The Royal Ascot 2025 saw the Commonwealth Cup top the list of the most popular betting races, a significant leap from its previous 24th spot. The Gold Cup also surged in popularity, now ranking second. Iconic races like the Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham Stakes continued to perform strongly. Despite the initial hesitation due to intense weather, betting turnover was up from the previous year. However, the Queen's Vase remained least popular, prompting potential future changes. Overall, it was a successful event for bookmakers with no major sports events competing for attention.
Commonwealth Cup tops the most popular betting races at Royal Ascot 2025
Gold Cup jumps from eighth to second in betting activity rankings
Queen's Vase remains least popular; possible changes ahead to boost appeal
Richard Kingscote riding Time For Sandals win The Commonwealth Cup on day four during Royal Ascot 2025. (Getty)
Entain have ranked each race from Royal Ascot 2025 in terms of betting activity, with the Commonwealth Cup coming out on top.
Kyprios' absence meant that this year's Gold Cup was a much popular betting heat than 12 months ago. Royal Ascot's flagship event jumped from eighth up to second in Entain's betting activity standings, but it was the Commonwealth Cup - which produced a shock winner in Time For Sandals - that claimed the number one spot.
"In terms of individual race performance, the most impressive was the Commonwealth Cup, which usurped the Gold Cup as the biggest betting event of the week," said Simon Clare, PR director for Ladbrokes and Coral.
"The two iconic heritage handicaps – the Royal Hunt Cup and the Wokingham Stakes – performed strongly, while the feature-race slot of 4.20pm delivered five of the nine biggest betting races."
"The quality and competitiveness of the racing was evident for all to see, and that was reflected in the popularity of all five days with our customers, despite hot weather normally having a negative impact on turnover."
The Royal Hunt Cup and Wokingham handicaps remains in the top ten most popular races with the punters. Satono Reve's popularity in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes saw the final Group One of the meeting finish in the top five, followed closely by the St James's Palace Stakes. The Coronation Stakes and Prince Of Wales's Stakes also proved to be popular betting heats.
In contrast, the Queen's Vase continues to be an unpopular race with the betting public. This Group Two for three-year-olds came out worst in terms of betting activity for the second year in a row, and organisers may need to take steps to improve the appeal of this St Leger Trial.
Billy Lee riding Carmers (L, purple/yellow) win The Queen's Vase on day two during Royal Ascot 2025. (Getty)
The Ribblesdale dropped from 18th down to second-last place, followed by the Hampton Court Stakes, which also took a nosedive in popularity compared to 12 months ago. The Copper Horse and King George V Stakes handicaps proved unpopular again, as did the Wolferton Stakes.
"The Queen's Vase finished bottom of the pile, with the Ribblesdale second bottom, despite their prominent positions in the running order, which reflected the fact both races looked below-par runnings on paper."
Despite many of the handicaps going the way of fancied horses and Aidan O'Brien's well-backed youngsters dominating the juvenile contests, bookmakers have been celebrating a successful Royal Ascot.
"It was a stellar Royal Ascot on nearly every metric, with turnover significantly up year-on-year, helped in no small part by the absence of a major football tournament to compete with, and favourable results despite a couple of tough days."
Entain's Most Popular Betting Races at Royal Ascot 2025
