The Racing Horse offers our ASCOT RACECOURSE TEMPLATE for Saturday 18 October 2025. There is a 7-race card containing 5 Group 1s, a Conditions Stakes Race for 2yos and a Handicap. The going is expected to be good.

ALL the ASCOT Racecourse Template WINNERS

For this particular template, the single pieces of information in the Group 1s are well known, the hope is we can provide an overview and a road map of proceedings, which help those final thought processes. We also remind ourselves the runners in the Group 1 races have been in training since early spring and before, and we can expect a number to have trained over. Some will disappoint! As always, mathematics are the governing force of horse racing betting, so our numbers should be acknowledged if not acted upon!

WINNING FAVOURITES (5 years)
Non-handicap                   Handicap
2yo    38-90	42%   -0.26    1-6      17%     -2.25
3yo    31-92	34%   -6.07    54-145   37%    +22.72
4yo+   34-96	35%   -4.57    43-175   25%    -23.94
TOTAL 103-278	37%  -10.91    98-326   30%     -3.46

TOP 5 TRAINERS at ASCOT for past 5 years      +/-   R
William Haggas (23%)  37-231   16%   -53.78   -7%   6
J & T Gosden (21%)    36-261   14%   -27.60   -7%  10
Andrew Balding (16%)  34-327   10%   -72.06   -6%   7
Charlie Appleby (30%) 28-151   19%   -14.71  -11%   1
A P O'Brien (18%)     24-199   12%   -91.92   -6%   6

TOP 5 JOCKEYS at ASCOT for past 5 years       +/-   R
Ryan Moore (20%)    40-256    16%   -62.61    -4%   0    
William Buick (23%) 36-268    13%   -45.82   -10%   7
Oisin Murphy (21%)  34-227    15%    -2.76    -6%   6
Tom Marquand (15%)  25-265     9%   -19.90    -6%   5
Jim Crowley (17%)   21-168    13%    -8.47    -4%   0

TOP 5 OWNERS at ASCOT for past 5 years        +/-   E
Godolphin (27%)     42-232   18%    +16.99    -9%   6
Shadwell Est (22%)  20-112   18%    +22.77    -4%   0
Wathan Racing (17%) 15-84    18%    +22.61    +1%   9
S O A Maktoum (21%) 10-81    12%    +21.36    -9%   2
S A A Maktoum (22%)  9-80    11%    -38.62   -11%   3

Forthcoming Ascot Fixtures:
Saturday 1 November 2025

Forthcoming Racecourse Templates
Lingfield AW: Monday 27 October 2025
Bath: 30 October 2025
Chepstow NH: Wednesday 5 November 2025

CONFIGURATION: The round course is a right-handed, triangular circuit of 14 furlongs, with a run-in of 2½ furlongs. There is a straight mile course and the Old mile course which joins the round course in Swinley Bottom. Despite the downhill run into Swinley Bottom and relatively short run-in from the final turn, Ascot is galloping in character. Since the redevelopment, the turn into the straight has become more sweeping and those ridden prominently can be difficult to peg back. Nowadays, the ground in the straight drains quicker than the rest of the course, meaning going descriptions can varY.

Because the run-in on Ascot’s round course is relatively short, positioning - jockeyship in other words - is key. It goes without saying that in steadily-run races you want to be towards the sharp end but, whatever the pace, you can get into trouble trying to come through rivals late on. We’re still learning about the straight course, following the relaying a few years back, but in my view it’s more pace-dependent than draw-dependent. Given the right pace to chase, I reckon you can win from anywhere - Jason Weaver

STRIKE RATES: Winning at Ascot is notoriously difficult, with strike rates for trainers, jockeys, and owners significantly lower than at other racecourses. Tom Marquand, who typically scores at 15%, manages just 9% here, William Buick just 13%. Trainers Andrew Balding and Aidan O'Brien see a drop of 6%, while Charlie Appleby’s rate falls by a striking 11%.

FAVOURITES: Winning favourites at Ascot over the past 5 years show 201-604 for 33% (-14.37). Best category are 3yo handicap favourites scoring 54-145 for 37% and a level stake profit of +£22.72 to SP. Worst category are 4yo handicap favourites scoring 43-175 for 25% and a level stake loss of -£23.94.

TRAINERS: J & T Gosden have their stable in fine form scoring 10 winners from their last 36 runners for 28%. They come to this meeting with fresher horses than most, and will be seeking a win treble but likely to score a win double! His 10 runners include TRAWLERMAN & SWEET WILLIAM 12.55, SIREN SUIT 1.30, SPY CHIEF 2.05, DANIELLE 2.45, CARL SPACKER & FIELDS OF GOLD 3.25, OMBUDSMAN, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE 4.05 & FIFTH COLUMN 4.40. Stop at a winner?

JOCKEYS: Three of the UK’s top jockeys are booked for a combined 18 rides, making it highly likely they’ll play a prominent role throughout the meeting. William Buick (23%) has 7 rides including TRAWLERMAN 12.55, WORDS OF TRUTH 1.30, SPY CHIEF 2.05, LATAKIA 2.45, CARL SPACKLER 3.25, OMBUDSMAN 4.05 & FIFTH COLUMN 4.40.

Oisin Murphy (21%) has 6 rides including SUNWAY 12.55, SIR ALBERT 1.30, FLORA OF BERMUDA 2.05, NEVER SO BRAVE 3.25, ALMERIC 4.05 & SHOUT 4.40. Cannot spot an obvious winner, but that might not stop him!

TOM MARQUAND (15%) has 5 rides including ARDISIA 1.30, BIG MOJO 2.05, DOCKLANDS 3.25, ECONOMICS 4.05 & CROWN OF OAKS 4.40

OWNERS: The top five owners at Ascot have a combined 20 entries, and they’re certain to deliver a mix of winners, placings, and close calls. Top owners at Ascot are Godolphin and they look set for a win treble from TRAWLERMAN 12.55, WORDS OF TRUTH 1.30, SPY CHIEF 2.05, DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, OMBUDSMAN 4.05 & FIFTH COLUMN 4.40. Stop at a winner?

GREEN FLAG: It seems almost unthinkable—Charlie Appleby, with a formidable overall strike rate of 30%, struggles at Ascot. Are we missing something? Of the 26 UK racecourses he frequents, Ascot ranks joint 25th for winners, with only York returning a lower strike rate. Here, he scores just 19%. You decide: anomaly or aversion? In total contradiction, the trainer has scored 7-26 for 27% (-3.32) at Ascot this year, winning £637,392 in prize money and within those figures there are 3 second places, 2 third places and 3 fourth places, so 15-26 for 58% have finished in the money.

Irrespectively, TRH has taken the 11/10 and even money about WORDS OF TRUTH 1.30. The 2yo Lope De Vega gelding is a course and distance winner (only 2 in the field of 13 have a course win) and won his last 3 races on ground good to soft to good to firm. He will be expertly ridden by William Buick.  

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