Royal Ascot Day 1 Betting Tips, Runners and Race Previews

The eyes of the racing world will be on Ascot this week for the biggest meeting of the season. Here we take a look at all the races on Day 1 of the meeting and provide some best bets for the day. For more free betting tips on today’s racing check out the rest of our preview articles in the racing section of the site.

2.30 – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 1m

E/W Selection: ALJAMAAHEER @ 14/1 with Sporting Bet (Tipped at 33/1 in ante-post preview)

Animal Kingdom looks a standout in the field and is now a very short price to take the first race of the Royal Meeting. With Declaration Of War looking quite short in the market the race has a nice each-way shape to it and could offer some value. Elusive Kate must be respected on form but her odds have shortened up and ALJAMAAHEER looks a solid alternative. Third in the Lockinge on his latest start, he tends to do his best work late on in the race and may well step up to 1m2f before too long. Held in high regard by his trainer he seems to still be learning and improving with every run and given he beat Declaration Of War last time out, he offers some each-way value. He finished third at Royal Ascot last year in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over 7f and is a consistent performer in pattern races. Having suggested an each-way bet on him at 33/1 a few weeks ago a placed effort would see us off to a good start at the meeting.

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3.05 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 5f

E/W Selection: SOLE POWER @ 10/1 with William Hill

The draw can have quite an effect at Ascot in these big field sprints and several of the market leaders may not be ideally suited to their low draws. Favourite Shea Shea will race from stall 5 and fellow raider Shamexpress from stall 3. SOLE POWER has a decent draw in stall 14 and whilst he would appear to be held on form by Shea Shea, this race is on ‘home turf’ and on top form he could well reverse that form. A previous Group 1 winner, he went close in this race 12 months ago and a similar performance can be expected under his optimum conditions. He possesses plenty of speed and looked as good as ever when winning a Group 3 event at Newmarket earlier in the season, beating the re-opposing Kingsgate Native. Was beaten by that rival last time out at Haydock but Murtagh is back on board here and he looks a solid each-way bet, with a proven track record of running well in races of this nature. 

3.45 – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 1m

Selection: TORONADO @ 7/2 with Bet Victor

This has the potential to be one of the races of the meeting with the leading three year old colts all set to line up in a fascinating renewal. Magician had been a clear favourite a week ago but a combination of a small setback and the surprise inclusion of Guineas winner Dawn Approach has seen his price drift a little in the market. On the back of a small setback it is hard to be confident about his chances until his well-being on the day is confirmed. Stablemate Mars ran an eye-catching race in the Derby and drops markedly back in trip here, but he should have enough pace to be competitive and pick up the pieces if the principles fail to fire. Dawn Approach is likely to take all the beating if bouncing back to form but a similar thing could be said about the Richard Hannon trained TORONADO. An impressive winner of the Craven he disappointed in the 2000 Guineas but looks very likely to prove better than his effort that day. Always held in high regard, he has been given plenty of time to recover and arrives here fresher than most. If he has overcome the problems he had he could get much closer to Dawn Approach this time around.

4.25 – Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 6f

E/W Selections: SIR JOHN HAWKINS @ 13/2 with Sky Bet and WAR COMMAND @ 20/1 with Sky Bet

Won last year by this years 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach this race often acts as a springboard for very smart performers and this year on paper looks to be a good renewal. It is very likely that the winner will be trained by Richard Hannon or Aiden O’Brien who both saddle three runners each, occupying 6 of the top 7 places in the betting. For selections we head to Ireland and whilst Stubbs would appear to be the Ballydoyle first choice their other runners should not be underestimated. Ryan Moore rode Ruler Of The World to victory in the Derby and he has a good chance of riding another winner for Aiden O’Brien with SIR JOHN HAWKINS. A son of Henrythenavigator, who won this race as a 2 year old, he won on his sole start to date and looks bred to make up into a nice performer. It was thought that WAR COMMAND would not race at Royal Ascot and instead wait for a Group race at the Curragh, but he features amongst the declarations. Connections had said they thought it would come too soon for him but the fact he is entered perhaps indicates he has been showing them enough at home to warrant the trip over, and given they have two strong chances already he is therefore perhaps a bigger price than he should be.

5.00 – Ascot Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) 2m4f

E/W Selections: MUBARAZA @ 12/1 with Paddy Power and SURAJ @ 25/1 with Bet Victor

MUBARAZA is a winner over 2 miles and for a stayer can be considered still a little unexposed over a trip of this nature. He finished third behind market leader here Tiger Cliff last time out and looks to be crying out for a thorough test of stamina. SURAJ never got involved last time out in the Chester Cup last time out but was done no favours by the draw there and that run can be ignored. Another who is lightly raced for a stayer, he can come on for that run and with Spencer likely to suit his style of racing he can be expected to be finishing well.

5.35 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) 5f

E/W Selections: OGERMEISTER @ 7/1 with Paddy Power and SLEEPER KING @ 14/1 with Paddy Power

American raider OGERMEISTER is an unknown quantity but certainly makes plenty of appeal on pedigree. He has plenty of speed in his make up and will be suited by the likely fast conditions. The fact connections are bringing him here has to be respected in itself and if he handles the trip over he could well be heading home a Royal Ascot winner. SLEEPER KING improved from his debut run to win at the second time of asking, travelling well and quickening to lead close home despite being hampered at the start. Kevin Ryan has a good record with sprinters and it would be no surprise to see this son of Holy Roman Emperor, a 6f Group 1 winning 2 year old, take another step forward and get involved here.

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