Tuesday sees the opening day of Royal Ascot 2024 get underway. To celebrate the start of a top class week of racing, Andrew Mount shares his best bets and he has FOUR selections for the action at the Berkshire racecourse.
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Posted: 4:34pm, Monday, June 17th
2.30 Ascot – DOCKLANDS (1pt ew – 16/1 William Hill, Coral, four places)
There should be plenty of pace on offer in the Queen Anne Stakes that gets racing at Royal Ascot underway on Tuesday, with Audience (stall 14 of 14) likely to take them along while being closely followed by Flight Plan (stall 12), the first-time blinkered Hi Royal (stall 10), Brave Emperor (stall 8) and Big Rock (stall 2). The main bet for me is DOCKLANDS, winner of last year’s Britannia Stakes. The Harry Eustace-trained four-year-old has only finished outside of the first three places once in his career, when unsuited by the steady early gallop at Goodwood, and his full record over course and distance reads 1132 (2-4). That Brittania win was hugely impressive as he was drawn high and raced on the stands’ side whereas the next five finishers raced far side. He won the race on his flank by six lengths and he’s going to be hard to kick out of the first three. I’ve saved on WITCH HUNTER and will be combining the pair in a Tote Exacta.
3.05 Ascot – AL QUDRA (1pt win – 14/1 bet365)
Charlie Appleby’s AL QUDRA caught the eye when making his debut in a 5f novice contest at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, blowing the start and failing to handle the dip before staying on late to finish a one-and-a-half length fourth to Arran. The 9-2 shot was only half a length behind odds-on stablemate Hallasan that day and fared best of the runners who came from off the pace. He was again awkward at the start/green when a close-up third to The Actor over the same track and trip next time and took a step forward when bolting up over 6f on the Polytrack at Lingfield earlier this month. We’re guessing as to the effect of the draw today but he fits the stats of recent winners – i.e. a February/March foal who won last time out when starting in the front three in the betting – and he looks worth a small bet. I’ve saved on outsider NASCIMENTO.
3.45 Ascot – ROGUE LIGHTNING (1pt ew – 12/1 Coral, 10/1 William Hill)
3.45 Ascot – MAKAROVA (0.5pt ew – 33/1 bet365, William Hill)
ROGUE LIGHTNING improved for gelding and the drop to 5f last season, scoring on three occasions (including over today’s course and disatnce) before a fine 17-1 fifth of 18 to Highfield Princess in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp where, like the winner, he had a poor high draw. It’s safe to draw a line through his reappearance sixth of nine to Kerdos in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock (he was very weak in the betting on ground that was way too soft for him) and he should be finishing to good effect under James Doyle.
MAKAROVA was only a place and half a length behind Rogue Lightning when sixth from a similarly poor draw in the Prix de l’Abbaye and she followed that with a respectable 66-1 sixth of 15 in the Champions Sprint Stakes over 6f at today’s venue when fitted with first-time cheekpieces. Her only other flirtation with first-time headgear saw her finish a 66-1 second of 14 at Newmarket in October 2022 and the first-time blinkers go on today. She fared best of the closers when runner-up in a 5f Group 2 at Longchamp last time and will appreciate the strong gallop.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.30 Ascot – DOCKLANDS (1pt ew – 16/1 William Hill, Coral, four places)
3.05 Ascot – AL QUDRA (1pt win – 14/1 bet365)
3.45 Ascot – ROGUE LIGHTNING (1pt ew – 12/1 Coral)
3.45 Ascot – MAKAROVA (0.5pt ew – 33/1 bet365, William Hill)
Andrew Mount’s tips for Tuesday, 18th June 2024.
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