The eagerly awaited Royal Ascot meeting is finally upon us! GG Editor Tom Aldridge guides you through his selections & analysis for all 7 races on the card, including one he’s keen on at a huge price in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Back his selections with SBK and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you stake just £10.
Odds correct at time of posting – 6.15pm 19th June
2.30pm – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
Frankie can get off to a flyer at his final Royal Ascot with INSPIRAL in the opener. She goes well fresh and put in a career best performance at the meeting last year, when bolting up in the Coronation Stakes. She receives 3lb from her male rivals here and she’s certainly got the class to win this, providing she doesn’t fluff the break like she did in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes when last seen. I think the Frankel filly is one of the best milers around currently and I’m confident she can get us and Frankie Dettori off to a winning start. The chief danger would be Modern Games, but considering Inspiral gave her a huge head start last time out and still managed to finish within three lengths of him suggests she should prove too good.
SELECTION – Inspiral
3.05pm – Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
This has to be one of the most talked about races for a long time on racing twitter! Are you on the time figure side of Asadna or the form book side of River Tiber? I’m firmly on the side of RIVER TIBER. I’m not sold on the form of Asadna’s Ripon debut victory (as impressive as it looked), and think A P O’Brien’s colt is a much more solid option. The step up in trip looks sure to suit and the way he powered clear towards the line last time out was so good to watch. He still ran green that day so you’d like to think he’ll come on for the run, and I think he’ll run out a convincing winner here.
SELECTION – River Tiber
3.40pm – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)
It’s worth noting there’s only been one winning favourite of this in the last 10 years, so as much as I rate Highfield Princess, I’m willing to take her on. I actually like one at a big price here, and that’s Karl Burke’s MARSHMAN. His 2YO campaign was impressive, finishing clear of Group winners Cold Case and Royal Scotsman in the Gimcrack, despite wandering in the final furlong, before a good fifth in the Middle Park Stakes at the end of the year. He’s reappeared with a win in a Group 3 in France, and a couple of solid enough runs since. Clifford Lee has been on board for all his races and is riding well of late (23% strike-rate in the past two weeks), so with plenty of bookies offering extra places here, I think Marshman is worth a chance at big odds.
SELECTION – Marshman
4.20pm – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
I might be jumping on the bandwagon a bit here but I think this opening day could be all about Frankie Dettori, as I’m backing him to win another Group 1 with CHALDEAN here. He never really looked in doubt when asked for his effort in the Guineas and won that cosily enough, and I think it could be a similar story here. I think his main rival Paddington was flattered by the front-running bias at the Curragh last time out and I’m confident Chaldean will have his measure. This is a race Frankie has a superb record in, winning three of the last seven renewals, and he has a fantastic chance of improving that record here.
SELECTION – Chaldean
5.00pm – Ascot Stakes (Class 2)
Iain Williams has a fantastic recent record in the race, winning two of the last four, and I’m siding with one of his here. Although it’s not Law Of The Sea I’m backing, it’s ZINC WHITE. There is a big question mark around whether he will be able to handle the ground if it goes off as Good (current going), but with a bit of rain forecast I think he could be difficult to beat. He powered clear in the Chester Plate last time out, finishing over two lengths clear of Novel Legend, and that is a good bit of form. He’s drawn wide here but if Jim Crowley can get him into a good position early on I think he’s a solid bet at a double figure price.
SELECTION – Zinc White
5.35pm – Wolferton Stakes (Class 1 Listed)
Now this is a race I’m actually opposing Frankie Dettori in, and siding with the other John & Thady Gosden runner in FRANCESCO CLEMENTE. His three runs at this trip have seen him win two and finish a neck second in the other, and that one came on the back of a 308 day break. With that run under his belt, I expect him to come on for the run and land this. The application of first time cheekpieces should help him and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a Gosden 1-2 in this, with Saga the biggest danger to the selection.
SELECTION – Francesco Clemente
6.10pm – Copper Horse Handicap (Class 2)
Followers of Daryl Carter and the Weekend Watch will know how keen he is on VAUBAN‘s chances here, and I’m inclined to agree with him. I think the Willie Mullins runner will be far too good for them, and can see him winning this comfortably. Although known for his hurdling exploits lately, he had some solid form on the flat in France before moving to the Mullins yard, winning a Listed contest on his last appearance for trainer Philippe Decouz. Considering he’s rated 160 over hurdles, he looks particularly well treated off a mark of 101 here! He’s being touted as a potential Melbourne Cup horse and holds an entry in the Irish St Ledger, so if he’s going to have any chance of reaching those levels he needs to be winning this, and I think he’ll do just that.
SELECTION – Vauban
Back his selections with SBK and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you stake just £10.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1 THROUGH-THE-CARD TIPS
2.30 – Inspiral (2/1 generally)
3.05 – River Tiber (15/8 generally)
3.40 – Marshman (33/1 generally)
4.20 – Chaldean (9/4 generally)
5.00 – Zinc White (12/1 generally)
5.35 – Francesco Clemente (11/2 generally)
6.10 – Vauban (6/4 generally)
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