AIR India crash investigators believe an emergency power system kicked in – raising questions about whether the engines were working properly.

A raft of analysts now agree that a small turbine generator deployed as the Boeing 787 went down, after a “game-changer” video emerged.

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The plane’s vertical stabiliser lies detached at the smouldering crash site[/caption]

Days after the catastrophe which killed more than 270 people, a HD video surfaced showing a “protrusion on the belly of the aircraft” with a “little grey dot” beneath it.

Commentators say this was a system called Ram Access Turbine (RAT) poking out from the fuselage of the plane, which failed to climb more than 450ft.

Commercial airline pilot Steve Schreiber, known as Captain Steve, explained: “Many aeroplanes have it. It is just behind the wing on the right side of the aeroplane, there is a little door that holds it in.

“It looks like a little Evinrude motor, it’s a little two bladed prop.

“The purpose is to provide electrical and hydraulic pressure for the aircraft on an extreme emergency.”

Steve explained there are three things which could cause the RAT to deploy on a 787: “A massive electrical failure, a massive hydraulic failure, or a dual engine failure.

“But I think the fact the aeroplane is mushing out the sky gives the idea it was a dual engine failure,” he said.

Other analysts agree that the RAT system deployed, and that the most likely cause was duel-engine failure.

Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aerospace safety consultant, told the Wall Street Journal that the most common reason the propeller comes out is because the pilot thinks both engines have failed.

However, he reiterated this is highly unusual, telling the paper: “In commercial aviation, a dual engine failure is extremely rare.

“Our engines today are more efficient and reliable than ever.”

While there is growing consensus over the RAT deployment, investigators haven’t confirmed whether engine, hydraulic or other problems triggered the emergency system.

And it may be some time before we get an official diagnosis.

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said the accident remains under investigation and that more information would be provided in due course.

Air-accident investigations can take more than a year – and even then will often point to a number of contributing factors.

Meanwhile, both of the black boxes have now been recovered.

One records flight data, such as altitude and speed, whilst the other monitors the cockpit sound.

The first was recovered from a rooftop near where the plane came down just 28 hours after the crash.

And the second is expected to reveal the pilots’ panic as the plane went down.

We already know that the pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, made a desperate mayday call to air traffic control in the moments before the disaster.

X/@Turbinetraveler

AP

Rescuers work amid apocalyptic scenes at the Ahmedabad crash site[/caption]

He cried out: “‘Thrust not achieved […] falling […] Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”

The two pilots then wrestled for 17 seconds with the controls as the jet sank through the air before careening into the buildings below.

Sabharwal had 22 years of experience and had racked up 8,200 in the air.

The plane gained just a few hundred feet of altitude when the power apparently cut out, killing more Brits than any air disaster since 9/11.

Despite more than 270 people dying in the catastrophe, the pilot has been credited with saving “dozens of lives”.

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The tail of the plane was left wedged in a building where it came down[/caption]

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Vishwash Kumar Ramesh – sitting in 11A – was the sole survivor of the jet crash[/caption]

Sabharwal diverted the jet at the last second to avoid slamming into a three-storey apartment building, according to locals on the ground.

All 18 families in the three-storey building under the flight path are convinced they owe their lives to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.

He managed to divert the plane towards a patch of grassland.

The locals raced from their homes in Ahmedabad when a fireball from 90 tons of aviation fuel ignited as the plane slammed into the ground.

The aircraft obliterated the top two floors of a disused four-storey military building.

But the fire tore through the college’s hostel, killing dozens of students and staff who were having lunch in the canteen.

BRITS are set to pack out beaches across the country today with temperatures set to soar to glorious highs of 29C.

Met Office officials expect the balmy weather to continue over the weekend, with heatwave conditions “likely”.

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Scorching hot summer sunshine on the golden sands in Bournemouth yesterday[/caption]

Met Office

Brits brace for sizzling highs of 29C today ahead of an official heatwave[/caption]

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People relax in the sun on the first day of the Royal Ascot 2025[/caption]

On Tuesday, sun-seekers were seen lapping up the rays on Bournemouth beach, while revellers lounged on the grass at Royal Ascot.

Similar scenes are expected across the country today, with bikini-ready Brits set to soak in highs of 29C in London and 25C in Wales.

Forecasters predict that those living in the East of England will likely see the highest temps.

The mercury in many parts of the UK will range between 25C and 30C later this week, but the capital could see temperatures reach as high as 33C.

Meanwhile, the Met Office has said heatwave conditions are “likely” this weekend.

A heatwave in the UK is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days, with temperature values meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature thresholds.

Across the north and west of the UK this is 25C, and across Greater London and the Home Counties, 28C.

The UK’s June temperature record stands at 35.6C, which was set in Southampton in 1976.

Current forecasts suggest the record is unlikely to be broken this time – but it will come close.

England and Wales will see temps in the low 30s and those in Scotland and Northern Ireland will see mid or high 20s.

Shutterstock Editorial

A man walking with a dog in the bright morning sunshine on Wimbledon Common[/caption]

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People sit on deckchairs during warm weather and sunshine at Victoria Embankment Gardens in London, on June 16[/caption]

It will get hotter as the week goes on, with the scorching temperatures peaking on Sunday.

A yellow heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for seven regions of the country.

The following areas will be under the alert between midday on Thursday and 6pm on Sunday: Yorkshire and The Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East England, the South East, the South West and London.

A yellow alert is the lowest, behind amber and red, on the UKHSA’s system, but warns of a possible rise in deaths among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

The UKHSA added an increase in demand for health services by vulnerable people is also likely.

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: “Our findings shows that even moderate heat can result in serious health outcomes, especially for older adults, and it is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.”

He added that for people with vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours, it’s important to check in on them and ensure they’re aware of the forecasts – and are following he necessary advice.

Almost all the affected areas have been given a risk score of 10 out of a possible 16, which indicates “significant impacts are possible” due to the high temperatures.

The main risks posed by a very hot weather are dehydration (not drinking enough water) and overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart of breathing.

The London Fire Brigade has also warned that the scorching weather will increase the risk of wildfires.

A little rain has been forecast throughout the period, and there may be some isolated thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday.

High temperatures are expected to fizzle out into next week, but Southern parts of the UK may remain very warm.

Shutterstock Editorial

People relaxing in the warm sunshine in Green Park as temperatures rise[/caption]

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Office workers enjoy the warm sunshine in St James’s Park in London[/caption]

A MAJOR car company has unveiled details of its new third generation electric vehicle set to go on sale this year.

The car giant is launching the new model as the first under it’s EV36Zero blue print of electric vehicle production.

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The new Nissan Leaf offers design features commonly seen in all electric-vehicles[/caption]

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The new Leaf is a totally redesigned all-electric crossover SUV[/caption]

The new EV model from Nissan is expected to provide a range of up to 375 miles on a single charge.

 It will have dual 14.3-inch displays, flush door handles for better aerodynamics, and liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries.

The batteries will be powered from Britain’s newest gigafactory, AESC, situated next to the Nissan plant in Sunderland.

This is where the vehicle’s hub for production will be as the company’s UK factory with a team of 6,000 people.

It comes after the new EV was engineered at their research and development centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire.

Senior Vice President of manufacturing and supply chain management at Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Alan Johnson, said: “It’s with immense pride that we unveil the third-generation of our pioneering electric Leaf, 12 years after we brought EV and battery manufacturing the UK.

“It’s a testament to the skill of our world-class team that we can bring into mass production a vehicle with such advanced technology and aerodynamic design.”

Managing director of Nissan GB, James Taylor, said: “Leaf is a pioneering electric vehicle that has encouraged thousands to make the switch to electric motoring – and best of all, it’s built here in Britain.”

This new Leaf model is reported to be engineered and fine-tuned for the needs of European customers.

Nissan’s EV36Zero project hopes to bring three electrical vehicles at three gigafactories in their move towards becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

It includes a new fully electric Nissan Micra that was designed in London, which will go on sale later this year.

A smaller city car from will also be launched in 2026.

However, over the last year Nissan has reported significant losses and announced plans to close down production plants and cut thousands of jobs.

They confirmed last month that it will close almost half of its factories in the next two years.

On top of that, it’s workforce is expected to be reduced by a total of 20,000 employees between 2024 and 2027.

These changes will result in Nissan having only ten factories worldwide from 17.

Nissan UK

Nissan and other Japanese rivals have been slow to develop electric models of their vehicles[/caption]

FRASIER star Kelsey Grammer has revealed he’ll be a dad for the EIGHTH time, with his wife Kayte showing off a massive baby bump.

Actor Kelsey, 70, is set to welcome his fourth child with Kayte, 46, who was seen cradling her bump in a draped dress during a family outing in London on Tuesday.

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Kelsey Grammer has revealed he’ll be a dad for the EIGHTH time[/caption]

In images obtained by the Daily Mail, he’s seen in high spirits as his film producer wife exhibited her growing stomach in a brown cardigan and black maxi skirt.

Although the couple have not made a formal announcement, a source confirmed the news and said the unexpected pregnancy has brought a new “spark” to their relationship.

They told the publication: “Kelsey is thrilled to finally have time to fully enjoy being a father all over again.

“He’s been incredibly supportive of Kayte throughout this pregnancy, which, though unexpected, has reignited a spark in their marriage that they both needed.

“This will be their fourth child together, and with Kelsey’s other three children from his past marriages, their new bundle of joy will have so much love.

“After giving Frasier one last go, he has hung his hat up on that character and is ready for the next phase of his life. He is looking forward to embracing the hands-on parenting he missed in the past.”

He and Kayte, who tied the knot in 2011, already share daughter Faith, 12, and sons Kelsey Gabriel, 10, and Auden “James” Ellis, eight.

The actor has four other children from previous relationships – Spencer, 41, with first wife Doreen Alderman, Greer, 33, with ex-girlfriend Barrie Buckner and Mason, 23, and Jude, 20, with RHOBH ex-wife Camille Grammer.

Kelsey, famed for playing Frasier Crane in the NBC hit, was 61 when his youngest son was born.

In May, the sitcom star told People that he regrets being too absorbed by work during his early years of fatherhood.

He said: “I have neglected a couple of the kids in my life, especially the first two. I’m trying to make up for a little of it now. I’m still their dad, so you can always have [a] chance to show up.”

Kelsey reflected on how his parenting style has evolved, and how he hopes his younger children will benefit from the lessons he’s learned.

He said: “I probably should have been a little more clear and maybe less tolerant with the older ones.

“I’m pretty tolerant with the young ones, but I’m clear about how there’s certain expectations and certain ways to navigate through a social situation: keep it close to the vest and play it straight, and you’re going to be well-served in your life.

“I’m a little more specific with them about doing their studies and being prepared. [I tell them], ‘What’s your job in life? Showing up.’”

Kelsey has also shared his thoughts on his children’s future ambitions, admitting he’s proud that several of them are following in his footsteps – even if he’s kept quiet about it.

Speaking to Variety, he said: “Kayte and I were talking about how it’s really something that a child would follow in their father’s footsteps.

“To think that all my kids, at least the ones that have a hand in the air, are ready to take responsibility for their lives, are all drawn to this industry. And she said, ‘That’s something to be proud of.’”

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Actor Kelsey is set to welcome his fourth child with wife Kayte[/caption]

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He shares children Jude and Mason with his RHOBH ex-wife Camille Grammer[/caption]

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In May, the sitcom star said he regrets being too absorbed by work during his early years of fatherhood[/caption]

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Kelsey played Frasier Crane in the namesake NBC hit[/caption]

DAMIEN DUFF is relishing Shelbourne’s Champions League derby with Linfield.

But St Pat’s will take a step into the unknown when they face Lithuanian outfit FC Hegelmann in the Conference League.

Shels drew the shortest possible trip when the League of Ireland champions were partnered with their NIFL counterparts.

On the Reds’ last appearance in the Champions League 20 years ago, they defeated Linfield’s Big Two rivals Glentoran 6-2 on aggregate.

David Healy will hope his Blues will put up a better show and Duff said: “It’s a brilliant day for everyone at the football club, especially for those who have been through the dark times. 

“Players and staff watched the draw together and there is already a great buzz at the prospect of an All-Ireland derby.”

St Pat’s tie may not be quite as appealing with Jamie Lennon admitting he is unfamiliar with their Baltic opponents but says that will not be the case in three weeks’ time.

Lennon said: “We obviously don’t know too much about them, but come closer to the time, we’ll do our work on them.” 

Shamrock Rovers enter the Conference League at the second round stage – the draw for which is today – as a result of Drogheda United being excluded.

The FAI insisted it flagged with Drogheda’s owners the Trivela Group that there could be a problem when it took an 80 percent stake in Danish club Silkeborg.

That was after Uefa had flagged the bringing forward of a deadline for action to be taken when two clubs with the same owner could potentially qualify for the same competition, as happened in this instance.

WE may be halfway through our summer — but in Mayo it’s already winter.

The weather may have been hit or miss so far but for the 12 teams left in the All-Ireland SFC, the mercury is rising.

Another disappointing Championship, brings Moore ‘what ifs’ after Ciarán Moore’s score for Donegal after the hooter sent them crashing out of the Championship.

And the off-season in Mayo never passes without some sort of circus.

The debrief after their fruitless 2023 and 2024 campaigns saw in-depth reviews go on for months, much to the frustration of their demanding supporters.

The nature of Sunday’s loss at Dr Hyde Park last Sunday — when Fergal Boland equalised for the Connacht men with 20 seconds remaining before his side lost the resulting kickout and Moore pounced —  was one contributory factor.

But the Cavan defeat in the opening round left them with a mountain to climb from the off.

That three-point loss at MacHale Park was one of their worst performances in recent times and it will take a while to wipe the slate clean.

Galway romped to a fourth provincial title at the expense of their great rivals too, again in Mayo’s own back yard.

That was always going to be a tough pill to swallow but surely a loss like that can fire you up?

However, the worst part of this sorry tale is that Mayo appeared to down tools against Cavan.

Kevin McStay suffered a health scare after that game and was forced to stand aside as boss.

It means the county are heading into months of uncertainty. It remains to be seen if McStay will remain on for a fourth campaign after coach and former boss Stephen Rochford temporarily took the reins last month.

Rochford led them to the 2016 and 2017 All-Ireland finals where they agonisingly fell short against Dublin.

Still, the Crossmolina clubman got a tune from them this term as they stunned Tyrone in the second round before Sunday’s one-point loss to Donegal saw them finish bottom of Group 1.

He may be sick of the torment that comes with the job and there are questions over some stars’ futures. 

Will Aidan O’Shea go again? He turns 35 at the end of the month and has soldiered with his county through thick and thin since 2009.

Diarmuid O’Connor’s shoulder injury following a bruising tackle from Galway’s Cillian Ó Curraoin in an NFL clash in February was a major spanner in the works and as a result, the Ballintubber ace never got a clean run.

And what about his brother Cillian? The Championship’s all-time leading scorer took a year out from inter-county football in 2025.

Mayo missed him too, relying far too much on Ryan O’Donoghue for scores. 

Paddy Durcan was on the back foot all year as well after tearing his ACL last summer.

He returned to his brilliant best against the Red Hands but the panel no longer has  the depth to cope with losing a player of his calibre.

January seems like a million miles away, but amid another sunny spell across the country, the dark clouds are again on the horizon in Mayo.

A CHUFFED shopper who couldn’t resist boasting about the £9.99 Home Bargains buy she got for 50p has been warned her delight may be short-lived.

Kellie was in the store at the Bentley Bridge retail park in Wolverhampton when she came across some cute little box bushes, which had been slashed to just 50p each.

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Chuffed shopper Kellie took to Facebook to share her most recent bargain find[/caption]

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She came across these box bushes reduced to just 50p each, so nabbed four[/caption]

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But people were quick to warn her that they could die ‘in weeks’ if attacked by caterpillars[/caption]

Thrilled, she picked up four, and took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to share her epic find.

“My little bargain small bushes reduced to 50p each from £9.99,” she wrote alongside pictures of the plants.

“A few left in the store by the tills.”

She added that she’d trimmed the bushes and planted them, so “hopefully they will grow”.

However, the comments section was quickly inundated with other green-fingered shoppers issuing Kellie a warning about the little bushes.

“Caterpillars! We had to rip out all of ours this year from the garden as the little b**gers got to ours!” one wrote.

“Bushes that had been growing for more than 10 years gone in weeks as they destroyed them.

“They are unfortunately ruining all of these bushes – just be aware!!”

“Mine too, hundreds of the bleddy things at the all they could eat buffet!” another agreed.

“20 plus years and all gone in couple of weeks!”

“I bought two from Home Bargains last year,” a third wrote.

“Within 2 weeks they were dead along with so many others I had.

“Check for caterpillars!”

“I had well established bushes like these,” someone else sighed.

“All got eaten within weeks by a caterpillar. Tried to grow back, got eaten again.

“You’ll need to treat these regularly.”

“Check for caterpillars!” another warned.

“I’ve got box bushes in my garden and this year the moth caterpillars have ravaged them!” someone else said.

“They go brown and have what looks like cobwebs on.

“I picked them off by hand and sprayed the bush with washing up liquid/water.”

“I have them all around my front garden but all huge now,” Kellie replied.

“Been in 10 years – more like hedges now lol – but never heard of that.

“I will be keeping the new ones in pots, thank you!”

SON HEUNG-MIN is reportedly at the centre of a three-way transfer race — but a clause in his Tottenham contract means a deal can’t be done for WEEKS.

Son, 32, has just completed his tenth season in north London and is out of contract next summer.

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Son Heung-Min is wanted by three clubs – but Spurs can’t sell him for some time[/caption]

Spurs’ captain struck 11 goals this term, his lowest output since his debut campaign.

And talkSPORT claim Son is now in the crosshairs of three teams from Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah are all big fans of the South Korean.

They are each willing to splash out £34million to bring Son to the Middle East.

And Tottenham chief Daniel Levy is open to doing business as he raises funds for new gaffer Thomas Frank.

Son himself also sees the merit in leaving on a high after leading Tottenham to Europa League glory.

Former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is also keeping an eye on Son to strengthen his Fenerbahce side in Turkey.

And offers could soon start to flood in.

BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS

However, Tottenham are unwilling to sell Son for some time.

That’s because they are obliged to play him when they visit his homeland of South Korea for a pre-season friendly in early August.

Spurs take on rivals Newcastle in capital city Seoul on August 3 and are commercially contracted to play Son.

It would impact them financially if the veteran did not feature in front of his adoring fans.

And so any bids for Son are unlikely to be accepted until Tottenham are back in England later this summer.

Should he go, Spurs could replace Son with Bryan Mbeumo.

The forward was a key player under Frank at Brentford but currently favours a move to Manchester United.

Manor Solomon is also likely to stay in the first team after his Leeds loan.

But he is currently stranded in Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

AN EASTENDERS star has revealed she has got engaged.

Actress Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, 31, shared her happy news as she flashed her huge diamond ring after a romantic proposal in Ibiza.

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Actress Gurlaine Kaur Garcha has revealed she is getting married[/caption]

Instagram

The star shared her happy news on Instagram with this picture[/caption]

BBC

The star is best known for playing Ash on EastEnders[/caption]

The soap star – who played Ash Panesar on EastEnders for three years – is thrilled to be getting married.

Gurlaine revealed her happy news with a sweet post on Instagram.

On there she shared a snap of herself on holiday sipping a cocktail.

But one thing that really stood out in the picture, was the huge diamond engagement ring on her left hand.

Confirming the news that her partner had popped the question, she simply wrote: “v happy & v engaged!!!!!!”

Although she has kept the identity of her partner private, she revealed they had proposed in Ibiza.

Gurlaine’s EastEnders co-stars rushed to congratulate her.

Louisa Lytton who plays Ruby wrote: “CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!”

While her EastEnders mum Balvinder Sopal posted: “Oh my days!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS BABY”

Gurlaine’s onscreen brother Shiv Jalota said: “Ahhhhhhhh CONGRATS XX”

BECOMING AN EASTENDERS STAR

Gurlaine joined EastEnders in 2019 and was an immediate hit.

Bosses introduced the wider Panesar family around her with brothers Kheerat, Vinny and Jags arriving shortly before their mother Suki.

Over the years most of the Pansars have left the Square, with Gurlaine’s character Ash departing in 2023.

It was announced in January that year that the actress would be leaving the BBC One soap.

Soap bosses said: “We can confirm that Gurlaine will be leaving EastEnders, and we wish her all of the best for the future.”

Gurlaine then shared her own statement, and said she was “excited for what’s to come”.

At the time sources claimed she was heading for Hollywood.

An insider told us: “She’s hoping to join the long list of former soap stars to crack America.”

THE GREATEST show of the summer is just hours away, and the week where Royalty meets racing, Royal Ascot brings you the most unique horse racing festival of the year.

Run over five days, with eight Group 1s, Royal Ascot is one of, if not the best, week in horse racing, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Just like the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot attracts the best trainers and horses from the Emerald Isle. Over the five days of Royal Ascot, we will bear witness to the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien, Ger Lyons, and Champion UK and Ireland National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins, and more take on the best of what Britain has to offer.

These are the names that have struck fear into UK horse racing for many years, and this year, they send some of the most exciting horses in training to take on the British battalion. 

With that in mind, we have picked out the best betting tips and the most exciting Irish runners for you to follow at Royal Ascot 2025. Whether you’re interested in win, place, or accumulators, we’ve got you covered.

Quick Royal Ascot tips for Tuesday June 16

• Tue 16:20 – St James’s Palace Stakes FIELD OF GOLD at 8/11 with bet365
• Tue 17:00 – Ascot Stakes REACHING HIGH at 19/5 with BetVictor
• Tue 18:10 – Copper House Stakes CABALLO DE MAR 13/2 talkSPORT BET

Royal Ascot tips: Best bets of the week

Day	Race	Horse	Odds	Trainer	Notes
Tue	St James’s Palace Stakes	FIELD OF GOLD	8/11	J & T Gosden	Dominant Irish 1000 Guineas winner. Can gain revenge on Ruling Court.
Tue	Ascot Stakes	REACHING HIGH	19/5	W P Mullins	Looks open to significant improvement. The one to beat.
Tue	Copper House Stakes	CABALLO DE MAR	13/2	G Scott	Won 6 of his last 7. On the rapid improve. Big player
Wed	Duke Of Cambridge	FALLEN ANGEL	3/1	K R Burke	Group 1 winner dropping in class. Set for a big run.
Thu	Gold Cup	TRAWLERMAN	7/2	John & Thady Gosden	Third in this last season to Kyprios. Made a winning return at Sandown. Hard to ignore.
Thu	Buckingham Palace Stakes	OLIVER SHOW	12/1	G Boughey	A model of consistency. Headed on the line in the Lincoln. Can have a say.
Fri	Common- wealth Cup	SHADOW OF LIGHT	7/4	Charlie Appleby	Third in the 2000 Guines. Will be hard to beat back at 6f.
Fri	Coronation Stakes	EXACTLY	6/1	A O’Brien	Not far behind Zarigana at Longchamp when hampered in the closing stages. Live chance.
Sat	Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee	INISHERIN	9/2	Kevin Ryan	Won the Commonwealth Cup last season. Perfect winning prep. Big player.

Irish-trained horses
Odds subject to change.

Royal Ascot key race previews 

Tuesday

2:30 Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes: 1m (4yo+) (Str) – Rosallion 5/2

Royal Ascot starts with a bang as 11 head to post for the Queen Anne Stakes. Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion, and Notable Speech, who finish first, second, third, and fourth in that order in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, will lock horns again.

Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, and Notable Speech had race fitness on their side, and now that ROSALLION has that comeback run under his belt, he can gain his revenge. He won the St James’s Palace at last year’s festival, and if this four-year-old comes forward as expected, he will prove hard to beat at a course where he has yet to taste defeat. At bigger odds, Sardinian Warrior looks set for a big run.

Bet on Rosallion to win the Queen Anne Stakes at 5/2 with Spreadex

3:40 Group 1 King Charles III Stakes: 5f (3yo+) – Mgheera 15/2

Last season’s winner, Asfoora, is back from Australia to defend her crown. She has demonstrated her effectiveness on this track, giving her standout claims of winning back-to-back King Charles III Stakes. Believing was unlucky not to win a Group 1 last season, but she started this season with a Group 1 win in Meydan, and she is another with clear claims.

However, it can pay to side with the mare MGHEERA. She is unbeaten since arriving in the UK, and on the back of a Group 2 win where she showed her staying power over this trip, the stiff Ascot 5f looks right up her street. She will be finishing with a rattle when many are crying enough. Even though she has 20 races under her belt, she looks to be hitting peak form for her new connections.

Bet on Mgheera to win the King Charles III Stakes at 15/2 with talkSPORT BET

4:20 Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes: 1m (3yo) (Rnd) – Field Of Gold 8/11

The St James’s Palace is one of the most anticipated races at Royal Ascot 2025 as the UK, Irish, and French 2000 Guineas winners come head-to-head. Henri Matisse was a game-winner in the French 2000 Guineas, but there is a suspicion that he will need to pull out even more to get the better of the top two in the betting.

Ruling Court got the better of FIELD OF GOLD in the 2000 Guineas after the Juddmonte-owned runner was given a poor ride by Kieren Shoemark, failing to reel in the Godolphin runner. But today, Field Of Gold can gain a deserved revenge.

The son of Kingman made no mistake in the Irish 2000 Guineas under the newly appointed Juddmonte retained jockey, Colin Keane. This strapping grey can dominate his opposition here and replicate his sire by winning the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Bet on FIELD OF GOLD to win the St James’s Palace Stakes at 8/11 with bet365

Thursday

4:20 Group 1 Gold Cup: 2m4f – Trawlerman 7/2

The early retirement of Kyprios has blown the Gold Cup wide open. The omission of one of the greatest stayers of all time would have left any normal trainer searching far and wide for a replacement, but not Aidan O’Brien. The Ballydoyle maestro has an able replacement in the St Leger runner-up, Illinois. He has big hoofs to fill, but this young star has bags of potential; even so, he has to be taken on at his current odds.

The lightly raced French raider, Candelari, comes here on the back of clear-cut Group 1 win at Longchamp. He looks as if he will have no issue seeing out this extreme trip, but it can pay to stick with the tried and tested in last season’s third-place finisher TRAWLERMAN.

The Godolphin-owned runner overraced in last season’s renewal, but as it seemed he was going to drop out tamely, Trawlerman rallied to take third. He made a perfect start to the season with a facile win in a Sandown Group 3, setting him up perfectly for another crack at this Group 1 prize. Now that he doesn’t have to deal with Kyprios, this can be Trawlerman’s time to shine.

Friday

3:05 Group 1 Commonwealth Cup: 6f (3yo) – Shadow Of Light 7/4

Colin Keane could have a dream day in the saddle should he get his old boss, Ger Lyons’s Babouche, over the line in the first place here. But the more we delve into the Commonwealth Cup, this looks there for the taking for SHADOW OF LIGHT. A top-class operator as a two-year-old, winning two Group 1s over 6f and 7f, Shadow Of Light seemed to be stretched in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket over 1m but still finished a close third behind two top-class colts.

He drops back to 6f here, which won’t be an issue for the son of Lope De Vega. He has every right to come forward fitness-wise for his run a Newmarket, and this prominent racer should prove hard to beat here. Should Shadow Of Light underperform, Big Mojo may be the one to capitalize. He made a winning return to the tack over this course and distance and was unlucky not to back that up on his next start. At his current odds, he looks a good each-way alternative. 

2:20 Group 1 Coronation Stakes: 1m (3yo) (Rnd) – Bedtime Story 20/1

The French 1000 Guineas winner, Zarigana, will be hard to beat if she is at her best, but even so, her form is not beyond reach. The supplemented Falakeyah is a fascinating runner on the back of an impressive Listed win on just her second career start.

EXACTLY was just over one length behind Zarigana in the French 1000 Guineas, and considering that the Aidan O’Brien filly was hampered in the closing stages and eased off inside the final 100 yards, she doesn’t have much to find with Zarigana.

The form of that race has already taken a boost, with the sixth Bedtime Story going on to take the runner-up spot in the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday. This daughter of Frankel is the type to improve with racing, and it’s hard to see her not being in the shake-up.

Saturday

3:40 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes: 6f (4yo+) – Inisherin 5/1

The final Group 1 of Royal Ascot 2025 comes over 6f with a host of runners with realistic chances of winning. Storm Boy was the talk of the town when arriving at Ballydoyle from Australia, but he started his career in Ireland with a whimper. He was sent off the well-supported 6/4 favourite for his Irish debut, but he was beaten by the two-furlong pole, eventually finishing last of the six runners.

However, he is trained by Aidan O’Brien, so expect to see this son of Justify take a big step forward here. Even if he does show considerable improvement, he and the rest of the field may find it hard to head the game INISHERIN. The Kevin Ryan-trained inmate was an easy winner of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot 2024, and he made a winning return to the track when showing bravery to hold off the fast-finishing Flora Of Bermuda.

This big strong son of Shamardal looked as if he would come on plenty for his comeback run, and given how he won with so much ease over course and distance last season, Inisherin can make it back-to-back Royal Ascot wins. Elite Status looks to have been missed in the betting and can run well at big odds.

Irish runners to watch at Royal Ascot in 2025

• HENRI MATISSE (St James’s Palace – Aidan O’Brien) French 2000 Guineas. winner.
• REACHING HIGH (Ascot Stakes – Willie Mullins) Major improvement to come. Royal runner.
• ONE LOOK (Duke Of Cambridge – PaddyT womey) Career best on her latest run. Big chance.
• LOS ANGELES (Prince Of Wales Stakes – Aidan O’Brien) Unbeaten this season. Battle hardened.
• CHARLES DARWIN (Norfolk Stakes – Aidan O’Brien) – Odds on in three starts. An exciting sprinter in the making. 
• ILLINIOS (Gold Cup – Aidan O’Brien) – Super sub for Kyprios. New trip is an unknown but has huge potential.
• BABOUCHE (Commonwealth Cup – Ger Lyons) – Back to winning ways as of late. Big player here.
• EXACTLY (Coronation Stakes – Aidan O’Brien) – 4^th in French 2000 Guineas. Can get closer to the winner here.
• STORM BOY (Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes – Aidan O’Brien) – Talented sprinter who is likely to leave a poor Irish debut well behind.

Where to watch the 2025 Royal Ascot in Ireland 

The week of Royal Ascot is a week in racing that cannot be missed by any racing fan. From Donegal to Waterford, you will not miss a minute of Royal Ascot. The first race on each day of Royal Ascot goes to post at 2:30, and here is how you can watch the greatest summer festival.

• TV: ITV, Virgin Media.
• Online: Online betting sites (check with your chosen betting site), Virgin Media Player.

Responsible gambling

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Problem gambling – problemgambling.ie
• Gamble Aware – gambleaware.org

Help with gambling addiction

If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland.