Royal Ascot is finally here, and five top class days of racing get underway with a real bang. Don’t forget you can get excusive price boosts at our Weekend Winners page which can be accessed here. Lets take a look at who I like for the first day of top-class action on what promises to be a dry week with the going set to be controlled with some limited watering.
2.30 Queen Ann Stakes
Inspiral going elsewhere has really opened this Queen Ann race that kicks the meeting off. I have looked over the main runners and riders, but feel that there could be one lurking at a silly price. Kevin Ryan won this with a huge price runner last year, and Hi Royal arrives here aiming to upset the odds once again. BetVictor offer four places and on his best form he has held the favourite in his three-year-old season. I don’t think the task at hand is easy and its a tentative pick, but at his best he will be involved at the finish. The effort at Newbury last time out can be taken with the context of the fact he was upset in the stalls, interestingly Ryan Moore sticks with Kevin Ryan’s horse to open the card with a real upset.
Each Way – Hi Royal
3.05 Coventry Stakes
Plenty to like in here and we wont really get an idea of the impact of the draw until after this race has been run. Historically the lower draw looks slightly more advantageous but that won’t put me off backing Cowardofthecountry. The likely going will be considerably different from his debut where he pulled clear with Whistlejack who then went on to win next time out. The breeding suggestion better ground will suit just as well and a few clock watcher types wont be as impressed with his debut time, considering the ground that day I am not concerned. Another I may have an each way dart on is Arran, he was ahead of a few who reoppose here, the Cole team are flying at around a 30% strike rate in the last two weeks. Historically the yard used to send smart types here and at around 18/1 offers an each way play.
To Win – Cowardofthecountry
Each Way – Arran
3.45 King Charles III Stakes
One aspect of racing I love is the fact that at these top meetings over either code it feels like previous winners can often repeat the effort 12 months on. Crimson Advocate delivered a great effort when winning the Queen Mary last year. The quicker the ground the better for this fillies’ chances who is now set for a period in training in the UK with John and Thady Gosden. She returned with a good win at Gulfstream Park getting the better of Reef Runner by 1 length who on his only previous start had beaten Valiant Force who some may recall won the Norfolk back in 2023. At around 16/1 I am keen to keep this speedy filly on side in a race that has some serious sprinters with the likes of Regional and Big Evs respected but at the prices its all about Crimson Advocate each way.
Each Way – Crimson Advocate
4.25 St James Palace Stakes
This meeting has felt perhaps a bit light on heavyweight clashes, but the St James Palace gives us the chance to see the 2000 Guineas get confirmed with the rematch between Notable Speech and Rosallion. Notable Speech for me will confirm that form with authority, the Newmarket classic win was just his first ever run on grass in his life having previously run just on the all weather at Kempton. He could still yet have more to offer, and I think the course will suit him. I have huge respect for Rosallion who went on to win the Irish Guineas but for me Notable Speech is the nap of day one and I think will give the boys in blue at least one big race winner this week.
Nap Of The Day – Notable Speech
5.05 Ascot Stakes
You wouldn’t be too unkind to suggest popping up a few hurdles would be a good idea once we get to the Ascot Stakes on day one. Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson and Charles Byrnes have all won recent renewals of this contest. Mullins has the market leader in My Lyka and warrants respect here, that said 9/2 looks short enough and I will look to a more proven quantity in Tritonic for Alan King. This horse who has mixed jumping with the Flat was a fair third in this race 12 months ago off five pounds higher.
Each Way – Tritonic
5.40 Wolferton Stakes
If we still haven’t hit the target this penultimate race doesn’t look an easy task to find the winner of. Rodger Varian arrives into Royal week in good form with his runners operating at around a 25% strike rate. This race he has lined up horses that have won two of the last four renewals, Botonical will be aiming to give him another win in this contest. William Buick is a great jockey booking. The horse has plenty of substance to his form last seen winning on his seasonal reappearance at York he was strong in the market that day and showed he can handle the quicker surface likely at Ascot this week. The back end of his two year old season saw a serious win over the subsequent Lincoln winner Mr Professor by six lengths.
To Win – Botonical
6.15 Copper Horse Handicap
We round off day one with an typically competitive Ascot handicap but I think Willie Mullins has the key to this race, Belloccio is an intriguing runner. Having had the first and second last year the booking of William Buick seems a positive to this horse who was last seen winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown. That was her first start over jumps having had a busy flat career to date. The one question mark could be the ground but his sire seemed to handle a variety of conditions so I would be hopeful he can do the same and make it back-to-back winners for Mullins in the Copper Horse.
To Win – Belloccio
