Royal Ascot tips: who do the experts think will win this week?
The eagerly anticipated Royal Ascot meeting (18-22 June) is finally upon us – five days of top class racing, a star-studded cast of horses and jockeys, and eye-catching millinery are the buzzwords this week, so what about some Royal Ascot tips?
We’ve asked some horse racing experts to share their expertise for this historic Flat racing event, one of the highlights of the British racing calendar.
ITV Racing will be live at Royal Ascot every day while horseandhound.co.uk will keep you updated with all the latest news and stories, as well as bringing you all the insight and exclusive interviews in next week’s magazine, in the shops on Thursday 27 June.
Enjoy this great show!
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Royal Ascot tips from the experts
Tuesday 18 June
Camille Pisarro in the Coventry Stakes (3.05pm)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: Ryan Moore
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Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Cost 1,250,000gns as a yearling and has the benefit of two races under his belt. Represents trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race multiple times.”
Rogue Lightning in the King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: Tom Clover | Jockey: James Doyle
Racing journalist Tom Peacock says: “A course and distance winner in handicap company who looks ready for this sort of challenge after looking as if he can build on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month.”
Believing in the King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: George Boughey | Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
ITV Racing’s Oli Bell says: “I like Believing in the King Charles III stakes on Tuesday. He looked very good when winning at Haydock recently and if the ground is decent, will be hard to beat!”
Big Evs in the King Charles III Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: Michael Appleby | Jockey: Tom Marquand
ITV Racing presenter Adele Mulrennan says: “The speedster Big Evs won here last year as a juvenile in the Windsor Castle. He then had a decent comeback run which showed us he’s retained that ability. He now has a chance to secure himself as the best sprinter around as he takes on the fastest sprinters in the King Charles lll stakes on Tuesday.”
Notable Speech in the St James’s Palace Stakes (4.25pm)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby | Jockey: William Buick
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Unbeaten colt who won the 2000 Guineas on latest start. Runner-up Rosallion a danger once again.”
My Lyka in the Ascot Stakes (5.05pm)
Trainer: Willie Mullins | Jockey: Ryan Moore
H&H racing editor Jennifer Donald says: “Only joined the all-conquering Willie Mullins stable in May and finished second on debut in a 2m4f messily-run novice hurdle after a year away from the track so you’d expect him to come on significantly from that performance. This is a very competitive handicap and the gelding didn’t win over anything close to 2m4f on the Flat in France before heading to Ireland, but the trainer has won this race three times with Ryan Moore in the plate, so that’s enough to seal the deal for me.”
Wednesday 19 June
Kassaya in the Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm)
Trainer: Andrew Balding | Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “A half-sister to Classic winner Chaldean, might be the answer to this tricky race. Englemere, from George Boughey’s in-form yard, is another interesting contender at a double-figure price.”
Mina Rashid in the Queen’s Vase (3.05pm)
Trainer: Andrew Balding | Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Improved for going up in trip on quicker ground at Chester and could be suited by this test.”
Villanova Queen in the Kensington Palace Stakes (5.40pm)
Trainer: Jessica Harrington | Jockey: Shane Foley
Racing journalist Tom Peacock says of the next of his Royal Ascot tips: “Last year’s winner of the Kensington Palace looks to have been targeted at the race again and is set to be just 1lb higher in the handicap.”
Thursday 20 June
Whistlejacket in the Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: TBC
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Won impressively on his latest start and the form has been franked since.”
Diamond Rain in the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby | Jockey: William Buick
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Diamond Rain is hard to ignore after impressive recent win at Newbury. Eleven years ago her dam, Dancing Rain, was sold to Sheikh Mohammed for 4,000,000gns.”
King’s Gambit in the Hampton Court Stakes (5.40pm)
Trainer: Harry Charlton | Jockey: William Buick
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin says: “King’s Gambit won my favourite race, the London Gold Cup at Newbury in May, which looked red hot this year. He runs in the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday.”
Friday 21 June
Fairy Godmother in the Albany Stakes (2.30pm)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien | Jockey: TBC
ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles says of his Royal Ascot tip: “Fairy Godmother looks to have a leading chance for Aidan O’Brien in the Albany Stakes. She showed a good turn of foot to get up and win at Naas and should be competitive in what looks a decent renewal.”
Elmalka in the Coronation Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: Roger Varian | Jockey: James Doyle
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Elmalka won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month and can once again beat fillies who lined up against her on that occasion.”
Space Legend in the King Edward VII Stakes (5.40pm)
Trainer: William Haggas | Jockey: James Doyle
Racing journalist Tom Peacock says: “As big an eye-catcher as you’ll see on his last start in a trial at Goodwood when not getting a clear run and since snapped up by the big-spending Wathnan Racing.”
Saturday 22 June
Age Of Gold in the Chesham Stakes (2.30pm)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby | Jockey: William Buick
ITV Racing presenter Megan Nicholls says of her Royal Ascot tip: “A son of Frankel, he was impressive on his debut at Yarmouth having been green early on in the race, but winning impressively. I think he’ll improve again over a slightly longer trip.”
Mill Stream in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam | Jockey: TBC
Racing journalist Carl Evans says: “Jane Chapple-Hyam’s horses are in good form and her Mill Stream won at York latest start. It was a narrow victory, but with a clearer run he might have scored more easily.
Balmacara in the Gold Gate Stakes (5.40pm) or the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday (5.40pm)
Trainer: Eve Johnson-Houghton | Jockey: Charles Bishop
H&H racing editor Jennifer Donald says: “I’m signing off with an each-way long-shot. This three-year-old steps into the unknown over 1m2f at Royal Ascot and he’ll be sent off around 25/1, but he looked smart when defying a penalty with a winning double in novice company at Doncaster in the spring and this shrewd trainer may be on to something with these entries.”
How to bet on your Royal Ascot pick
It is important that you gamble responsibly and you can read more advice on how to bet here. Enjoy!
Get £10 in FREE bets
Want to place a bet on any of these races? Sign up to Betway and receive a £10 welcome bet.
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.