Royal Ascot Trials Day 30th April 2027

Race 1 - Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) - 14:00

As the name suggests, this race is specifically for two-year-olds. It takes place over five furlongs and is a Class 2 event. There have been some small fields entering it in the past, just three in 2026 for example, so don't be overly surprised if it isn't the most competitive of the races that you'll see during the day's proceedings.

That being said, it can be an exciting one to watch thanks to the relatively short nature of it and the fact that two-year-olds can run at a pace.

If the Going is Good then you will see the leaders getting the finish line in about a minute, so try not to go to the bar or the loo at the wrong time or you might miss the whole thing.

Race 2 - Sagaro Stakes (A Gold Cup Trial) - 14:35

There isn't really a feature race of the day as such, but if there were to be one then the Sagaro Stakes could definitely make a claim for the title. Run right-handed over one mile, seven furlongs and 209 yards, it was originally held at Hurst Park and known as the Paradise Stakes; a name that is now given to another event run on this day.

For a period of time previously it was contested by three-year-olds over a distance of one and a quarter mile, then being made into a race for older horses over one mile, six furlongs and 66 yards. It was held at Hurst Park until 1962, being switched to Ascot in 1963 then briefly at Newbury in 1964.

It became the Sagaro Stakes in 1978, designed to honour the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup in each of the previous three seasons. Five years later and it was upgraded to become a Group 3 race, even though the actual running of the event that year couldn't take place due to a waterlogged course. There have been several horses that have won the Sagaro Stakes before going on to win the Ascot Gold Cup during the week of Royal Ascot, so it is seen by many as a trial for that race. Now open to horses aged four and over, the following weight information is at play:

• 4-year-olds: 9 stone 3 pounds
• 5-year-olds and over: 9 stone 4 pounds
• Fillies and mares are given an allowance of 3 pounds
• Group 1 race winners are given a 7 pound penalty
• Group 2 race winners are given a 5 pound penalty
• Group 3 race winners are given a 3 pound penalty

Since 1978, a number of horses have managed to win the race twice, including Double Trigger in 1995 and 1996, Alcazar in 2003 and 2005 and Mizzou in 2015 and 2016.  The latest to do so was Coltrane in 2023 and 2024, he nearly made it a record three but was beaten into second place narrowly in 2025 by Yashin.

Frankie Dettori set the benchmark for other jockeys when he won the race for a fifth time on Stradivarius in 2021, whilst Sir Michael Stoute's sixth win courtesy of Estimate in 2013 laid down a marker for other trainers to try to meet.

Eight ran in this race last year and expect a time under 3:30 if the going is good.

Race 3 - Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes - 15:10

Originally called the Pavillion Stakes this race had its official title changed to the Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes in 2019, giving you a sense of the fact that it is thought of as being a trial event for the Commonwealth Stakes that takes place over the same distance and on the same course during the week of Royal Ascot. Its registered name is the Pavilion Stakes, having first been run as a Listed event in 1999.

In 2015 it was upgraded to become a Group 3 event, matching the Sagaro Stakes and therefore also staking a claim to be one of the most important races on Royal Ascot Trials Day. It is run over six furlongs on the straight, with the following weight information:

• Colts and geldings carry 9 stone 3 pound
• Fillies carry 9 stone
• Group 1 and Group 2 race winners receive a penalty of 4 pound

Open to three-year-olds only, the race saw Richard Hughes lay a marker down for jockeys with his third win in it in 2013. That was also Richard Hannon Sr.'s fourth win as a trainer, which was also a record at the time. If the Going is Good then you'll see the horses running for about a minute and fifteen seconds or so, allowing plenty of time for the leaders to chop and change.  The race also has a decent field with 8 horses going off last time around.

Race 4 - Paradise Stakes (A Queen Anne Stakes Trial) - 15:45

Races change names all of the time, which is why the Sarago Stakes used to be known as the Paradise Stakes, though there is no link to this race other than the name. In fact, this race was first run as the Chobham Conditions Stakes when it was inaugurated in 1995. In 2004 it took on its current moniker and was made into a Listed race.

It is a trial for the Queen Anne Stakes, which is run on the same track and over the same distance when the Royal Ascot meeting comes around a month or so later, so keep an eye on the horses that perform well and seem to cope with the conditions relatively well ahead of the big meeting.

Run over one mile on the straight, it is for horses aged four and over excluding Group 1 winners. The Listed event has the following weight information attached:

• Weight: 9 stone 5 pound
• Fillies and mares are given an allowance of 5 pound
• Group 2 winners are given a penalty of 7 pound
• Group 3 winners are given a penalty of 5 pound
• Listed races winners are given a penalty of 3 pound

Cesare won the race in 2007 and 2008, being the only horse at the time of writing to have won the race more than once. The same isn't true when it comes to the jockeys, with the likes of Richard Hughes, Jamie Spencer and Frankie Dettori all winning it more than once.  In fact eight jockeys have won this race twice since it started in 1995.  Only one jockey has won it three times though, that is William Buick.

It is the same story when it comes to trainers, with Richard Hannon Jr., Michael Stoute and John Gosden appearing in the Winners' Enclosure three times each.

This race often has a reasonable field, last year 8 ran and 11 the year before on good to firm ground, in other wetter years though the field can be very small so it depends a lot on the weather.  Expect a run time of around 1:40.

Race 5 - Naas Racecourse Handicap - 16:20

This Handicap is for horses aged four and over that have an official rating of between 0 and 85. It is a Class 4 event that is run over five furlongs, seeing a decent enough field enter it most years - last year 17 ran making it by far the biggest field race of the day.

When the Going is Good you'll see the leaders heading towards the finish line after about a minute, so expect this race to be reaching its conclusion pretty quickly.

This race was previously split in two with a division I race followed by the exact same race for division II.  That was changed in 2025 and it was merged back into one race.

Race 6 - British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (GBB Race) - 16:55

The long name of this race is helpful insomuch as it gives you pretty much all of the information that you need to know what's going on. It is a race for fillies and inexperienced ones at that, limited as it is to three-year-olds. It is run over a mile on the straight and when the Going is Good the race will last for about a minute and forty seconds.

The nature of the event, with its various restrictions in place, means that it is another one that doesn't always present you with the largest field, 7 ran last year, but that doesn't meant that it isn't exciting especially because of that.

Race 7 - Manny Mercer Apprentice Handicap - 17:30

A Class 3 that is for apprentice jockeys to get their own bit of experience one the Ascot Racecourse, the Apprentice Handicap is open to horses aged four and over that have an official rating of between 0 and 95. Run on the straight over one mile, the field is usually decent for this event that is often used to kick Trials Day off.

It will take the leaders somewhere between a minute and a half and owo minute and fifty seconds to get to the finish line when the Going is Good. As it is a handicap race, the official handicapper will assign weights for the horses to carry depending on their ability and their official rating.

This one always has a decent field, 11 ran last year, and is a good one for an each-way bet to end the days account.