Trawlerman was second to Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup last year, but with the 2024 winner now retired many are suggesting Godolphin’s leading stayer has a big chance in the 2025 renewal. However, if Trawlerman is to go one place better than 12 months ago – he’ll need to defy a 97% Ascot Gold Cup trend that dates back to 1930.
Since 1930 There’s Only Been THREE Ascot Gold Cup Winners Aged 7+
With two cancelled Gold Cups in 1940 (war) and 1964 (waterlogged track), since 1930 there’s been 93 runnings of the Thursday Royal Ascot feature race.
However, over this period the race has only seen THREE horse win age 7+ – meaning the well-fancied Trawlerman, who is aged 7, will have this hefty Ascot Gold Cup trend to overcome.
Which is why many other punters will be claiming the Aidan O’Brien-trained Illinois is one of the Royal Ascot bankers.
O’Brien will be looking for an incredible tenth win in this Ladies’ Day contest.
While, in addition to Trawlerman, there are two other older horses in the race.
Godolphin’s other runner Dubai Future is aged 9 and Coltrane, who was 5th last year, is aged 8.
Meaning, if this key Ascot Gold Cup 2025 stat is to carry on – then only Illinois (4), Candelari (4), Sweet William (6), Yashin (6) and Wonder Legend (5) can win.
WATCH: Trawlerman Running Second In The Ascot Gold Cup in 2024
Yeats and Drum Taps The Only 7+ Year-Old Ascot Gold Cup
In fact, since the 1930 running, only TWO horses aged 7+ have won the Ascot Gold Cup as the Yeats was responsible for two.
The four-time winner of the race landed the prize in 2008 aged 7 and a year later in 2009 aged 8.
While the only other veteran to fly the flag for the older generation in the race since 1930 was Drum Taps in 1993.
He won aged 7 too, and was guided home by a certain Frankie Dettori.
WATCH: Yeats Winning The 2009 Ascot Gold Cup Aged 8
Former Ascot Gold Cup Winner Stradivarius Failed To Win Aged 7 and 8
Of course, many will still fancy Trawlerman to defy this Ascot Gold Cup trend.
As some will say “Okay – but has there been any significant older horse to have run in the Ascot Gold Cup recently?”.
Step forward – Stradivarius.
This former John Gosden-trained stayer landed the Gold Cup three times between 2018 and 2020 but failed to match the four wins of Yeats in 2021 when aged 7.
He was only 4th in 2021 when sent off the big 5/6 favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
Then a year later in 2022, Stradivarius was back for more now aged 8 – but, again, was foiled as the three-time winner failed to win back his crown.
He was third to Kyprios at 2/1 – beaten 1 1/4 lengths.
Twelve 7+ Year-Olds Have Run In The Ascot Gold Since 2020 – And All Lost
We also thought we’d look back over the last five runnings of the Ascot Gold Cup and see how many 7+ year-olds ran.
In total, since 2000, there were 12 horses aged 7+ and they ALL lost. With the best finish, the already mentioned, Stradivarius coming third aged 8 in 2022.
- 2024 (2) – Coltrane, Enemy
- 2023 (3) – Nate The Great, Broome, Echoes In Rain
- 2022 (3) – Stradivarius, Princess Zoe, Earlofthecotswolds
- 2021 (2) – Stradivarius, Twilight Payment
- 2020 (2) – Withhold, Prince Of Arran
When Is The Ascot Gold Cup 2025? 🏆
📅Date: Thursday 19th June 2025
⌚Time: 4:20pm
🏇Racecourse: Ascot
💷Winner: £368,615
📺 TV: ITV/Sky
See the full ITV Racing schedule for Royal Ascot here.
Ascot Gold Cup Trends and Stats 📈
- 21/23 – No more than 2 runs that season
- 21/23 – Aged 6 or younger
- 20/23 – Between 1-2 previous runs that season
- 18/23 – Won over at least 2 miles on the flat before
- 18/23 – Favourites placed
- 18/23 – Won last time out
- 15/23 – Previous Group 1 winners
- 13/23 – Favourite
- 11/23 – Aged 4 years-old (9 of the last 13)
- 10/23 – Irish-trained winners
- 9/23 – Won by trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 5/23 – Raced Sandown last time out (Henry II Stakes)
- 4/23 – Ridden by Ryan Moore (4 of the last 12)
- 16 of the last 19 winners returned 7/1 or shorter
- 12 of the last 19 winners returned 7/2 or shorter
- 10 of the last 19 winners came from stalls 1-5 (inc) (6 of the last 8 winners came from stalls 7 or lower)
- Godolphin won the race in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004 & 2012
- Aidan O’Brien has trained the winner in 2024, 2022, 2016, 2014, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
- John Gosden trained the winner in 2018, 2019 and 2020
- Since 1949 there have been 16 multiple winners of the race
- Since 1930 only 3 winners aged 7+ (Yeats x 2, Drum Taps)
Ascot Gold Cup 2025 Runners 🏇
- Coltrane
- Dubai Future
- Sweet William
- Trawlerman
- Wonder Legend
- Yashin
- Candelari
- Illinois
Note: The final Ascot Gold Cup runners will be out on Tuesday 17th June
