Royal Ascot 2020: Day 1 best bets and tips
The stalls of Royal Ascot are finally flying open as the first major sporting event since the UK entered lockdown begins – without a single spectator on the course.
With the usual star-studded royal roll call, dressed head-to-toe in finery, reduced to watching from home, a bumper television audience is expected on the first of five days of a feast of flat racing that’s the pinnacle of the sport of horse racing. Prize money has been reduced this year due to the hit in revenue from staging a meeting without attendees, but still runs to a handsome £3.8 million.
Tuesday’s key race is the 3.35pm King’s Stand Stakes, where the finest and fastest sprinters meet for a thrilling contest, while the 1.50pm Queen Anne Stakes, which has been won by some of the greatest equestrian athletes including Frankel, is also set to be a cracker.
The nation’s favourite jockey and most famous face in the sport, Frankie Dettori, could also be set to get the meeting off to a bang. He rides the first three favourites in a 50/1 treble and if you fancy him to go two better than his Ladies’ Day four-fold last year, it’s over 30,000/1 that he lands six out of six. If that is the case, expect the bookies to thank their lucky stars they’ve stayed away this year.
ITV’s coverage starts at 1.30pm, kicking off with the second race of the day at 1.50pm, while Sky Sports Racing will show all of the action starting with the 1.15pm contest.
The GQ Bookie may be confined to the safety of the sofa enclosure, but that means there’s even more time to run the rule over the full card, so read on for our idea of today’s winners, with the help of Racing Post’s expert tipsters.
And, remember, this meeting is to be enjoyed as a seven-course tasting menu, so don’t splurge on the starters.
1.15pm Silver Royal Hunt Cup
The first race of any big meeting can really set the tone and an 8/1 winner in a competitive handicap in the form of Oisin Murphy’s ride Kaeso will go down a treat. Speed king Kaeso finished a strong second here in July over the same distance and went off without too much acclaim in his seasonal reappearance when seventh at Newcastle in early June. This run was badly needed, but it’s pushed out the price and, at Ascot, the rattling fast ground will suit him perfectly. 9/2 Daarik beat Kaeso to the line at Newcastle earlier this month and looks a strong competitor, as does the unexposed 8/1 Mutamaasik who was won his last four starts.
Tip: Kaeso 8/1
1.50pm Queen Anne Stakes (Group One)
There’s a vacancy open for Europe’s best senior one-miller and while Aidan O’Brien’s Circus Maximus looks the part, 13/2 Mohaather and 14/1 Mustashry are well-worth considering. Having decisively won a completive Lockinge, Mustashry went off favourite for this race last year and has shown he is more consistent with his form than he was 12 months ago. Group 1 mile races have long been the aim for this season and will certainly outrun his odds. Circus Maximus will be the one to beat after success at last year’s Royal meeting and will likely have the ground in his favour. King Power Racing’s Fox Chairman (8/1) and the ever-improving Duke Of Hazzard (14/1) are others with place claims.
Tip: Circus Maximus 9/4
2.25pm Ribblesdale Stakes (Group Two)
This intriguing contest stands in as a suitable trial for the Oaks at Epsom in July, such is the rescheduled flat racing calendar. 6/4 Frankly Darling heads the market for John Gosden who has won two of the last three renewals of this event, which makes the Frankie Dettori mount the pace-setter for the rest of the field. 5/1 Trefoil ran a fantastic race among listed company at Newmarket this month and the daughter of Teofilo looks progressive for her trainer Ralph Beckett. Ground conditions will play to her strengths and we could see our first short-priced favourite beaten if everything goes her way.
Tip: Trefoil 5/1
3.00pm King Edward VII Stakes (Group Two)
5/6 Aidan O’Brien-trained Mogul is the one to beat here and looks like a tough one to bet against when you consider that the master flat trainer has won this race twice recently. Mogul is the standout entry in this, but he’s not certain to stay the full mile and a half, which prompts you to look elsewhere. Lightly raced 9/2-shot Mohican Heights is one to consider, but 16/1 Pyledriver could produce a stunning upset. William Muir’s entry put in an eye-catching performance when runner-up in the Classic Trial at Kempton to Berlin Tango and arguably has the best form behind Mogul. Another improvement from his last run as he steps up in trip could be hugely rewarding for connections.
Tip: Pyledriver 16/1
3.35pm King’s Stand Stakes (Group One)
It is almost impossible to look beyond 8/11 Battaash, who is many people’s banker for the week. Charlie Hills’ stable-star was second in this race last year behind Blue Point, but benefits from a slight reduction in the quality of those around him this time. Elsewhere, 6/1 Liberty Beach is a filly that has shown she could be the next sprinting star in the making. She was just about the best 5f juvenile of her sex last year, winning the Molecomb at Goodwood and was already beaten when given a poor draw in the Queen Mary at Ascot last year when fourth to Raffle Prize. Beating a peak-form Battaash is no easy day in the office, but a strongly run 5f is going to play to her strengths.
Tip: Battaash 8/11; Liberty Beach 6/1
4.10pm Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group Two)
John Gosden has been extremely keen on 4/1 Nazeef’s chances of taking on Sir Michael Stoute’s 7/2 favourite Jubiloso, but there may well be a bit more promise further down the field. Jubiloso and 7/1 Lavender's Blue are the fillies with the most potential based on last season’s return; they’re yet to run this year and Stoute's second runner 4/1 Queen Power is just as talented. When second in her comeback race this season at Newmarket, Queen Power was given no chance due to the excellent race that Queen Anne second-favourite Terebellum produced. Provided there is a quick gallop, which with the flat and rigid track at Ascot these one-mile contests almost always are, the slight drop in trip could carry her over the line.
Tip: Queen Power 7/1
4.40pm Ascot Stakes
National Hunt 2019/20 champion trainer Nicky Henderson saddles the 4/1 favourite VerdanaBlue in this one, but the top jump racing trainer is unlikely to be at the winning post today. Verdana Blue has won at Grade One over hurdles and will certainly benefit from a slower-run race, but 9/1 Moon King and Land Of Oz won’t be so accommodating and are likely to set a strong pace. Moon King roared back to form for trainer Ralph Beckett with a solid victory at Haydock earlier this month on seasonal reappearance and has the potential to replicate some of his best form over this extreme distance.
Tip: Moon King 9/1
With extensive coverage of all the racing, interviews with the biggest names, tipping from our renowned experts and all the cards and form,The Racing Postis your unmissable guide to Royal Ascot.
