Royal Ascot begins with pomp and ceremony on Tuesday afternoon. Some online bookmakers have revealed the horses they most fear winning, while the track is set to look after its patrons this week. Extra shaded areas will be available due to the heat.
Here is today’s racing news round-up as the royal meeting is imminent.
Royal Ascot: Bookmakers fear Confucius as crowds can shelter from heat
Spokespeople for Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill have revealed their biggest Royal Ascot liabilities. Two day one favourites received mentions from multiple bookmakers. They were Confucius, from whom Ladbrokes and Hills are running scared, and Australian sprinter Overpass. Both Ladbrokes and Paddy Power have laid plenty on the travelling raider. Another particularly poor result for William Hill would be Venetian Sun. The 7/4 Commonwealth Cup favourite was available at 25/1 earlier this term. (Racing Post)
Another market gamble is underway in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. The middle distance contest is the highlight of day two on the Wednesday. Daryz, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero, has been the long-term ante-post favourite. However, he has been usurped in recent days by defending champion Ombudsman. John & Thady Gosden’s runner, who reappeared with victory at Sandown, is now as short as 11/8. (Racing Post)
More shelter from the heat will be available at Royal Ascot this year too. For those sweltering in their top hats, the track have revealed that nearly 1,600sqm of extra shade will be present to step away from the sun. Similarly, there will be just under 1,800 extra seats in the stands for patrons to take rest on. The move comes after several people reported heat-related sickness during the 2025 meeting. Temperatures last year reached close to 30 degrees Celcius. (BBC)
Royal & Aga Khan silks in for memorable week
The royal silks may be in for a big week at Royal Ascot. The King & Queen are expected to be in attendance every day this week. They have a favourite on the opening day too, courtesy of Reaching High in the Ascot Stakes. Trained by Willie Mullins, he got no luck in running in the race 12 months ago and could easily make amends. Other chances for them later in the week include Warrant Holder. The last royal winner at the meeting was Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes of 2023. (Telegraph)
It will also be a poignant moment should the Aga Khan’s famous green be carried to victory. This week, Princess Zahra, the daughter of Aga Khan IV, revealed more into the death of one of the family’s most famous horses in Shergar. The 1981 Epsom Derby hero was famously kidnapped a year later and never found. Princess Zahra spoke in an interview of the dramatic incident, saying the kidnappers killed the horse within two days of his abduction. (Guardian)