Racing UK’s Royal Ascot day one betting guide
Tuesday 19 June 2012
Racing UK's website editor, Geoffrey Riddle, has whittled down the large fields in all six races on day one of Royal Ascot. With Frankel sure to provide everybody with a winner of the Queen Anne Stakes, it is imposible to not get the meeting off in the best possible manner!
It’s always good to get a meeting like Royal Ascot off to a flyer, and although you will not get a large return betting on Frankel – the feeling of cheering on a winner first up is too easy to ignore.
There seems very little to get in the way of the world’s highest-rated thoroughbred, especially with Excelebration set to head the unbeaten colt’s opposition.
Aidan O’Brien’s challenger has faced Frankel four times and has been beaten by a combined 15.25 lengths.
The latest effort in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury provided the largest margin of defeat so far at five lengths and with both colt’s proven on easy going it looks the simplest forecast all week.
1: Frankel 2: Excelebration 3: Worthadd
Ortensia can become the fifth Australian winner of the opening sprint of the meeting and looks a fair price at around 5-1.
Paul Messara’s mare has looked Group One material since joining the young Australian trainer and was far too good in the Al Quoz sprint in Dubai in March. That day she saw off seven other Group One winners and she came home the fastest of all by 0.34 seconds in the final furlong.
Seven of the last nine winners of the King’s Stand Stakes were bred outside Britain and Ireland and Ortensia would become the third seven-year-old to score in the past decade after Takeover Target and The Tatling won in 2006 and 2002 respectively.
Whizz Kid looks the most likely danger, and will be racing at level weights with her fillies’ allowance, while Little Bridge and Spirit Of Quartz should run well at big prices. The drying ground could well help Joy And Fun's chances.
1: Ortensia 2: Whizz Kid 3: Little Bridge
3.45pm - St James's Palace Stakes:
William Hill were offering an enhanced price of 9-2 about Power last week and the firm could well regret their decision.
Aidan O’Brien bids to register his seventh victory in the mile contest and Power could follow home Black Minnaloushe, Araafa, Henrythenavigator, Mastercraftsman and Canford Cliffs who had all won the 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh prior to succes in the Ascot Group One contest.
Nine of the last 13 winners had scored previously in a European Guineas, which brings Lucayan into the equation after his victory at Longchamp but the French raider, as well as Brian Meehan’s exciting Most Improved have been drawn wide of the 16-runner field.
Foxtrot Romeo ran a huge race behind Power in Ireland on his fourth start and looks far better value than Born To Sea, who would be double the price if he was without an illustrious sibling.
1: Power 2: Foxtrot Romeo 3: Most Improved
There were 23 runners entered in Coventry Stakes and while it may look competitive it takes a top-notch colt to win the Group Two contest and follow up the likes of Power, Strong Suit, Canford Cliffs and Henrythenavigator.
Dawn Approach and Sir Prancelot appear to have reached the level of form required by a Coventry Stakes winner prior to turning up to the Royal Meeting and it is no surprise to see them vie for favouritism.
Cristoforo Columbus has been the subject of serious weight of money over the past week, while stablemate Lines Of Battle, as well as The Taj and Artigiano have been the subject of strong reports and should be considered.
1: Sir Prancelot 2: Cristoforo Columbus 3: Dawn Approach
The National Hunt brigade have struck in seven of the past ten Ascot Stakes and both Willie Mullins and David Pipe field strong candiates.
Mullins has managed to attract Ryan Moore for his Simenon, who warmed up for his seasonal bow on the Flat with a spin over hurdles at Cork last month.
David Pipe, who won the marathon event with Junior two season’s ago, saddles Ashbrittle, who finished a smart second over a trip similar to this in a good race over hurdles at Kempton in March.
Elyadi has proved he acts around Ascot with two seconds in as many previous visits to the Berkshire track.
Tim Pitt, who won the Golden Jubilee in 2006 with Les Arcs, has a live contender with Dark Ranger
1: Ashbrittle 2 Simenon 3: Dark Ranger
5.35pm - Windsor Castle Stakes
Given the amount of soft ground form among the 23 declared the Windsor Castle Stakes could well turn up a big-priced winner, especially with favourite Lyric Ace looking vulnerable. Strike The Tiger won in 2009 at 33-1, while Elhamri was priced at 20-1 in 2006.
Richard Hannon’s colt is the market leader due to his two victories, but both were small field affairs. Lyric Ace’s success at Leicester was down to the fact he handled the testing conditions better than his five rivals. His latest win was against just three others and at odds of 4-7 he was barely extended. He looks too short at around the 4-1 mark.
Of those priced up in double figures Dylanbaru struggled last time at the hands of Cay Verde, who heads for the Norfolk Stakes, but looks a fair price at 10-1. The Irish raider could not handle the heavy ground at Tipperary on his previous run but accounted for a subsequent dual winner on Dundalk’s all-weather track in April.
Bungleinthejungle showed good speed to win a Conditions race at Beverley this month and appears to be a lively outsider at around the 14-1 mark. He was poor on debut in soft conditions on his debut, however, so wait until just before the race to enure the going is in your favour.
1: Smoothtalkinrascal 2: , Dylanbaru 3: Bungleinthejungle
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