'A Royal Ascot hottie' - top bookmakers reveal their biggest liabilities

Royal Ascot kicks off on Tuesday, June 15, with five days of top-class Flat action taking place at the glamorous Berkshire venue. Frankie Dettori has been the key ally for punters in the battle with the bookmakers for the past two years, and here leading firms reveal which horses they are fearing most next week.

Royal Ascot 2021: the full running order, TV schedule and day-by-day race times

Betfair

Barry Orr: "The ever-improving Lady Bowthorpe in the Duke of Cambridge (3.40, Wednesday) is one of our biggest liabilities on the Sportsbook. Her second to Palace Pier in the Lockinge marked her out as a Royal Ascot hottie. She is 9-4 favourite and is sure to go off short.

"On the Exchange, there's been £7k matched in the Queen Anne (2.30, Tuesday) and £6k of it is on Palace Pier. From a high of 3.2 (9-4) for £110 to his current price of 1.53 (8-15)."

Coral

David Stevens: "As always ahead of these big meetings, our ante-post positions will be dwarfed by the money we take each day, but as things stand three horses catch the eye. We went 6-4 about Palace Pier for the Queen Anne (2.30, Tuesday) immediately following his Lockinge win, and his odds have contracted all the way down to the current 1-2, with many punters clearly regarding him as the banker of the week."

Palace Pier: could get punters off to a flying start in the Queen AnneCredit: Pool

"Elsewhere, his stablemate Lord North has been popular for the Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20, Wednesday) and is favourite to win the race again, while Kaufymaker has been a recent market mover for the Coventry Stakes (3.05, Tuesday) following an upbeat report from trainer Wesley Ward, and is now the clear 4-1 market leader, having been installed in the betting at 8-1."

Ladbrokes

Nicola McGeady: "The biggest liability is Tim Easterby's Winter Power in the King's Stand Stakes (3.40, Tuesday). After winning at York last month, she's been subject to plenty of support and is one we could do with getting turned over.

"Punters haven't forgotten how impressive Subjectivist was in the Dubai Gold Cup and have sided with him over Royal Ascot hero Stradivarius in the Gold Cup (4.20, Thursday).

Paddy Power

Paul Binfield: "Supremacy in the Commonwealth Cup (3.40, Friday) is currently our biggest Royal Ascot loser despite a disappointing comeback in the Pavilion Stakes at the same venue in April.

"However, it's fair to say that punters seem to be forgiving him that performance and an impressive victory in the Richmond Stakes and an extremely game success in the top-class Middle Park Stakes as a two-year-old would appear to give him every chance next week."

Sky Bet

Michael Shinners: "Stradivarius (4.20, Ascot) is a standing dish at the royal meeting and the combination of Dettori and Gosden has proved very popular with our customers. Immediately after last year's race he was 4-1 and was slightly bigger again after his defeat on Champions Day, but after success at his beloved Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes he is now trading at around even money.

"Battaash (3.40, Tuesday) is another whose price has contracted over the past few months. He was 4-1 with ourselves back in April and is now 15-8, which is still proving appealing to punters and Flotus (2.30, Friday) was introduced into the Albany betting at 5-1 after bolting up at Goodwood last month. She has been extremely popular and is easily the best-backed horse in the two-year-old races."

Check out the Racing Post Royal Ascot microsite for the latest tips and odds for the royal meeting. The best Royal Ascot betting advice and exclusive free betting offers all in one place.

If you want more on Royal Ascot . . .

Royal Ascot two-year-old guide: the horses to watch in the six juvenile races

Ed Walker brimming with confidence Starman can be a Diamond Jubilee sensation

Adayar conqueror Alenquer set for King Edward VII Stakes tilt at Royal Ascot

Coventry favourite Castle Star to miss Royal Ascot in favour of Curragh test

Racing Post exclusive offer. New customers can get £30 in free bets. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 6 x £5 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets redeemable on horse racing only. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.