Royal Ascot 2017: Saturday's top tips
Tuesday morning suddenly feels like a long time ago as we enter the final furlong of the marathon contest that is Royal Ascot week. It's been tough enough watching and betting on the action remotely, so kudos to anyone who has stayed the distance by attending the meeting each day in some of the hottest June weather in history. We're sure the corporate refreshment played its part in making things more manageable.
An eye-watering sum of money has changed hands in the betting ring with honours roughly even in the ancient battle between bookmaker and punter and, if you'll excuse the cliché, it really is all to play for on the final day. Luckily, you have our expert betting team on hand to offer you some guidance.
Saturday is arguably the weakest day's racing of the entire meeting (not that it bothers the sellout crowd in any way) yet the highlight is still another fascinating Group One sprint contest, which sees one of the public's favourite flat horses, Limato, bid to add another top-class race to his roster under the peerless Ryan Moore.
Not for the first time this week, the Queen wrought enough havoc and confusion to make the Brexitnegotiations look seamless with her choice of hat leaving some bewildered bookies to pay out on up to three colours.
Anyway, it's best of British on the final day and hopefully you've enjoyed the sport of kings like you've been in the royal box all week.
Top Saturday Royal Ascot betting stats
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is a wide-open race targeted by a range of trainers from all over the world, so it's no surprise that ten different handlers have won the last ten runnings.
The race has only been won by three of the last ten favourites, with three horses running at 25/1 or bigger in the last ten years.
Course experience is important in the Hardwicke Stakes; eight of the last 12 winners have had at least one spin around Ascot prior to today.
Consider backing a younger horse in this race as nine of the last 12 winners have been four-year-olds.
Many bookies have given up trying to second guess the Queen's choice of hat colour at this stage. Some make orange the favourite but the market is wide open.
Race by race tips
2.30pm Chesham StakesAfter Caravaggio's win in the Friday feature, September (6/4) will be all the rage for the same jockey, trainer and owner. Connections are known for using this race to bring a good young horse through the ranks and this favourite can get punters off to a great start on the last day. Westerland (11/1), son of the legendary Frankel, should be good enough to be in the mix if he improves in line with his pedigree.
3.05pm Wolferton HandicapA tricky race featuring several horses stepping down in grade. Central Square (8/1) is as tough as old boots, even trying a hurdle race at one point in his career, so can be taken to have the required stamina, while Ayrad (16/1) is definitely of interest if the trainer can get him fit enough for what is his seasonal reappearance.
3.40pm Hardwicke StakesDartmouth (7/4) will be one of the day's bankers for the Queen and a trainer who has won five of the last seven runnings of the contest. Ryan Moore is booked to ride and having not been suited by soft ground last time, he can make amends today. Idaho (6/1) is a horse who has always rubbed shoulders in the very best company and having unseated his rider as favourite in last season's St Leger, he can chase the main selection home.
4.20pm Diamond Jubilee StakesThe feature race is one that has often gone the way of a horse coming to race from further afield, but on this occasion the trophy looks set to stay on these shores as Limato (3/1), Magical Memory (6/1) and The Tin Man (8/1) can battle out what could well be one of the closest finishes of the week. Limato is one of the most popular sprinters in training and providing the rain stays away, he should get the better of Magical Memory who is better suited to soft ground.
5.00pm Wokingham StakesAs is often the case, the race to follow the feature is an absolute head scratcher and not one many punters would want to face down if they had been unlucky the race before. Squats (20/1) has course-winning form in these big field handicaps while Duke Of Firenze (25/1) is another horse who has enjoyed contests like this over the years.
5.35pm Queen Alexandra StakesThe final race of the meeting is also the longest at Royal Ascot and the second furthest of the entire flat season. Often targeted by jumps trainers who fancy giving their owners a day out in the sun, several National Hunt-bred horses have to be given a huge shout. Thomas Hobson(3/1) was one of the most impressive winners of the week on Tuesday and if he is over the exertions of that race he is surely in with a big chance of bringing the meeting to a close in favour of punters. First Mohican (33/1) has the stamina and may plug on past tired horses to place, while Fun Mac (8/1) was unlucky when caught out by the tight bends at Chester last time.
