We’re deep into the British flat racing season now. The turf’s flying, the sun’s trying its best, and hats are being fluffed into shape across the land.
And right on cue comes one of the crown jewels of the summer: the Ascot Gold Cup. It’s not just about long distances and staying power, it’s about tradition, class, and whether your posh picnic survives the weather.
Held on the third day of Royal Ascot, yes, that’s Ladies’ Day if you’re keeping track, the Gold Cup is where stamina meets style.
It’s a brutal two-and-a-half mile test that sorts the gallopers from the glory-hunters. Win this, and you don’t just take home a trophy, you earn a place in racing history.
And with this year’s renewal merely days away, all the focus is on Illinois from legendary Irish trainer, Aidan O’Brien.
He may have recently added another Epsom Derby to his ever-growing haul but he didn’t do it with the favourite, Delacroix.
So will the online casino platforms and bookmakers get it right this time? Or have they underestimated the rest of the 2025 Ascot Gold Cup field in favour of Illinois?
Let’s find out!
Illinois: The New Star At Ballydoyle
Scheduled for June 19th at Ascot Racecourse, this year’s renewal of the Gold Cup has a new narrative: the emergence of Illinois as the clear favourite following the retirement of dual Gold Cup hero Kyprios.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, likely ridden by Ryan Moore, and owned by the powerhouse partnership of Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, and Michael Tabor, Illinois is set to carry the hopes of the Coolmore team and punters alike into the historic contest.
Illinois, a four-year-old colt by the legendary Galileo out of Danedrop, has been a model of consistency and progression throughout his career.
With four wins and six places from ten career starts, his reliability at the top level is undisputed.
Of course, it also helps that he has notched up over £700K to date, no doubt making all of his connections very happy.
He ended last season on a high with a win in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay in October and his 2025 campaign began with a stylish win in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester, cementing his position at the head of the Gold Cup market.
But before we all get too excited about his Ascot prospects, he has never actually won a Group 1 race, though last season he did place second in two of them.
They were the Voltigeur Stakes at York and the St leger Stakes at Doncaster, where he was beaten by a neck on both occasions.
Key Rivals
Illinois’s form has been consistently franked by his rivals. Defeats to top-class horses like Sosie, Los Angeles, and Jan Brueghel have all looked stronger with time, as those horses have gone on to win Group 1 races this season.
Notably, Illinois’s Queen’s Vase win last year over 1m6f at Ascot showcased his ability to handle the course and distance, albeit over a shorter trip.
With Kyprios’s retirement, the Gold Cup market has shifted dramatically.
Illinois is now the clear favourite, with his main rivals including the French-trained Candelari, with Trawlerman and Sweet William, from John & Thady Gosden, shortening in the betting markets.
Aidan O’Brien and the Ascot Gold Cup
No trainer has enjoyed more success in the Ascot Gold Cup than Aidan O’Brien.
The Ballydoyle maestro holds the record with nine victories, his roll of honour including Yeats (who won four times consecutively from 2006 to 2009), Fame and Glory, Leading Light, Order of St George, and Kyprios.
O’Brien’s ability to prepare stayers for this unique test is unrivalled. He has repeatedly demonstrated an aptitude for bringing horses to their peak for Royal Ascot, and his comments following Kyprios’s retirement highlight his faith in Illinois as the next in line:
“We have a few young stayers coming through, the likes of Illinois and Jan Brueghel, and they were always standing in line behind Kyprios. Illinois will be aimed at the Gold Cup now…”.
Winning Jockey Ryan Moore
Illinois is likely to be partnered by Ryan Moore, O’Brien’s number one jockey and one of the most respected riders in the world.
Moore’s association with Ballydoyle has seen him win major races across the globe, and his record at Royal Ascot is outstanding.
He rode six winners at the meeting in 2024, and every winner ridden by Moore at Royal Ascot this year will also trigger a £5,000 donation to the Retraining of Racehorses charity, adding an extra layer of motivation and goodwill to his rides.
Moore’s ability to judge pace, settle horses, and deliver them at the right moment makes him an invaluable asset in a race that often hinges on tactical acumen and stamina.
The Owners: Smith, Magnier, and Tabor
The ownership trio behind Illinois are synonymous with success at the highest level. Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, in particular, have dominated the British and Irish Classics for decades, with a remarkable 11 Epsom Derby wins between them.
Their partnership with Aidan O’Brien has yielded countless champions, and they are no strangers to the Gold Cup winner’s enclosure.
However, their fortunes at this year’s Epsom Derby serve as a reminder of racing’s unpredictability. Their hot favourite, Delacroix, failed to meet expectations, finishing ninth and trailing 16 lengths behind the winner, Lambourn.
The disappointment of that result only heightens the anticipation for Illinois’s Gold Cup bid, as the owners look to bounce back on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
The Case for Illinois
Illinois stands out as the logical favourite for the 2025 Ascot Gold Cup but can he join the ranks of Yeats, Stradivarius, and Kyprios?
He certainly has some tough competition and if racing has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is a given.
His rivals will be lining up, all hoping to stop the O’Brien machine from rolling on through another festival so only time will tell.
