Royal Ascot gets underway on Tuesday, 16 June, with a high-class seven-race card headed by three Group 1 contests, including the Queen Anne Stakes, King Charles III Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes.
The opening day of the royal meeting rarely disappoints, and this year’s renewal looks no different, with established Group 1 performers, exciting two-year-olds and competitive handicaps combining to provide a compelling start to the five-day festival.
Royal Ascot Day One Betting Tips
- 2.30 Notable Speech 7/4
- 3.05 Great Barrier Reef 6/1 (e/w)
- 3.40 American Affair 8/1 (e/w)
- 4.20 Bow Echo 5/4
- 5.00 Reaching High 9/4 (NAP)
- 5.35 Wimbledon Hawkeye 9/1 (e/w)
- 6.10 Ascending 11/1 (e/w)
*Odds subject to change
Royal Ascot 2:30 - Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1m)
Last year’s winner Docklands returns to the scene of his biggest success and arrives in good heart following a victory at Doncaster and a solid Group 1 effort in Hong Kong. Ascot clearly brings out the best in him, and another bold bid looks assured.
However, the race revolves around NOTABLE SPEECH, whose Lockinge Stakes success at Newbury was a reminder of the exceptional talent he possesses. A five-time Group 1 winner and Classic scorer, Charlie Appleby’s star showed a devastating turn of foot on his latest start and sets a clear standard.
Damysus is capable of better than he showed last time and could outrun his odds if rediscovering the form of his Group 3 success.
- Selection: Notable Speech 7/4
- Danger: Damysus 16/1
Royal Ascot 3:05 - Group 2 Coventry Stakes (6f)
Aidan O’Brien has an enviable record in this juvenile contest and appears to hold a strong hand once again through market leader Confucius, who is the choice of Ryan Moore, and stablemate GREAT BARRIER REEF.
Confucius was unlucky not to open his account on debut before opening his account in straightforward fashion at Naas and is certain to attract plenty of support at the top of the market.
Preference, however, is for the Great Barrier Reef. Unbeaten in two starts, the son of No Nay Never looked a colt with considerable potential when overcoming greenness and a slow start to score impressively last time. The stiff six furlongs of Ascot should suit, and further improvement looks likely.
God Given Talent made a taking debut and could emerge as a lively outsider, while Mrair and Cut A Dash also warrant consideration.
- Selection: Great Barrier Reef 6/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Confucius 7/4
Royal Ascot 3:40 - Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (5f)
Australian raider Overpass adds an international dimension to the opening-day sprint. A proven Group 1 performer at home, he brings strong form to the table, including a not beaten far fourth to superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising, and his connections would not be making the journey without genuine confidence.
Fellow Australian Asfoora won this race in 2024 and cannot be discounted despite two below-par efforts this season.
The value may lie with defending champion AMERICAN AFFAIR, who returned from a lengthy absence with a below-par run, but left that behind with an encouraging second behind Night Raider at Haydock. That run should have sharpened him considerably, and his proven record over Ascot’s demanding five furlongs makes him an appealing each-way proposition.
Big Mojo and Rumstar head the list of dangers.
- Selection: American Affair 8/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Big Mojo 20/1
Royal Ascot 4:20 - Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes (1m)
The standout race on the card sees 2000 Guineas winner BOW ECHO renew rivalry with Irish 2000 Guineas hero Gstaad.
George Boughey’s unbeaten colt produced one of the performances of the spring when dominating the Newmarket Classic and looked every inch a top-class miler when leaving Gstaad in his wake.
Gstaad has since gone on to enhance his own reputation since Newmarket by landing the Irish equivalent, but he will need to find further improvement to reverse the form with Bow Echo
If Bow Echo reproduces anything close to his Guineas display, he should remain unbeaten.
- Selection: Bow Echo 5/6
- Danger: Gstaad 3/1
Royal Ascot 5: 00 - Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (2m4f)
Willie Mullins has made this race his own in recent years, and REACHING HIGH looks poised to provide the master of Closutton with another success.
The Royal-owned stayer endured a luckless passage in last year’s renewal yet still finished within striking distance of the principals. Significantly, he returns from a lengthy absence off the same mark, and it seems he has been laid out to right the wrongs of last year. Should he endure a cleaner passage than last season, Reaching High can prove hard to beat.
Tim Toe has progressed steadily for Henry de Bromhead and rates a major threat for last year's winning trainer, while Bunting and Beylerbeyi also enter calculations.
- Selection: Reaching High 9/4
- Danger: Tim Toe 20/1
Royal Ascot 5:35 - Listed Wolferton Stakes (1m2f)
Haatem returns seeking back-to-back victories in the race and sets the standard on established form.
The one who appeals most, and who could have more improvement to come, is WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE. James Owen’s four-year-old shaped better than the bare result when finishing behind Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and should be much sharper for that outing.
A strong pace and a stiff finish would play to his strengths, while his proven stamina could prove decisive in the closing stages.
Arabian Light, Gaucher and Galen add further depth to a competitive renewal.
- Selection: Wimbledon Hawkeye 9/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Haatem 6/1
Royal Ascot 6:10 - Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) (1m6f)
Valiancy is likely to prove popular given his similarities to last year’s winner French Master and appears attractively treated. But at the odds in a race of this nature, he’s there to be taken on.
Joseph O’Brien’s Aeronautic is another capable of making his presence felt if reproducing the form he showed at Meydan earlier in the year, but that is a big if.
Marginal preference, however, is for ASCENDING, who landed the Ascot Stakes twelve months ago before continuing to perform with credit in stronger company. His seasonal return in the Sagaro Stakes was underwhelming, but connections may have had this meeting in mind all along.
If returning to his best, he looks capable of mounting a serious challenge despite top weight for a yard who are having a good time of it recently.
- Selection: Ascending 11/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Daiquiri Bay 6/1
Stay tuned for the Day Two tips and more fun from Royal Ascot racecourses.
