go, there has to be value somewhere, right?

Let’s take a look.

Race #5: 12 p.m. ET

My top pick is a horse that should relish cutting back to this distance. That’s #11 BLUE BROTHER (20-1), who’s been going longer against tough competition in the Middle East in each of his last two outings. He was a decent fifth in the Group 1 Qatar Derby late last year before finishing sixth in a handicap on the Saudi Cup undercard.

Prior to those two races, though, he emerged as a promising miler in his native France. He’s got four top-two finishes in five starts at this distance, and he’s also won going 7 1/2 furlongs on synthetic at Deauville, too. I simply think he’s getting back to what he wants to do, and the presence of all-world jockey James McDonald doesn’t hurt, either.

Ryan Moore rides #14 THE LIFFEY (6-1), and although that one is the second choice in the morning line, he may go off as the betting favorite based on the connections. He’s flashed some talent in the past, but I just cannot endorse the gelding in a race with so many horses and variables. If you must use him, I’d advise using him underneath some bigger prices.

The other alternative I prefer is #5 QIRAT (10-1), who goes second off the bench and missed by a nose in a local prep for this last month. He was sixth of 29 in a similar spot here last year, but he’s now a four-year-old, and he could be sitting on a step forward if his 2025 debut is any indication.

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

This is the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes, and the favorite is a familiar face. #1 CINDERELLA’S DREAM (2-1) figures to take plenty of betting money after an impressive return to Europe in the Group 2 Betfred Dahlia last month. She’s obviously got a world of talent, but the combination of distance (1,600 meters) and route (a straight) doesn’t quite seem like her best game.

By contrast, second choice #4 FALLEN ANGEL (5/2) loves this route and goes second off the bench after a race that hits me as an easy throwout. She was sixth in the Group 1 Boylesports Lockinge at Newbury, but that came against the boys, and she led briefly before fading late. She’s a two-time Group 1 winner, but her best race may have come in defeat. She was a close-up second behind the world-class mare Porta Fortuna in the Group 1 Coolmore America Justify Matron in September.

Given the likely odds on these two, I much prefer Fallen Angel. Perhaps Cinderella’s Dream makes me look silly, but I think she wants more distance (and possibly a turn or two to go with it). Fallen Angel’s done her best running going a mile, and I’m hoping we see logical improvement second off the bench.