British summertime has arrived and what better way to spend it that enjoying five days of top class action at Royal Ascot. 30 races, over £7.3 million in prize money on offer and fantastic fashion combine to help create a fantastic festival. Here at ODDSbible, we've previewed all six races on day one of the meeting with our best bets from our friends at ODDSbibleRacing. Betway are offering you your money back as a free bet if you lose in the first race every day so there's even more reason to heed your hunch this week!
2.30pm Queen Anne Stakes
A belting renewal of the mile contest over the straight course at Ascot with 16 runners going to post. Mustashry was a taking winner of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May and he put clear daylight between himself and the rest of the field, which included Laurens in second, Romanised in fourth and Le Brivido in fifth. We're keen to stick with Sir Michael Stoute's charge in this event as the Freemason Lodge handler has a real knack at improving these older horses and he is also a course and distance winner which is another positive. At an each-way price, Hazapour is also very interesting for Dermot Weld. Fifth in the 2018 renewal of the Epsom Derby, the four-year-old son of Shamardal was impressive when dropped back to a mile in G3 company at Leopardstown in May and is 2-2 over this trip. Dermot Weld is a master handler and he seems sweet on the colt's chances, whilst Frankie Dettori is an intriguing jockey booking. Don't forget you get your money back as a free bet if you lose on the first race every day of Royal Ascot with Betway so it is well worth taking up this offer!
Tip: Mustashry 5/1
3.05pm G1 Coventry Stakes
There have been some impressive recent winners of the Coventry Stakes, including Calyx in last year's renewal and Arizona could be another superstar. Trained by the master of Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien, the two-year-old son of No Nay Never bolted up by eight lengths on his second start over today's six-furlong trip at the Curragh in May and he looks to be one of Coolmore's most exciting juveniles. British hopes lie with Richard Hannon's Threat who is held in high regard by his trainer and dotted up at Newmarket on his debut in May. However, at an each-way price, it might be worth chancing the Archie Watson-trained Guildsman who recorded a six-length success at Goodwood over six furlongs earlier this month. That win came on soft ground, but he is a son of Wootton Bassett and quicker ground should pose no problems.
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Tip: Arizona 3/1
3.40pm King's Stand Stakes
A stellar renewal of the five-furlong blitzkrieg and Godolphin's Blue Point bids to become the first horse since Sole Power (2013 & 2014) to win back-to-back renewals of the G1 event. An impressive winner of the £500,000 contest last year, Charlie Appleby's charge warmed up for the Royal Meeting with three convincing victories at Meydan, latterly when plundering the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. He has enjoyed an excellent preparation for this year's race and he should prove a tough nut to crack. Similarly, the son of Shamradal has won three of his four starts at Ascot which highlights his likeness for the Berkshire. The mercurial Battaash has to be feared following a smooth reappearance in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. He was too keen in this race last year and if settling better is a real threat, but he has his own idiosyncrasies and can be opposed. For each-way players, Mabs Cross was third to Battaash at Haydock, but had to give Charlie Hills' charge weight on that occasion. She was third to Blue Point in this event last year and is ultra-consistent and so rates a good each-way bet.
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Tip: Blue Point 11/4
4.20pm St James's Palace Stakes
A brilliant race staged over a mile for three-year-olds. The market is headed by the Charlie Hills-trained Phoenix Of Spain who made a mockery of the Irish 2000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance with a bloodless success. He could become the star of the miling division this season as he is sure to come on from that run, but we're going to give Too Darn Hot one more opportunity to show his true class. The three-year-old son of Frankel has endured a tumultuous start to his three-year-old campaign. An English 2000 Guineas bid was derailed due to injury, before he finished a fine second over 10 furlongs in the Dante Stakes at York when not fully fit. Second to Phoenix Of Spain just 10 days later at the Curragh, that race definitely came too quickly for him and John Gosden seems happy with him for the first time this season. He was crowned Europe's champion two-year-old last season and this race can see him re-emerge as a top-class performer. However, don't discount his stable companion King Of Comedy who won the Heron Stakes, won last year by subsequent St James's Palace Stakes scorer Without Parole, last time out and he is another name to note.
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Tip: Too Darn Hot 2/1
5.00pm Ascot Handicap
Gordon Elliott & Gigginstown House Stud make a rare foray into Flat action for this handicap over two miles and four furlongs with Mengli Khan. A top-class hurdler, he was a winner once on the Flat when trained by Hugo Palmer back in 2016 and he makes appeal for an outfit that know how to land a major gamble.
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Tip: Mengli Khan 6/1
5.35pm Wolferton Stakes
An excellent renewal of the extended 9-furlong contest but Magic Wand makes strong appeal for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien. A facile winner of the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at last year's Royal Meeting, she is a proven G1 performer who is dropped into Listed company for this £100,000 event. That makes her a serious player who is bound to go well for top connections who will have her primed for this event. The four-year-old daughter of Galileo was third in G1 company at Belmont last time when unlucky and good ground will be in her favour here. Star Of Bengal is a horse that will keep improving with racing and he is also of interest.
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Tip: Magic Wand 9/2
There's £25,000 to be won on day one of Royal Ascot thanks to Betway's 4 To Win which is free to enter! Simply guess the winner of four chosen races for your chance to claim the cash. Click here to enter now!
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