Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips
2.30pm – NOTABLE SPEECH (6/1) 3.05pm – GSTAAD (9/2) 3.40pm – NIGHT RAIDER (7/1) 4.20pm – FIELD OF GOLD (4/5) 5.00pm – EAST INDIA DOCK (5/1) 5.25pm – HAATEM (13/2) 6.10pm – AERONAUTIC (12/1)[single_affiliate_freespins id=”2960″ ]
2:30 Ascot – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m
A few of these are no strangers to one another, having already locked horns a few times. Favourites have a good record in the race having won four of the last five renewals and the form from the recent Lockinge Stakes at Newbury looks the key to unravelling a high class opening race. The first four home in that Newbury contest all reoppose and all have solid claims. Still, of that quartet, it might be worth backing with the fourth horse to finish in that race, NOTABLE SPEECH (6/1), who was conceding fitness to the trio who finished ahead of him and with a run now under his belt, the Dubawi colt can regain winning ways. Charlie Appleby’s charge reeled off a four-timer last term which included an impressive success in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket where he beat reopposing Rosallion; he subsequently wasn’t seen to best effect behind that same rival in the St James’s Palace Stakes on the corresponding card twelve months ago, enduring a nightmare run and never landing a telling blow. He proved that run to be all wrong at Goodwood next time, winning the Sussex Stakes before failing to handle the Longchamp mud in the Prix de Moulin, beaten six lengths by Tribalist. His season came to a close when running a blinder at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, only beaten a length into third and he ought to be better for his Newbury reappearance when finishing three lengths behind Lead Artist with Dancing Gemini and Rosallion all ahead of him in second and third. All three had a fitness edge, and in the book he doesn’t have much to find to be competitive on form. With the benefit of that run now behind him he can improve for that pipe opener to get back on the scoresheet in the day one Royal Ascot opener. OFFER – Join Betrino > bet £10 > get a £30 free bet added to your account.3:05 Ascot – Coventry Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 6f
Aidan O’Brien has won this race ten times in his career and the Ballydoyle maestro has landed two of the last six renewals, most recently in 2023. It might pay then to side with his GSTAAD (9/2) to make it 2-2 for the season and hand the trainer success number eleven in the race. The Starspangledbanner colt made a good first impression to beat a well-regarded stablemate at Navan last month, overcoming early greenness to score by almost one length from True Love with the pair pulling clear of the rest. He looked strong at the finish there, learning quickly as the race progressed and there could be better to come from him with that initial experience under his belt. He is one of two in the race for the O’Brien camp and the choice of Ryan Moore over stablemate Warsaw who also was a debut winner; that choice could prove significant and a big run wouldn’t come as a surprise.3:40 Ascot – King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f
This was previously the King’s Stand Stakes, and Asfoora returns in defence of her crow,n although she’ll have to bounce back from a lesser run in Australia when she was last seen in April. Perhaps a return here may spark a better performance, but Henry Dwyer’s charge is taken on with NIGHT RAIDER (7/1) who can land a first turf success. Karl Burke’s charge has done all his winning on the all-weather thus far, winning three times last season which include the Listed Golden Rose Stakes at Newcastle in November. In between, the Dark Angel colt didn’t hit those heights on turf, although he had legitimate excuses for his defeats, probably failing to say one mile in the 2000 Guineas and going off too hard in front here in the Jersey Stakes. Back from six months off and making his seasonal reappearance, he showed plenty of speed in the Group Two Clipper Stakes at York last month, weakening late into third having made the running and now stepping out over the minimum trip he could make a bold bid from the front to regain winning ways. However, he’ll face some competition for the lead. He’s still lightly raced, though and can improve further, so while he still has a little to prove in regards to both turf and trip, he can make his presence felt in a very competitive Group One contest.4:20 Ascot – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo) 1m
FIELD OF GOLD (4/5) is 2-3 this term, meeting his only defeat when given too much to do in the 2000 Guineas behind Ruling Court and the Gosden-trained runner can continue his winning run. The Kingman colt was a dual-winner last term and took the Craven Stakes on his reappearance before going close in the first of the season’s Classics, beaten a half-length by the winner. He was a shade unbalanced in the dip before running on again although the feeling was he gave the winner too much rope. That defeat was readily atoned for in the Irish equivalent, impressive in defeating Cosmic Year, although there is a question mark over the depth of that race as he was rated 10+ lbs ahead of his rivals. Nevertheless he did the job well and there may yet be more improvement to come from this three-year-old who can turn the tables on his Newmarket conqueror. OFFER – Join FunkyJackpot > bet £10 on Ascot > get a £30 free bet.5:00 Ascot – Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-100) 2m4f
Trainers more associated with the National Hunt game often come to the fore with their runners in this marathon contest and EAST INDIA DOCK (5/1) gets the vote to back up his recent Chester Vase success and register another win. A smart sort for James Fanshawe, previously for whom he won twice, he joined his current yard ahead of the last jumps season, where he very quickly developed into a smart hurdler, winning three times and posting an excellent third to Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle. Back on the level following a short break, he ran out a one length winner over Caballo De Mar on the Roodeye last month, finding plenty in the closing stages. That runner-up has won since to boost that form. The handicapper has reacted with an 8lbs rise in the handicap, which could still leave him well-in given the levels he reached over hurdles. This longer trip could bring about further improvement, while he won’t have any issue with the underfoot conditions; he should go well and he can make his presence felt.5:35 Ascot – Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2f
HAATEM (13/2) could be worth siding with in this competitive Listed contest and Richard Hannon’s charge can post a big run. Twice a winner as a juvenile, the Phoenix Of Spain colt was lightly raced last term with just four starts; he won twice, including the Jersey Stakes and he placed twice in Group One company inbetween victories, finishing third in the 2000 Guineas and going one place better when denied only by a head into second by Rosallion. Better for his reappearance behind Dancing Gemini at Sandown in the Bet365 Mile, he didn’t appear to be suited by softer ground at Longchamp when last seen out and he’ll surely appreciate a return to a much quicker surface. This longer trip is a bit of an unknown as he has yet to race beyond one mile, but he brings some classy form to the table, and he can post a big effort now his sights are lowered in a bid to regain winning ways. OFFER – Join LiveScore Bet > bet £10 on Royal Ascot > get £30 in free bets.6:10 Ascot – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m6
AERONAUTIC (12/1) shaped better than the bare result when down the field on his seasonal reappearance at the Curragh last month, but with that run under his belt, it wouldn’t come as a big shock to see Joseph O’Brien’s Gleneagles gelding to post a much improved showing. A lightly-raced sort with just five runs under his belt, he won twice last term, scoring at the second attempt at Dundalk before taking a marked step up in distance in his stride to double up at Leopardstown two weeks later. Tried in Listed company for his next start, he wasn’t disgraced in finishing fourth behind Chemistry, which looks pretty solid form, and he wasn’t knocked about when last seen failing to land any sort of blow and trailing in down the field. He’s likely better than he showed there and is entitled to come on a bundle for that effort which came over a trip probably on the sharp side for him. Back over a more suitable yardage now and with the benefit of that reappearance he can do much better now and no surprise if he makes the frame in a very competitive closer to day one of Royal Ascot.Bookies Sign-up Offers for Royal Ascot
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