Royal Ascot gets underway later in the month, taking place between June 15th and 19th, and the five-day meeting is set to welcome back spectators – with an allocation of 12,000 permitted each day.
If you’re already counting down to the meeting, and mulling over the latest Royal Ascot odds, don’t worry! We’ve highlighted the feature race on each day, and who’s best to stick your money on. Read on to find out our top picks.
Day 1: King’s Stand Stakes
You simply can’t look beyond the leading favourite, Battaash. The Charles Hill-trained horse was the front-runner last year and didn’t disappoint, beating Equilateral by two-and-a-quarter lengths. He hasn’t raced this season, but heads straight into the Ascot opening day centrepiece in good form – having won three races last season.
Alternatively, the British-bred Glass Slippers is worth a shout. Having placed in four of her five races last season – with wins in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Keeneland) and at the Curragh – she’s proved herself over sprint distances and will prove good value in the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes.
Day 2: Prince of Wales’ Stakes
Another defending champion, looking to retain his title, Lord North romped to victory last year. A dip in form saw him finish last at Ascot in October, losing out to Addeybb in the Champion Stakes – but the gelding began this season with a win, in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan.
But don’t rule out Love. The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was a two-time Classic winner last season, with dominant displays in the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. She also continued her great form, with Ryan Moore in the saddle, winning the Yorkshire Oaks. She will kick-off her campaign at Epsom in the Oaks again, before arriving at Royal Ascot.
Day 3: Ascot Gold Cup
Stradivarius will be looking to emulate the feat of Yeats in the Ascot Gold Cup, by winning four successive editions of the race. The three-time winner recently won the trial for the Gold Cup – the Sagaro Stakes, at Ascot – sparking a return to form after a number of disappointing performances. Can Frankie Dettori keep the dream alive?
Subjectivist has already won Dubai’s namesake race at Meydan, and the four-year-old has proved himself over longer distances. As a minor, the Mark Johnston-trained colt showed promise and ended last season with a Group 1 victory in the Prix Royal Oak at Longchamp.
Day 4: Commonwealth Cup
Trainer Wesley Ward is excited ahead of the Coronation Cup, and his Irish-bred Campanelle is the market favourite. The filly was well-beaten at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at the back-end of 2020, but prior to that, had been unbeaten in three starts.
Provided she can make her way over from France to Ascot, Suesa will be looking to give trainer Francois Rohaut a first winner at Ascot – he’s previously been unsuccessful in nine attempts. The three-year-old filly has 100% winning record – with all her races coming at Chantilly.
Day 5: Diamond Jubilee Stakes
A thrilling performance at York, which saw Oisin Murphy in the saddle, as Starman won by neck over Nahaarr in the Duke of York Stakes, has propelled the colt to the top of the bookies’ odds. The hopes are high – and of Starman, jockey Murphy said:
“He’s a very exciting horse for the year. It’s great to find a really good horse again.”
After finishing second in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and both times losing by a head, could it be third time lucky for Sir Michael Stoute’s Dream of Dreams? The gelding has a win under his belt already this season, winning a listed race at Windsor last month, and will be good value going into Royal Ascot.
