Royal Ascot Day Two Preview & Odds
In addition to a comprehensive overview of all seven of Wednesday’s races, you will also find the very best race odds and free bet offers
There are seven more hotly-anticipated races taking place on day two of Royal Ascot including the day’s feature race; the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Here at betting.bet we will cast our eye over all seven races, offering in-depth previews of each race whilst profiling some of the market leaders. In addition to a comprehensive overview of all seven of Wednesday’s races, you will also find the very best race odds and free bet offers from our partners at BoyleSports.
2:30 - Queen Mary Stakes
Wednesday’s racing gets underway in hugely exciting fashion with 26 runners confirmed for the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes. Contested by two-year-old fillies over a straight 5f, the Queen Mary Stakes was established back in 1921 and has held Group 2 status since 2004.
Choosing a winner from this year’s field could be a minefield with so many entries possessing a real chance of success. Draw bias suggests that a higher draw is preferred whilst the majority of recent Queen Mary winners have at least one previous Ascot run under their belts.
There are three C&D winners entered into the Queen Mary and each has a real chance of winning the day’s opener. Miss Rascal won at Ascot last month but has been handed a far from ideal stall five draw. Xanthe won over C&D on her only previous run back last month and her dam Gilded won the 2008 renewal of this race. The last of the three C&D winners entered is the pick of the bunch with Enchanting Empress set to run for new trainer Raphael Freire. Enchanting Empress is 3-3 with her win at Ascot sandwiched in between race wins at Wolverhampton and Sandown.
This year’s market leader is Make Haste for Irish trainer Diego Dias. Her only previous run produced a dominant win in a 5f maiden over at Naas at this race has always been the aim for her. Leovanni was equally as impressive when winning on debut at Nottingham earlier this month and could take another big step forward for in-form trainer Karl Burke.
Truly Enchanting found plenty to get the better of Oxford Rock on debut for trainer Aidan O’Brien but this could prove a little quick for a horse that seems to have been bred for a lot further than Wednesday’s minimum distance.
Respected American trainer Wesley Ward is a four-time winner of this race having won previously with Jealous Again (2009), Acapulco (2015), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020). Ward returns again this year with Ultima Grace and she looked very impressive on debut at Keeneland in April. Drawn favourably in stall 17, Ultima Grace could be the one to beat in Wednesday’s opener.
| Queen Mary Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Make Haste | 5/1 |
| Leovanni, Truly Enchanting | 7/1 |
| Miss Rascal | 9/1 |
| Ultima Grace | 10/1 |
| Enchanting Empress | 12/1 |
| Betty Clover, Kassaya, Mighty Eriu | 14/1 |
| Amestris, Spherical | 16/1 |
| Xanthe | 18/1 |
| Englemere | 20/1 |
| Miss Lamai | 22/1 |
| Glorious Kitty, Maw Lam, Oxford Rock, Seraphim Angel, Where's Clare | 33/1 |
| Adrestia, Flash The Cash, Kiss Me My Love, Kuwaitya, Ruby's Profit, Sands Of Havana | 50/1 |
| Flicka's Girl | 80/1 |
3:05 - Queen’s Vase
The second race of the day is yet another wide-open Group 2 race with 12 confirmed entries for the Queen’s Vase. This famous old race was established back in 1838 and is contested over 1m6f. The race is open to three-year-olds and was upgraded from a Listed race to a Group 2 in 2017.
Aidan O’Brien trained seven Queen’s Vase winners between 2007 and 2020 but he has failed to win any of the race’s last three renewals - his longest losing streak since winning his first Queen’s Vase in 2007. O’Brien possesses four of the top six in the betting for this year’s renewal as he looks to regain his Queen’s Vase crown.
Illinois was second to Derby runner up Ambiente Friendly in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month and certainly looked like he’d appreciate the extra quarter mile on Wednesday. Ryan Moore takes the saddle for the race favourite. Next in the betting is stablemate Highbury. Winner of a Leopardstown maiden over 1m4f last month and another that looks suited to the step up in trip.
Grosvenor Square won a Group 3 contest at Leopardstown last October but failed to justify favouritism when finishing 10 lengths adrift of Hidden Law in the Chester Vase. Could bounce back on Wednesday but others preferred. The fourth O’Brien runner is The Equator. The lowest rated of the O’Brien quartet but not to be taken lightly stepping up in trip. Won over 1m2f on heavy ground at Leopardstown in April before following up with a fourth place finish in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh last month.
The latest race odds suggest that the biggest threat to Aidan O’Brien’s Queen’s Vase hopes is Birdman for Jessica Harrington. 2-2 after following up success in a maiden in April by winning a Listed contest at Navan last month. However, we feel the main danger to the O’Brien team could be Meydaan. Well-held by Illinois at Lingfield but bounced back to win a Listed contest at Goodwood. Will relish the step up to 1m6f and could be a big player on Wednesday.
| Queen’s Vase | Odds |
|---|---|
| Illinois | 9/4 |
| Highbury | 3/1 |
| Birdman | 11/2 |
| Grosvenor Square | 7/1 |
| Meydaan | 8/1 |
| The Equator | 10/1 |
| Mina Rashid | 16/1 |
| Imperial Sovereign | 25/1 |
| Pappano | 33/1 |
| Lavender Hill Mob, See The Green | 40/1 |
| Mr Hampstead | 50/1 |
3:45 - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
One of the more recent additions to Royal Ascot, the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes was established in 2004 and originally known as the Windsor Forest Stakes. The Duke Of Cambridge Stakes is contested over a straight one mile and open to fillies and mares aged four years and above.
Last year’s race winner Rogue Millennium has an excellent chance of winning again this year. Now representing Joseph O’Brien’s yard, Rogue Millennium had no luck in running at the Curragh on his stable debut last month but could bounce back. That race at the Curragh was won by Ocean Jewel with fellow Duke Of Cambridge entry Orchid Bloom well beaten.
The betting markets suggest that Gregarina could be Joseph O’Brien’s second string here but she has an excellent chance of defying a big price with William Buick in the saddle. Won a Group 3 over 7f last month and has a great chance up in trip.
The market leader is Laurel for John and Thady Gosden despite an absence of more than a year. Last seen when flopping in the 2023 Lockinge Stakes 396 days ago but three wins and a close second in the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes prior to that is certainly form to be respected. Stablemate Running Lion has to be considered based on her best form but was disappointing last time, finishing 8/8 in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom earlier this month.
Breege was the race winner in that Epsom Group 3 and whilst this represents another step forward, she has to be respected for a top yard. Royal Dress was just ¾ of a length back in third at Epsom and may well reverse that form with the hood retained.
| Duke of Cambridge Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Laurel | 11/4 |
| Rogue Millennium | 10/3 |
| Ocean Jewel | 15/2 |
| Breege, Royal Dress | 10/1 |
| Running Lion | 12/1 |
| Doom, Gregarina | 14/1 |
| Novus, Orchid Bloom, Sea The Lady | 16/1 |
| Magical Sunset | 33/1 |
| Julia Augusta | 50/1 |
| Nibras Angel | 100/1 |
4:25 - Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is the only Group 1 race scheduled for day two of Royal Ascot and is the day’s feature race. Established back in 1862, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes is contested over 1m2f by horses aged four years and over. The race has held Group 1 status since 2000 and this year’s renewal features some of last year’s best three-year-olds.
Race favourite, Auguste Rodin has become a real enigma over the past twelve months. The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old landed four significant Group 1 wins in 2023 including the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf however, dotted amongst those wins are a 2000 Guineas where he finished 12/14, 10/10 in the King George and 12/12 in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Auguste Rodin was a beaten favourite in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time out and it remains to be seen which version of this talented horse will run at Ascot on Wednesday.
If Auguste Rodin flatters to deceive once more, Inspiral looks the most likely to capitalise. Inspiral was a Breeders’ Cup winner on her only previous run over 1m2f. The Gosden-trained five-year-old boasts solid form at Royal Ascot, winning the Group 1 Coronation Stakes in 2022 before finishing second by a neck in last year’s Queen Anne Stakes. Below-par on her return to action in the Lockinge last month but has every chance on Wednesday.
Horizon Dore and Blue Rose Cen are well-supported based on their strong French form. Blue Rose Cen flopped in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last summer and now returns to the UK after returning to form with a couple of eye-catching runs at Longchamp.
| Prince Of Wales’s Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Auguste Rodin | 7/4 |
| Inspiral | 9/4 |
| Horizon Dore | 7/1 |
| Alflaila | 8/1 |
| Blue Rose Cen | 9/1 |
| Royal Rhyme, Zarakem | 20/1 |
| Lord North | 25/1 |
| Hans Andersen, Snobbish | 100/1 |
5:05 - Royal Hunt Cup
Established back in 1843 and open to horses aged three years and over, the Royal Hunt Cup is a hugely popular race with a large field always present for this straight one mile sprint. There are 30 runners confirmed for the 2024 renewal of this huge handicap and the market is wide-open.
The current market leader is Wild Tiger for trainer Saeed bin Surror. Remains lightly-raced but is 3-3 in UK races. Won handicaps last month at Yarmouth and Goodwood and should run well for a trainer that has won this race twice before.
Real Gain is another low-mileage entry that seems to have been targeting this race for some time. 10/21 in the Spring Cup at Newbury but will undoubtedly come on for that run. Beshtani is another that should be prominent in the famous Wathnan Racing silks. The four-year-old was edged out at Epsom on his first run since switching from France to the new Newmarket base of Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani.
Sonny Liston finished second in the race last year and is a consistent sort. Winner on his return to action at Newbury last month and should give another strong account of himself off top weight. Aerion was fourth in the race twelve months ago but runs under a penalty following a solid win at Nottingham two weeks ago.
Coeur d’Or has attracted plenty of market support for Irish trainer Dermot Weld. Winner of three races in Ireland last year and gave a solid account of himself on his seasonal reappearance at the Curragh last month. At a bigger price, the likes of Bless Him and Dutch Decoy could give a decent account of themselves on Wednesday.
| Royal Hunt Cup | Odds |
|---|---|
| Real Gain, Wild Tiger | 8/1 |
| Beshtani | 9/1 |
| Coeur d'Or | 10/1 |
| Sonny Liston | 12/1 |
| Streets Of Gold, Metal Merchant, Tempus | 14/1 |
| Holloway Boy, Aerion Power | 16/1 |
| Perotto, Daysofourlives | 18/1 |
| Bless Him, Dutch Decoy, Regheeb, Crack Shot | 20/1 |
| Talis Evolvere | 22/1 |
| The Gatekeeper | 25/1 |
| Ropey Guest, Fantastic Fox | 28/1 |
| Kingdom Come, Blue For You, Thunder Ball | 33/1 |
| Sean, Raadobarg, Padishakh, Mirsky | 40/1 |
| King's Code, Eldrickjones | 50/1 |
| Imperial Fighter | 66/1 |
5:40 - Kensington Palace Stakes
The penultimate race on day two of Royal Ascot is the Kensington Palace Stakes. Open to fillies aged four years and over, the Kensington Palace Stakes is contested over a straight one mile with 25 confirmed entries for this year’s renewal.
Summer Of Love is a fascinating entry. She heads the market for trainer Saeed bin Surror despite all three previous runs coming on Kempton’s all-weather track. Back-to-back wins include a solid effort less than two weeks ago and plenty to like about her.
Elim returned after a lay-off of more than a year when fourth at Redcar last month. Should appreciate that run and the first two at Redcar have kicked on to win again since. Twirling has eased slightly in the market but remains a horse of real interest following two solid runs last month.
Azahara Palace has been backed in from 25/1 to 12/1 and she is a very interesting entry. Up 7lbs for her win at Leicester three weeks ago but the second-placed horse is a subsequent winner and she has been well-drawn on the standside.
| Kensington Palace Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Summer Of Love | 13/2 |
| Elim | 7/1 |
| Twirling | 9/1 |
| Doha | 10/1 |
| Azahara Palace, Aurora Dawn | 12/1 |
| Adelaise, Mystic Pearl, Fakhama, Rowayeh, Roarin' Success, Hopeful, Rajindri | 16/1 |
| Karsavina | 18/1 |
| Villanova Queen, Vetiver | 20/1 |
| Farhh To Shy | 25/1 |
| Cell Sa Beela, Moonspirit, Mother Mary | 33/1 |
| Mammas Girl, Back See Daa, Ciara Pearl | 40/1 |
| Victoria Falls | 50/1 |
| Canoodled | 66/1 |
6:15 - Windsor Castle Stakes
The final race of the day is a Listed contest for juvenile sprinters. The Windsor Castle Stakes is open to two-year-olds and contested over a straight 5f.
Aidan O’Brien has won the race on three previous occasions having won with Washington DC (2015), Southern Hills (2019) and Little Big Bear (2022) and the leading trainer has two real major players in this year’s renewal. Treasure Isle heads the market having made all at Naas last month. Celtic Chieftain has trodden a similar path as he won at Naas just ten days ago. Looked green on debut and may be one to keep an eye on later in the year but for now preference is for Treasure Isle with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
Shadow Army won a strong looking race at York on debut for in-form trainer Ricahrd Fahey. James Doyle is booked to ride and he looks a really exciting prospect. Pont Neuf is 2-2 for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and he could be a real danger. Has kept on well in both previous runs and could be hard to claw back from a plum stall 23 draw.
Jm Jhingree is the entry with the most miles on the clock with four previous races already. Won a maiden at Redcar before following up to finish third at Beverley next time. Below-par at Catterick today but if he’s declared to run in tomorrow’s race at Ascot he could be of interest at a huge price.
| Windsor Castle Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Treasure Isle | 7/2 |
| Celtic Chieftain, Shadow Army | 5/1 |
| Pont Neuf | 8/1 |
| Hawaiian | 10/1 |
| Gabaldon, Honorary American | 14/1 |
| Cheval De Guerre | 16/1 |
| Ain't Nobody | 18/1 |
| Sir Yoshi | 25/1 |
| Artagnan, Sex On Fire, Vingegaard, Aviation Time | 33/1 |
| Rudi's Apple | 40/1 |
| Brosay, End Of Story, Karl Carlston, Reposado, Rock N Roll Rocket, Zabeel Road | 50/1 |
| Arabian Cobra, Calyxoh, Fuji Mountain, Jm Jhingree, Weissmuller | 66/1 |
| Bretton Wood, Sensorium | 100/1 |
Royal Ascot Day Two Predictions
- 2:30 - Ultima Grace (10/1)
- 3:05 - Illinois (9/4)
- 3:45 - Breege (10/1)
- 4:25 - Auguste Rodin (7/4)
- 5:05 - Beshtani (9/1)
- 5:40 - Elim (7/1)
- 6:15 - Treasure Isle (7/2)
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