Having claimed three of the four previous editions, the Irish boasted a strong hand once again in 2025. Dual Ebor winner Willie Mullins sent three to post in Hipop De Loire, Ethical Diamond, and Charlus. Of that trio, Hipop De Loire topped the market in the week leading up to the race. However, that all changed on the day, with a surge of money propelling Ethical Diamond into favouritism. Successful in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot, the mount of William Buick had an 8lb higher mark to contend with on the Knavesmire.
Aidan O’Brien sent a two-pronged attack into battle. Ryan Moore chose to ride Queenstown, but the market narrowly preferred the Justify colt London City. Henry De Bromhead’s Ascot Stakes winner Ascending and Siege Of Troy, from the yard of 2014 and 2021 winning trainer Johnny Murtagh, added to the Irish challenge.
John & Thady Gosden’s French Master started as the shortest-priced British contender. Not quite up to Group 1 standard in the Goodwood Cup, he dropped back into handicap company and looked dangerous despite carrying top weight. Others to note among the British runners included Majestic Warrior, who arrived on the back of an impressive win at Thirsk, and Adrian Paul Keatley’s three-time course winner Kihavah.
Result
- 1st – Ethical Diamond 5/1F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd – Ascending 12/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
- 3rd – Queenstown 25/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £300,000
- 2nd – £89,950
- 3rd – £47,500
- 4th – £25,000
- 5th – £14,300
- 6th – £7,500
- 7th – £4,750
- 8th – £2,850
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £6
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.90, 2nd – £3.30, 3rd – £5.70
- Exacta – £76.60
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £63.23
- Trifecta – £1,460.42
- Tricast – £2,698
Recap
Almosh’her and Clifford Lee broke best to grab the early lead against the rail, tracked through by Ryan Moore and Queenstown. Ascending and Majestic Warrior gained advantageous positions, while French Master raced alone well away from the main action. Enemy and Yashin immediately found themselves on the back foot, having missed the break.
Turning into the first bend, French Master tracked right across to take the lead from Queenstown and Almosh’her. Majestic Warrior and Ascending made up the next wave of two, with Hipop De Loire, Fleetfoot, and Onesmoothoperator also racing prominently. Ethical Diamond, Siege Of Troy, and the recovering Enemy were all in touch with the leaders at this stage.
Little change in the order throughout the back straight as French Master continued to make his bid from the front as the field turned for home. Into the straight, the runners moved across from the bend towards the stands’ side rail. French Master still led, but big threats emerged in the shape of Majestic Warrior and Ascending, with the latter travelling notably well.
4 furlongs out, French Master held the advantage but now looked like a sitting duck to a wave of horses spread across the track. Hipop De Loire switched into the clear to avoid the trouble in running that had plagued his 2024 effort. Further back, Ethical Diamond moved smoothly on the heels of the main group but would need a gap.
However, it was all change at the 2f pole as Ascending hit the front and looked to have the measure of Majestic Warrior, who tried to go with him. Hipop De Loire’s challenge began to fade down the middle, but the grey Real Dream picked up well on the far side. However, it was at this stage that Buick and Ethical Diamond seized their chance. As a gap opened against the rail, the market leader surged through to hit the front in a matter of strides. One length clear inside the final furlong, the five-year-old stayed on powerfully to score by 2½l. A gallant effort from Ascending in second, with Queenstown staying on best of the rest to grab third.
So we saw a 1-2-3 for Ireland as Willie Mullins claimed a third Ebor success. William Buick’s cool performance in the saddle was rewarded with a first victory in Europe’s most valuable staying handicap.
Runners
- 1. French Master – SP: 11/2, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Robert Havlin
- 2. Hipop De Loire – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Colin Keane
- 3. Yashin – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Michael Bell, Jockey: Archie Young
- 4. Queenstown – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
- 5. Kihavah – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Adrian Paul Keatley, Jockey: P J McDonald
- 6. Ethical Diamond – SP: 5/1F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: William Buick
- 7. London City – SP: 22/1, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Sean Levey
- 8. Onesmoothoperator – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Brian Ellison, Jockey: Ben Robinson
- 9. Subsequent – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Andrew Balding, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 10. Real Dream – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: Joe Leavy
- 11. Roaring Legend – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Hugo Palmer, Jockey: Hollie Doyle
- 12. Stressfree – SP: 28/1, Trainer: David O’Meara, Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
- 13. Shadow Dance – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Roger Varian, Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
- 14. Siege Of Troy – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Johnny Murtagh, Jockey: Patrick McGettigan
- 15. Enemy – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: Richard Kingscote
- 16. Oneforthegutter – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ian Williams, Jockey: Saffie Osborne
- 17. Ascending – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan
- 18. Almosh’her – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Karl Burke, Jockey: Clifford Lee
- 19. Majestic Warrior – SP: 9/1, Trainer: James Tate, Jockey: Rossa Ryan
- 20. Charlus – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- 21. Fleetfoot – SP: 10/1, Trainer: Jim Bolger, Jockey: Ross Coakley
- 22. Mr Percy – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien, Jockey: Tom Marquand
Non-Runners
All Ran