Day one of Royal Ascot is a real treat for racing fans, with competitive action from start to finish. GG editor Joe Napier picks out his four best bets on the card, all of which are live on ITV Racing.
3.05pm Royal Ascot – Coventry Stakes
Always a race which truly underlines the competitiveness of Royal Ascot, with 23 going to post and so much potential to try and sort through and unravel. It may well prove to side with the new ownership powerhouse of Wathnan Racing during the week and it is one of their runners in COLUMNIST who appeals at a decent price.
Their stable jockey James Doyle sides with Catalyse, their other nominee in the hands of Richard Fahey, but his retained rider Oisin Orr is up on the selection which does not detract from siding with him. He made all in striking fashion and while the runner-up has disappointed since, the third finished much further behind him than he did the Woodcote winner Teej A on his previous start. Four of the last six winners of the Coventry had raced prominently, so his running style should suit and he looks talented.
3.45pm Royal Ascot – King Charles III Stakes
The fast and furious does not stop into race three, with this 5f Group 1 likely to be run at some clip on good-to-firm. Australian raider Asfoora is a likely improver from her reappearance, but TWILIGHT CALLS has unfinished business in this race and can land the contest he has finished second and fourth in for the previous two seasons.
He bumped into a genuine superstar in Nature Strip in 2022 and did not get lucky in running when fourth a year ago, only darting through late in the day. Ryan Moore remains in the saddle given Aidan O’Brien did not declare his one confirmed entry, and a faster break should see him bang in the mix. His peak performances on Racing Post Ratings (RPRs) in the last three seasons have come in June and July, so Henry Candy will have him primed.
Royal Ascot Tuesday Tips: Four Selections For Day 1 Of Meeting
It’s day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 18th June and our in-house tipster Steve Chambers picks out his best bets for a star-studded card that sees the Queen Anne Stakes, King Charles II Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes take centre stage… 2:30pm Royal Ascot – Queen Anne Stakes Fans of MALJOOM will hope…
Mon 17 Jun 20245.05pm Royal Ascot – Ascot Stakes
There is a ground query about a few of these on a faster surface. Such questions do not apply as pertinently to BOHER ROAD, who is capable on any ground and has won as he likes on his last two flat starts.
He has been raised a total of 16lb for those victories, but the five-year-old looks to have improved markedly, potentially from having remained fit over hurdles. His wins at Navan and Killarney have been in decent races and he was not stopping over 2m1f in the latter. This trip may suit even more and he has a decent draw to try and get out in front and stay there.
6.15pm Royal Ascot – Copper Horse Handicap
Plenty of jumps interest here as there is in the Ascot Stakes. Belloccio could prove very well-handicapped for Willie Mullins, while the likes of Fox Journey and A Piece Of Heaven have not found their limits yet. However, similar comments may well apply to BEAMISH, whose weight is not kind, but may find something extra on his second start for Archie Watson.
The six-year-old won on his first three starts for Paddy Twomey when trained in Ireland and placed twice in Group 3 company, one of those on good ground. He was running for the first time in 544 days when sixth of nine in a decent staying handicap at Newbury when shaping like 2m was too far. That was very promising after such a long layoff though and this trip promises to suit better.
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