2025 St James's Palace Stakes Tips - Who will triumph as three Classic winners clash?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 14 Jun 2025

Jon Vine 14 Jun 2025

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2025 St James's Palace Stakes
This Group One takes place on day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 17th June
We're siding with Field Of Gold over Ruling Court and Henri Matisse

Expired

Field Of Gold (pink cap) winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. (Getty)

The third and final Group One on day one of Royal Ascot is the St James's Palace Stakes. Three-year-olds will be under the spotlight in this eight-furlong Group One and the form lines from three Classic will be drawn together in this year's contest.

Here's our free guide to the 2025 St James's Palace Stakes, including our best betting tips.

2025 St James's Palace Stakes Odds

Name	Odds
Field Of Gold	5/6
Ruling Court	11/4
Henri Matisse	4/1
Jonquil	14/1
Shadow Of Light	14/1
Opera Ballo	16/1
Bar	20/1

2025 St James's Palace Stakes Runners

Three Classic winners will meet in the third and final Group One on Tuesday at Royal Ascot. Heading the market is Field Of Gold, who was an unlucky second in the British 2000 Guineas but made up for that defeat with a runaway success in the Irish equivalent of that Classic.

Ruling Court got the better of Field Of Gold at Newmarket and remains over a mile, despite coming out of the Epsom Derby on the day of the race. Henri Matisse came from well off the pace to land the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp and Aidan O'Brien's raider sits third in the betting.

With Shadow Of Light and Jonquil now likely to enter the Commonwealth Cup, Charlie Appleby's second-string Opera Ballo will likely move into fourth favouritism. Aidan O'Brien's duo of Officer and First Wave look likely to join Henri Matisse in the field.

Brian Meehan's Rashabar kept on well to finish fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas. Windlord, who cut out the running at the Curragh, has already been jocked up. Joseph O'Brien's Scorthy Champ could be the final runner in this classy field.

2025 St James's Palace Stakes Tips

We're almost guaranteed a fast pace in this year's St James's Palace Stakes. Windlord took them along quickly enough at the Curragh, and Oisin Murphy will execute similar tactics. Both Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien will want an honest early gallop for their leading contenders too, so I'd be surprised if First Wave and Opera Ballo didn't push Windlord through the first half of the race.

Ruling Court was being trained to get the Derby trip since his victory in the 2000 Guineas. Returning to a mile on fairly fast ground could prove to be a bit of a shock. Henri Matisse may need a little luck in running from his customary position at the rear of the field, and I don't think the French 2000 Guineas form is anywhere near as strong as the British or Irish.

FIELD OF GOLD (5/6) relished a fast early gallop in both the Craven and the Irish 1000 Guineas, quickening smartly to win both races by comfortable margins. The pace was a little slower in the British 2000 Guineas and - whether it was his fault or Kieran Shoemark's - the favourite took longer than expected to find full stride, coming up half-a-length short of Ruling Court.

Colin Keane's mount will relish fast ground at Ascot and the stiff track will suit a horse who has been talked up as a potential Coral-Eclipse contender later in the summer. Field Of Gold is the best three-year-old colt in the sport at the moment, and I'm expecting him to prove that at Royal Ascot.

That being said, I wouldn't rule Rashabar out too lightly. I might have a soft spot for Brian Meehan's star, having tipped him up at 80/1 when he won the Coventry Stakes last year, but I thought his effort at the Curragh was much better than the bare result. There's a chance he goes for the Jersey Stakes instead, but if Rashabar did turn up on day one, I'll be having a small each-way saver.

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Verdict

2025 St James's Palace Stakes

Field Of Gold is the most likely winner of the 2025 St James's Palace Stakes.

Field Of Gold

2025 St James's Palace Stakes

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