The Platinum Jubilee Stakes promises to be a blockbuster contest on Saturday afternoon, with twenty-seven runners looking to triumph and land the prestigious Group 1 prize. With so many runners to consider in a wide-open renewal, our expert editor has provided a runner-by-runner guide and gives their verdict on who will likely come out on top, alongside BetUK‘s exclusive Royal Ascot offer, where new customers can claim £50 In Free Bets when placing a £10 bet.
A Case Of You (A McGuinness, R P Whelan) 18/1
Won the 2021 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp and returned this season with another Group 1 victory when defeating Happy Romance over in Meydan. Disappointing when beaten under a penalty at the Curragh in Group 2 company since and was below his best on his previous visit to Ascot (beaten over thirteen lengths in the Commonwealth Cup)
Artorious (A & S Freedman, J Spencer) 10/1
Australian raider who was last successful in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caufield last February. Not beaten far behind Home affairs when the pair last clashed at Flemington this season but would have to improve plenty to turn the tables on Chris Waller’s runner.
Creative Force (C Appleby, W Buick) 10/1
Will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing effort in Meydan when last seen. Had previously shown some useful form in this country, winning her opening four starts last season including over course and distance in the Jersey Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot meeting. Also successful in the Champions Sprint Stakes that season and a return to form wouldn’t come as a shock given his impressive course record.
Diligent Harry ( C Cox, A Kirby) 40/1
Developed into a smart sprinter last season, winning three of her opening four starts on the all-weather. Neck second to Happy Romance in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last July but is upped markedly in Grade here and is yet to get off the mark on turf.
BACK CREATIVE FORCE AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Dragon Symbol (R Varian, David Egan) 40/1
Was certainly kept busy during last season for former trainer Archie Watson, running eleven times and winning on four occasions. Several placed efforts at the highest level indicate that he is a talented sprinter on his day (first past the post in the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot), however, new yard are yet to find the key with him and has been disappointing in his opening two starts for Roger Varian.
Emaraaty Ana ( K A Ryan, Andrea Atzeni) 40/1
Triumphed in the Haydock Sprint Cup last season but has yet to scale those heights in his two starts this season. Beaten an aggregate of 29 lengths in his runs at Meydan this term and needs to find a spark of improvement from somewhere.
Garrus (C Hills, R L Moore) 50/1
Impressively landed a Group 3 at Deauville last season but has failed to get his head in front in five subsequent starts. Narrowly denied by Double Or Bubble at Newmarket on his penultimate start before proving no match for Minzaal and Highfield Princess at York’s Dante meeting last month. Difficult to fancy on recent evidence.
Glen Shiel (Archie Watson, Hollie Doyle) 50/1
Boasts strong course figures of 4-0-1-2-5-2 but hasn’t won a race since landing the Champions Sprint Stakes over course and distance back in 2020. Has struggled on quick ground in the past and was well held when last seen at the Curragh in Group 2 company.
Great Ambassador (Ed Walker, R Kingscote) 28/1
Developed into a progressive sprinter last season for connections, winning on three occasions including in Listed company at York. Second to Bielsa in the Ayr Gold Cup when last seen and although he goes well fresh (form figures of 1-7-2-1-3) he takes a giant step up in class and is best watched on this occasion.
BACK GLEN SHIEL AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Grenadier Guards (Mitsumasa Nakauchida, C Demuro) 28/1
Useful Group 1 performer over in Japan but most of his form has come over significantly further. Struggled to land a blow on his latest start over this trip and would be a surprise winner.
Gustavus Weston ( J G Murphy, G F Carroll) 100/1
Landed Group 2 and Group 3 events at the Curragh last season but has failed to trouble the judge in any of his three starts this season. Only two starts at Group 1 level have seen him readily defeated and is set to struggle once more.
Happy Power (A Balding, P J McDonald) 66/1
Was fourth in last year’s renewal but is certainly not one for maximum faith given that he has won just one of his last eleven starts for connections. Didn’t show anything at Haydock in Group 3 company recently and difficult to see him playing a part in the finish.
Home Affairs (Chris Waller, James McDonald) 15/8
Top-class sprinter over in Australia, landed a second Group 1 when narrowly prevailing ahead of stablemate and recent King’s Stand winner Nature Strip at Flemington earlier this year. Trainer has been bullish about his chances in this and would seal a remarkable week for Chris Waller if successful.
King’s Lynn (A Balding, David Probert) 40/1
Landed the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last month ahead of Twilight Callas, but failed to confirm that form when finishing well behind Henry Candy’s runner in Tuesday’s King’s Stand. Has backed up quickly at this meeting in the past (third in last year’s Wokingham after running in the 2021 King’s Stand) but could be up against it.
BACK HOME AFFAIRS AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Kinross (R M Beckett, F Dettori) 40/1
Landed back-to-back Group victories at Haydock and Goodwood last year and shaped well on seasonal return at the Merseyside venue when just touched off in third in the John Of Gaunt Stakes. Not beaten far on either of his two starts at six furlongs but is clearly best on a softer surface and will struggle to cope with the quick conditions.
Minzaal (Owen Burrows, Jim Crowley) 18/1
Enjoyed a productive season as a juvenile back in 2020, readily landing the Gimcrack Stakes at York on just his third racecourse outing. Seen just twice last season, with both runs coming at Ascot, hitting the frame on both occasions including in the Champions Sprint Stakes behind Glen Shiel and Creative Force. Returned at York this term with another placed effort, this time behind Highfield Princess and should come on markedly for that.
Naval Crown (C Appleby, James Doyle) 33/1
Landed a Group 2 at Meydan over seven furlongs at the start of the year and didn’t shape badly at that venue on his first start at six furlongs in March, staying on well behind Happy Romance and A Case Of You to finish third. Clearly unexposed as a sprinter but perhaps a touch more is needed to come out on top.
Run To Freedom (H Candy, Dane O’Neill) 66/1
Won handicap events last season at Newmarket and Kempton and registered his fourth career success in Listed company at Windsor last month. Tackles Group 1 company for the very first time and is difficult to recommend.
Alcohol Free (A Balding, Rob Hornby) 22/1
Enjoyed a tremendous campaign as a 3yo last season, winning three times including the Coronation Stakes and Sussex Stakes at Ascot and Goodwood respectively. Disappointing since returning this season, however, drifted markedly in the betting on her return at Sandown in the bet365 Mile before having no answer to superstar Baaeed in the Lockinge. Returns to sprinting for the first time since her two-year-old days and has plenty to prove at present.
BACK MINZAAL AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Campanelle (Wesley Ward, Irad Ortiz Jr) 11/1
A five-time winner who is unbeaten in her two starts at Ascot after winning the Queen Mary as a juvenile and last season’s Commonwealth Cup at three. Returned this season with a comfortable win at Keeneland in April and comes here with a chance, for all that the American runners are yet to fire at this year’s meeting.
Double Or Bubble (C F Wall, Jack Mitchell) 50/1
Reached the frame in a pair of Group contests at Goodwood and Doncaster last season and returned to winning ways on her seasonal comeback at Newmarket, defeating Garrus by a short head in Group 3 company. Should be up to winning more races this season but this looks like a difficult ask for her pitched into Group 1 company for the very first time.
Happy Romance (R Hannon, S M Levey) 22/1
Has proven to be admirably consistent for connections, reaching the frame in big-field sprints on more than one occasion last season. Defeated Diligent Harry at Newmarket last season and has seemingly returned in form this campaign, finishing third in Riyadh before chasing home A Case Of You in Meydan. Still looking for her first win at this level but could run well at a price.
Highfield Princess (J J Quinn, Jason Hart) 14/1
Quickened up smartly to defeat the likes of Minzaal, Garrus, Vadream and Dragon Symbol in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes last month. Solid efforts in defeat in Group 2 and Group 3 company last season suggest she is well worth her place here and is not one to dismiss off the back of that emphatic last time out success.
BACK HIGHFIELD PRINCESS AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Sacred (W J Haggas, Tom Marquand) 14/1
A very smart 3yo when last seen, landing two of her last three starts including the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes and Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, showing a devastating turn of foot on both occasions over seven furlongs. Was a narrow second in the Queen Mary on her only start at Ascot back in 2020 and whilst she has fitness to prove after ten months off, this appears to have been the plan for some time and could make a huge impact reverting back to sprinting on Saturday.
Umm Kulthum (R Fahey, C T Keane) 50/1
Lightly raced four-year-old who won two of her opening four starts as a juvenile a couple of seasons ago, including in Group 3 company at Ayr. Behind Alcohol Free in her two starts after that but returned for her four-year-old campaign with a narrow success in Listed company at Newmarket. Steps up to Group 1 company here and will have to improve significantly in order to get involved.
Vadream (Charlie Fellowes, D Tudhope) 50/1
Produced a career-best when defeating King’s Lynn over course and distance in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes in October. Shaped in need of the run when returning this season behind Highfield Princess at York and should certainly strip fitter here. Has course figures of 3-1-5 but could be another who wants some rain to arrive before post time.
Ventura Diamond (R Fahey, J Fanning) 150/1
Has failed to find the winner’s enclosure since landing a Listed race at Newmarket back in October 2020. However, has run well on both her visits to Ascot, finishing third behind Vadream last season before not beaten far behind a number of these in the Champions Sprint Stakes back in October. Finished last on seasonal return at Haydock and appears to be well up against it.
BACK SACRED AND GET £50 IN FREE BETS WITH BETUK
Platinum Jubilee Stakes Verdict
Home Affairs is the obvious starting point here, the Australian sprinter could very well blow his rivals away and has been backed in recent days as if defeat is out of the question. Chris Waller sent out the impressive Nature Strip to win the King’s Stand earlier this week and many will expect a similar result in Saturday’s feature contest. However, there is no value in Home Affairs’ price anymore and it could pay to take him on with one at a much bigger price. The likes of Highfield Princess, Minzaal and Creative Force could all play a part in the final proceedings, however, it’s SACRED that gets the nod to come out on top in this tricky Group 1 event. Despite only seeing the track on three occasions last season, the classy daughter of Exceed and Excel impressively won two of those starts, quickening away stylishly in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn before again displaying a potent burst of pace to defeat Laneqash in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on her final outing. Clearly kept fresh with this race very much in mind, Sacred should have little trouble reverting to sprinting given how much speed she possesses and she is very comfortable on a quick surface.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Join BETUK Here and Get £50 in Free Bets when you Bet £10
Full T&Cs Apply. New customers only between 13/06/22 – 19/06/22. Stake min. £10 at odds of 1.5 or greater within 7 days. Max 3 x £10 and 4 x £5 Free Bets credited on qualifying bet settlement on selected events. 1x claim per customer. Void, cashed out, partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Free bets are non-withdrawable & not returned with winnings. 3 day expiry.