Royal Ascot Day One – Tuesday 14th June

Even as a proud National Hunt man, there is something about the Royal Ascot meeting that does manage to really get the juices pumping. The first day of the historic meeting comes round to meet us tomorrow afternoon, and it should be an absolute cracker to say the least. I am really looking forward to previewing the racing as it happens throughout the week and hopefully finding a winner or two to boot. 

Starting with the 3.05 race, which is the Coventry Stakes over 6 furlongs and although this is a race with plenty of horses and plenty of places available with most firms, I quite like one right at the top of the betting in this race. I think the experience could count for Blackbeard, who has already shown himself off to be a more than useful juvenile and I think everything about this race could be set up for him to continue his unbeaten start to his career. Aidan O’Brien has fired out early season 2 year old winners this year, which is perhaps not quite what we have expected from him before, but this horse has made a deep impression and is the pick of Ryan Moore from two good options for this stable. There are obviously plenty of unknowns about some of the opposition, but most have them have to prove a step up to this class, while Blackbeard is the standard bearer. At a price of 3/1 with William Hill, I’m hoping he can go very close. 

The 5.00 race is the next race I’ll be covering and this 2m4f Ascot Stakes is always one of the more enjoyable races for me to watch throughout the year as it features plenty of favorites from the jumps code, running against some proven flat stayers. There are many unknowns about some at the top of the market, but just like last year with MC Muldoon, I have been swayed in by an attractive profile to the Mullins runner in this race, and Bring on the Night is potentially a nicely handicapped horse on his first start for this yard on the level. Ryan Moore is jocked up on him, who has already found some success for Mullins in this race before, and he should be one of the last delivered into this race. At a price of 4/1 with Paddy Power, who are offering 6 places, I am going to play it safe and back him each way.

The 5.35 is the Wolferton Stakes on the card and this listed race over 1m2f has the field priced at 7/1 and upwards, so it is easily recognizable as a very tough ask. Cadillac is that favorite, but I would not be a fan of him in this race as he has always looked a lot more comfortable over the inbetween trip of 9 furlongs. I would be disappointed if something was not able to slightly outstay him in this contest and I am hoping that horse is Foxes Tales, who was a winner over course and distance at this meeting last year when taking out a handicap and graduated to winning a Grade 3 later on in the season. He has run two very credible races in Grade 3s this year and now drops back down into this class, which could be the way he gets a chance to succeed again at this meeting. At a price of 10/1 with Bet365, who are paying out 5 places, he should be backed each way. 

The final race on the card to have a look at is the finale, which is the Copper House Stakes over 1m6f and this competitive handicap is another tasty one with a worthy favorite in Cleveland. He may have the ability to go in again but he is short for this race and can be taken on. Instead, I am going to take a flier on Island Brave at a big price, and hope that returning to his last winning mark might be a chance for him to run well again, at a track that he has done very well at in the past. He has been a worthy servant for connections but I’m sure they believe there are more prizes to be won and some more good races to run as well – and this may well be one. It is obviously a very open race but they will be hoping for a decent run. At 33/1 with Bet365, with 5 places available, he should be given a chance each way.