Royal Ascot: Day One Preview & Odds
As well as race insights and betting tips, each race below includes odds
Britain’s most valuable race meeting will get underway on Tuesday with the highly-anticipated first day of Royal Ascot. The five-day horse racing spectacular features 35 top-class races including no fewer than eight Group 1s across the week. Day one includes three Group 1 races, starting with the Queen Anne Stakes followed by the King Charles III Stakes and the day’s feature race, the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Here at betting.bet we will preview each and every race at Royal Ascot, starting with Tuesday’s seven-strong card. As well as race insights and betting tips, each race below includes odds from our betting partners at Ladbrokes.
2:30 - Queen Anne Stakes
Royal Ascot will get underway with a wide-open renewal of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday. Contested over one mile and open to horses aged four years and over, the Queen Anne Stakes has been won by some of the best milers to have graced the turf in recent years. Past winners include Goldikova, Frankel and Baaeed.
The Lockinge Stakes is a great indicator for the Queen Anne with the race winner of May’s Group 1 at Newbury following up by winning the opener at Royal Ascot five times in the past twelve years. The top three horses from this year’s Lockinge will all feature in the Queen Anne but it is the Newbury runner up Charyn that heads the betting at Ascot.
Audience was a shock winner of the Lockinge as he caught his rivals napping to lead from start to finish. His only previous run at Ascot saw him finish 13/15 in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes in 2022. Robert Havlin will take the saddle once more but he will do well to follow up his shock Lockinge win on Tuesday.
Like the majority of Lockinge runners, Charyn was caught cold at Newbury and could only manage second despite running on gamely in the last furlong. Charyn closed to within 1 ¾ lengths of the race winner and has already earned impressive wins in both the Doncaster Mile and bet365 Mile this year. Defeated at Newbury but the one to beat at Ascot.
Facteur Cheval heads to Ascot on the back of an excellent Group 1 win in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March but he was well-beaten by Big Rock on his last visit to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last October. Having won the QEII on Champions Day, Big Rock is one of only two C&D winners in the race along with Docklands. Second on both runs so far in 2024 but with C&D form figures of 1132, Docklands could be a sound each-way selection under Hayley Turner.
| Queen Anne Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Charyn, Facteur Cheval | 10/3 |
| Big Rock | 11/2 |
| Audience | 15/2 |
| Maljoom | 14/1 |
| Docklands | 16/1 |
| Dolayli, Royal Scotsman | 20/1 |
| Poker Face | 25/1 |
| Witch Hunter | 28/1 |
| Brave Emperor | 40/1 |
| Flight Plan, High Royal | 50/1 |
| Cairo | 66/1 |
3:05 - Coventry Stakes
For the second race on day one of Royal Ascot we get to see some of the year’s best juveniles in action in the Coventry Stakes. Open to two year olds and contested over 6f, the Coventry Stakes has held Group 2 status since 2002.
Aidan O’Brien earned his tenth Coventry Stakes win in 2023 with River Tiber and the race’s most successful ever trainer heads into this year’s race with an excellent chance once more with Camille Pissarro. This leading prospect was beaten by a head in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month but commands respect for his leading yard.
Cowardofthecounty was an impressive winner of a Maiden race at the Curragh on debut, defeating a leading Aidan O’Brien prospect that has since gone on to land a Listed contest back at the same course.
The Karl Burke-trained Andesite got the better of Yah Mo Be There in an almighty tussle on debut at York and both runners have been well-supported in the betting ahead of this. Yah Mo Be There could reverse those placings but Andesite remains our preference. Al Qudra shortened considerably in the betting on the back of an impressive win at Lingfield two weeks ago but after two earlier defeats at Newmarket, it remains to be seen how he’ll adapt to a return to the turf.
Meanwhile, Francisco’s Piece has been one of the more active Coventry Stakes entries with three runs in the past seven weeks. Beaten by a short-head at York in between wins at Pontefract and Chantilly. All previous runs have come over 5f but with the Chantilly success coming on heavy ground. Could go well on Tuesday albeit with a risk of being outpaced.
Angelo Buonarroti is a very intriguing entry for Amo Racing. The €1million breeze-up purchase will be the first horse trained by Brazilian ex-jockey Raphael Freire to run in the UK. Unraced but this Galileo colt is certainly one to watch.
| Coventry Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cowardofthecounty | 9/2 |
| Camille Pissarro | 6/1 |
| Andesite | 9/1 |
| Catalyse, The Actor, Yah Mo Be There | 12/1 |
| Al Qudra, Francisco's Piece | 14/1 |
| Symbol Of Honour | 18/1 |
| Angelo Buonarroti, Arran, Star Anthem | 25/1 |
| Midnight Strike, Mr Chaplin | 28/1 |
| Columnist, Electrolyte, Ingot | 33/1 |
| Nascimento | 50/1 |
| Cool Hoof Luke, Rashabar | 66/1 |
| Turners Cross, Zminiature | 80/1 |
| Up The Clarets | 100/1 |
3:45 - King Charles III Stakes
The King Charles III Stakes, formerly the King’s Stand Stakes, was established back in 1860 and has held Group 1 status since 2008. Contested over a straight 5f and open to horses aged three years and over, there are 17 confirmed entries for this year’s renewal of this thrilling sprint race.
Big Evs is a deserved market leader following an impressive return to the track in a Listed contest at York last month. Winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes over C&D at Royal Ascot last year before following up with three wins in his next four races including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Valiant Force was a solid second to Big Evs in the Breeders’ Cup race and has switched back to Irish trainer Adrian Murray following two solid runs for Jorge Delgado in the USA. Winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over C&D at last year’s meeting and certainly better than his price suggests.
Regional tends to prefer the slightly longer 6f but this stiffer test should see the six-year-old fare better than when fifth over Tuesday’s 5f trip at York last August. Believing is another that tends to reserve his best form for 6f but looked very impressive when landing a Listed contest at Haydock just nine days ago.
Australian mare Asfoora will certainly improve for her British debut at Haydock last month and Australian horses have a decent record in this race whilst the race winner at Haydock, Kerdos has received plenty of market support. The progressive four-year-old was beaten by a neck in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at last year’s meeting and will appreciate the return to Ascot.
| King Charles III Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Big Evs | 4/1 |
| Regional | 9/2 |
| Believing | 6/1 |
| Asfoora | 13/2 |
| Kerdos | 10/1 |
| Twilight Calls | 11/1 |
| Rogue Lightning | 12/1 |
| Valiant Force | 16/1 |
| Crimson Advocate | 20/1 |
| Diligent Harry, Equality, Seven Questions | 25/1 |
| Makarova | 33/1 |
| Emarraty Ana, Vadream, Kylian, Purosangue | 50/1 |
4:25 - St James’s Palace Stakes
The feature race on day one of Royal Ascot is the St James’s Palace Stakes and this year’s renewal promises to be one of the best races of the week. The eight-strong field includes the race winners from this year’s English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas (Poule d'Essai des Poulains). Contested over one mile and open to three-year-old colts, the St James’s Palace Stakes was first run back in 1834 and has held Group 1 status since 1988.
Notable Speech stormed to glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, defying odds of 16/1 to retain his unbeaten record. Requires another step forward at Ascot but this fast-improving favourite is the one to beat for in-form trainer Charlie Appleby.
Rosallion chased Notable Speech home at Newmarket before bouncing back to win the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh three weeks later. Won a Listed race at Ascot over 7f last summer and boasts form figures of 1131-21 in six previous runs. Seems to be easing in the market but more than capable of reversing the Newmarket placings against Notable Speech.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the race in 2023 with Paddington to clinch a record ninth race win and he’ll be represented by both Henry Longfellow and race outsider Unquestionable on Tuesday. Henry Longfellow won all three races as a two-year-old but was well down the field on his first run of the year in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains last month. Metropolitan was the race winner at Longchamp but has drifted considerably in the market ahead of his first run outside of France.
| St James’s Palace Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Notable Speech | Evens |
| Rosallion | 7/2 |
| Henry Longfellow | 5/1 |
| Alyanaabi, Darlinghurst, Metropolitan | 16/1 |
| Almaqam | 20/1 |
| Unquestionable | 28/1 |
5:05 - Ascot Stakes
The first big handicap of the meeting takes place on day one with 20 confirmed runners for the Ascot Stakes. This race is wide-open with any number of entries in with a real chance of landing this. British horses have won this race in five straight years but 2024 could once again be the year of the Irish.
Jockey William Buick has won two of the last three Ascot Stakes renewals and he will saddle race favourite Zanndabad for trainer Cathy O’Leary on Tuesday. Zanndabad switched from trainer Tony Martin to his sister Cathy O’Leary following the suspension of the former. Trainer Tony Martin won this race with Leg Spinner in 2005 and whilst Mrs O’Leary is now the official trainer of Zanndabad, it is Tony Martin that would’ve prepared the market leader for Tuesday’s race. Zanndabad was running on gamely in the Chester Cup but had to settle for minor places behind race winner Zoffee.
My Lyka was beaten by a nose in a novice hurdle event at Killarney last month and you have to respect a horse that holds an Irish St Leger entry for champion trainer Willie Mullins. Booking of jockey Ryan Moore is a big plus for My Lyka.
Pied Piper and Boher Road have excellent records over obstacles and will both be well-supported in the Ascot Stakes betting. Pied Piper was a solid second in the Cesarewitch whilst Boher Road has won back-to-back chases over in Ireland.
The leading British hopes seem to be Pledgeofallegience and Tritonic for trainers Sir Mark Prescott and Alan King respectively. Pledgeofallegience won at Goodwood last month and was a solid third behind Prydwen on the AW at Southwell in April. Tritonic was three lengths off Pledgeofallegiance at Southwell, however he was third in this race twelve months ago and now returns off a 5lbs lower mark.
| Ascot Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Zanndabad | 3/1 |
| My Lyka | 5/1 |
| Pied Piper | 15/2 |
| Boher Road, Tritonic, Nusret, Pledgeofallegience | 12/1 |
| Divine Comedy | 16/1 |
| Kyle Of Lochalsh | 18/1 |
| Berkshire Rocco, Almuhit, Tenerife Sunshine | 20/1 |
| Temporize | 22/1 |
| The Very Man, Ndaawi, Law Of The Sea, The Grand Visir | 25/1 |
| Get Shirty | 40/1 |
| Nathanael Greene | 50/1 |
| Master Milliner | 66/1 |
5:40 - Wolferton Stakes
The Wolferton Stakes is one of the newer additions to the Royal Ascot meeting having been established in 2002. Contested over 1m2f, this Listed race is open to horses aged four years and older, the race was run as a handicap until 2017.
John Gosden has won a record four renewals of this race and along with Thady, Gosden holds two top chances this year. Israr won a Group 2 race last summer and was second in the Group 2 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot over 1m4f in October. He has been in encouraging form in a couple more Group races this spring and is a leading player on that form. Stablemate Torito was fourth over C&D in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot meeting and the lightly-raced four-year-old should benefit from a recent run at Newmarket. James Doyle won this race in 2020 with Mountain Angel and he’ll saddle Torito on Tuesday.
The biggest danger to the Gosden pair is likely to be the Roger Varian-trained Botanical. Varian trained Mountain Angel in 2020 and also won the race last year with Royal Champion. Two-time Wolferton winning jockey William Buick rides Botanical and the four-year-old can certainly build on last month’s win at York. Flat figures of 21231-1 ensures Botanical will be taken seriously on Tuesday.
Haunted Dream is the entry attracting a lot of market attention having been backed in to 11/1 from 33/1. Well down the field in last year’s Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes but seems to have enjoyed the step back to 1m2f. Only 1 ¾ lengths off race winner Bolster in an Epsom handicap last time out and whilst this requires another step forward he’s not completely out of the reckoning.
| Wolferton Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Torito | 10/3 |
| Israr | 7/2 |
| Botanical | 5/1 |
| Astro King, Haunted Dream | 11/1 |
| Mujtaba | 14/1 |
| Ancient Rome | 16/1 |
| Checkandchallenge | 18/1 |
| Bold Discovery | 20/1 |
| Cemhaan, Knight | 22/1 |
| Certain Lad, Ouzo | 25/1 |
| Notre Belle Bete | 28/1 |
| Savvy Victory | 33/1 |
| Silver Sword | 50/1 |
6:15 - Copper Horse Handicap
The final race on day one of Royal Ascot is another red-hot handicap race with 16 confirmed entries for the Copper Horse Handicap. Open to horses aged four years and over and contested over 1m6f, this year’s Copper Horse renewal is wide-open.
Willie Mullins achieved a 1-2 in this race twelve months ago and he could go close once again with Belloccio. Heads to Ascot on the back of a nine-length win at Punchestown last month on his only run since switching to Willie Mullins. This race at Ascot requires a major step forward and Belloccio is a race favourite we’re happy to take on on Tuesday.
Fox Journey was a dominant winner at Newmarket last month but will not appreciate a 9lbs hike after that win and heads to Ascot on a career-high mark. In contrast, A Piece Of Heaven remains of a very tidy mark despite easily landing a handicap chase at Leopardstown last month. A Piece Of Heaven has switched yards since and he is a real danger for new trainer Joseph O’Brien.
My Mate Mozzie has been solid over jumps despite being soundly beaten in the Arkle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Won a novices’ chase at Cheltenham in October before running Found A Fifty close at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Now on a career-high on the Flat but certainly capable of delivering a challenge for a leading yard.
| Copper Horse Handicap | Odds |
|---|---|
| Belloccio | 3/1 |
| Fox Journey | 9/2 |
| A Piece Of Heaven | 11/2 |
| My Mate Mozzie | 8/1 |
| Alsakib | 12/1 |
| Naqeeb, Intinso, Party Central | 14/1 |
| Maxi King | 16/1 |
| Kihavah, Lmay, Gentleman Joe | 22/1 |
| Beamish, Tyson Fury | 25/1 |
| Drawn To Dream, Lucander | 50/1 |
Royal Ascot Day One Predictions
- 2:30 - Charyn (10/3)
- 3:05 - Andesite (9/1) / Angelo Buonarroti (25/1) - EW
- 3:45 - Kerdos (10/1)
- 4:25 - Rosallion (7/2)
- 5:05 - Tritonic (12/1)
- 5:40 - Torito (10/3)
- 6:15 - A Piece Of Heaven (11/2)
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