Best bets, big prices and more top punting advice for Royal Ascot 2022

Royal Ascot, the summer highlight and one of the best punting weeks of the year, is just one day away.

We put a call out for your big-race questions heading into the meeting and have picked out a handful for our resident Punting Club judges to answer.

Will the bookies get smashed on Tuesday? Baaeed, Coroebus and Golden Pal: will any of them be beaten or is this the best treble ever? Andy Parker

Maddy: I'm against Golden Pal. There's boatloads of pace in the King's Stand as Nature Strip, Winter Power, Ponntos and Khaadem all like to go forward and, like last year, I think it could set up for a closer. I'm going to take a chance on Existent. Golden Pal's only Group 1 win came around a turn at Del Mar – he was mowed down over this course and distance in the Norfolk in 2020 and was bitterly disappointing in the Nunthorpe.

Owen: I agree with Maddy about Golden Pal, he's better when able to race around a turn and I think Nature Strip will see out the straight course much stronger. Both Baaeed and Coroebus merit their short prices and will be tough to beat, though I will try to hunt some forecast or each-way value myself.

Mark: I think all three legs will probably click! Baaeed will take all the beating in the Queen Anne, Coreobus is a standout in the St James's Palace and I don't think they'll catch Golden Pal in the King's Stand.

Hi guys. Are you for or against Stradivarius in the Gold Cup? I'm against him on the basis there are younger, up-and-coming horses in the staying division. Gary Slater

Maddy: For all it would be brilliant for the sport and I applaud his connections for keeping him in training, I'm against him for similar reasons too. I backed Scope ante-post but I might have an each-way play on the 66-1 shot Alignak if he runs. His last run was a career-best effort and he would have been even closer if he had any sort of pace to run at. That was against some of the best stayers around and he could improve again upped to 2m4f.

Stradivarius: are you with or against him in the Ascot Gold Cup?Credit: Edward Whitaker

Owen: I'll be taking him on, though I wouldn't begrudge him winning for the sporting aspect. The ground surely rules out Trueshan and for all that he isn't the most genuine of horses, I'll take a chance on Wordsworth. He should relish this new trip and with enhanced place terms, I think he may sneak into the frame at 33-1.

Mark: I'm taking him on. We'd all love to see him do it, but the presence of Kyprios and, potentially, Trueshan makes this a much tougher race than Stradivarius' last start in the Yorkshire Cup. Kyprios is the most progressive stayer in training and gets the nod from me.

'We've laid him at all rates' - bookmakers reveal their Royal Ascot liabilities

Is Homeless Songs a banker? Inspiral looks overpriced at the current odds considering the form of the Fillies' Mile. William Abey

Maddy: If she runs I think she will win.

Owen: With firm likely to be in the description, I think there's a likelihood she won't be seen at Royal Ascot. Given the ground and the fact her form in the US has been franked, I'll take an each-way chance on Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf winner Pizza Bianca. She still fits into the unexposed bracket and I think there's more to come from her.

Mark: If by chance the word 'firm' isn't in the going description, she's one of the bankers of the week in my eyes, but her participation is up in the air. The fact that Inspiral hasn't had a clear run through the spring is off-putting for her chances.

Away from the obvious, could you name a trainer to keep an eye on at Royal Ascot please? Allan Morton

Owen: He only has two runners entered but keep an eye on Christophe Clement. Both Slipstream and Pizza Bianca boast really solid form and it would be no surprise to see him scoop up a big prize. Dave Loughnane is 2-5 at Ascot this year and has plenty of strong each-way chances too, so he could be another to keep a close eye on throughout the week.

Mark:Gordon Elliott is better known for winners at major meetings like Cheltenham and Aintree, but his strike-rate at Royal Ascot makes for impressive reading. From just seven runners at the royal meeting, he's emerged with two winners and looks to have a couple of live chances again this time around with Pied Piper in the Ascot Stakes and Platinumcard in the Copper Horse Stakes.

Panel, is Statuette a banker or blowout in the Albany? She looked all class when winning on her debut? Lee Wainwright

Maddy: Nothing is ever a banker in a juvenile race and we haven't had chance to assess the final field, draw or pace yet, Lee! That said, the current market indicates it could be quite a weak race and Statuette looked mega on her debut. I'd hold fire for now.

Statuette (right): a banker in the Albany?Credit: Patrick McCann

Owen: Perhaps surprisingly, Aidan O'Brien doesn't have the strongest record in the Albany and I wouldn't call her banker material. I think the race is ultra-competitive and I was really taken by Mawj's debut. She quickened up really sweetly at Newmarket and is a half-sister to both Modern Games and Modern News, which would suggest she can rate very highly with further experience.

Mark: I'm not quite confident enough to describe her as a banker, but she is my idea of the winner. I loved what she did on debut at Navan and she's one of the most impressive two-year-old fillies we've seen in Britain or Ireland this season. Her lack of experience, and the fact this will be such a different test to her debut, are the only factors that hold me back from giving her 'banker' status.

'He makes vast appeal at 10-1' - why this horse can win at Royal Ascot 2022

I thought Highfield Princess's win at York last time was super impressive. Do you give her any chance in the Platinum Jubilee? Jack Ryan

Maddy: Yes, I give her a chance, although there's probably not much juice in her price at 10-1. Minzaal, who finished in third at York, could improve again and is another to watch, although I'm not sure he stays a stiff six furlongs. The one's I'll be keeping my eye on are Artorious, Happy Romance and Naval Crown.

Owen: She was impressive at York but I struggle to envisage her being able to hold a prominent spot in a race that is likely to feature plenty of tearaway front-runners. It should set up nicely for Artorius, who will be launched late to hunt down the early pace and there's no better man for that on the Ascot straight course than Jamie Spencer.

Mark: She's been a tremendous mare for connections, especially given she started her winning sequence off a mark of 58, but I think the Australian raider Home Affairs still represents value at a top-priced 5-1 with Coral. He's been extremely good down under and was particularly impressive when beating leading King's Stand hope Nature Strip two starts ago.

What's your handicap tip of the meeting? Brian Kirton

Maddy: I won't be doing my in-depth analysis until we have confirmed fields.

Owen: The draw is so often crucial so it's hard to nail down confirmed selections, but I'll be backing Bopedroregardless in the Royal Hunt Cup. He won last year's Irish Cambridgeshire doing cartwheels and was unlucky on his next start in a Leopardstown premier handicap, doing best of those held up in a race where he had to spin very wide. Two runs earlier this year should have put him spot on and back on his Leopardstown mark, I can't see him out of the frame.

Bopedro: one to back in the Royal Hunt Cup?Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mark: I've yet to nail down my selections for the handicaps as the draw and ground are vital pieces of information that we are without until closer to the time. Willie McCreery has his string in excellent form, though, and I'll be excited to see how his Cigamia fares in the Sandringham on Friday. She isn't overly exposed and has been bumping into high-class fillies such as Homeless Songs, Concert Hall, Agartha, Sacred Bridge and Twilight Spinner in Group races. Aside from Cigamia, I'll be keeping a close eye on wherever Okita Soushi runs next week for Joseph O'Brien. I loved his comeback at the Curragh last month and can see him going close in something like the Copper Horse Handicap.

Four Royal Ascot outsiders, including one who will relish a 'ruthless gallop'

There have been some serious two-year-old performances so far this year. Which one excites you all the most? Daniel Phillips

Owen:Love Reigns' debut at Keeneland was extraordinary and I'm really excited to see her strut her stuff in the Queen Mary. She showed so much natural speed through the race and, much like Lady Aurelia did for the same connections in 2016, I think she'll burn them off one by one. His debut didn't come in a strong race, but Bradsell tanked through his York debut and I think he is one to keep on side, especially with Hollie Doyle jumping into the plate for his run in the Coventry.

Mark: As touched on with Lee's question earlier, Statuette has been the most impressive two-year-old filly I've seen on these shores all season and she should take plenty of beating. I will say that Love Reigns, the worthy 3-1 Queen Mary Stakes favourite for Wesley Ward, looked top-drawer when making a winning debut at Keeneland in late April – the replay of her win is well worth checking out on YouTube! As for the colts, I find it tough to split Little Big Bear, my idea of the Windsor Castle winner, and Amo Racing's Persian Force in the Coventry.

I'm interested in My Prospero in the St James Palace Stakes, he beat Reach For The Moon with ease and may improve past Coroebus. I also fancy Bashrikova and Lights On in the Duke Of Cambridge but can't decide between them. I can't see beyond Bay Bridge in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, he looked like a candidate for horse of the year at Sandown. Any views on these?Michael Eason

Maddy: I thought My Prospero looked a real stayer in the Heron Stakes and I suspect Coroebus will have too much toe for him. I'd have Lights On over Bashkirova in the Duke of Cambridge. Bay Bridge looks a good thing for the Prince of Wales's but it could be we have overestimated his Sandown form. Nevertheless, he was very impressive.

Mark: I can certainly see My Prospero running well but I'd like a bit more juice in his price and I find it hard to oppose Coroebus in the St James's Palace, for all that he's an unoriginal selection. I'm with Bashkirova after her smart performance at Epsom last time but personally wouldn't be steaming into Bay Bridge at around evens. I'm very surprised to see Lord North readily available to back at 8-1 for the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Things didn't fall ideally for him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and yet he was still only beaten a length and three-quarters by Alenquer. Lord North is the proven article in Group 1s of this nature, having won this race two years ago, whereas Bay Bridge has never been tried in Group 1 or 2 company. I'll take the older stalwart at the prices.

Owen: The market has the St James's Palace down as a two-horse race and as Maddy and Mark have alluded to, Coroebus is likely to have too much speed for My Prospero. That said, I quite like the price of Maljoom, who has a similarly progressive profile to My Prospero. William Haggas is having a remarkable season and he's a nice each-way price, while Saffron Beach would be my Duke Of Cambridge selection, though I'd prefer Lights On in regards to the Cheveley Park battalion. Bay Bridge is the one to beat in the Prince Of Wales's, but eight runners makes it a nice betting race and although he'd probably want slower ground, Dubai Honour is a cracking each-way price.

Give us your banker of the week and your lay of the week. Daniel Nogher

Maddy: Lay of the week I'll go Golden Pal. I think he's a terrible price on what he's actually achieved against one of the greatest sprinters we have seen in recent years in Nature Strip, and even then I don't think the race will be run to suit either of them. If Homeless Songs runs, she will be my banker.

Owen: I agree with Maddy that Golden Pal is the lay of the week, I can't see him getting home on the straight course with Nature Strip tracking him the whole way. For the banker I will go with Love Reigns in the Queen Mary, who was ultra-impressive on debut at Keeneland over slightly further. In the same colours as Lady Aureila, I think she could produce a similarly dominant performance.

Mark: Aidan O'Brien knows exactly what it takes to win the Gold Cup and Kyprios will be tough to beat in the staying highlight. Conditions probably won't be soft enough for Trueshan and Stradivarius will need to deliver a massive performance at the age of eight to regain his crown. Given Kyprios' progressive ways as a largely unexposed four-year-old, I think the 5-2 about him is more than fair. He'll do for my banker. As for a lay, I'm keen to take on Mother Earth in the Duke of Cambridge. She's taken a lot of racing across her two and three-year-old seasons and was unimpressive in winning on her seasonal bow at the Curragh before disappointing in the Lockinge. It's easy to make a strong case for two or three others in that race.

Royal Ascot 2022 offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Read more on Royal Ascot:

Royal Ascot 2022: the full running order, TV schedule and day-by-day race times

'We have a great chance' - Demuro sweet on Japanese star in Prince of Wales's

Weld on weather watch as Homeless Songs takes a walk in Coronation Stakes market

Head over to our dedicated Royal Ascot 2022 site for the latest tips and odds for every race at the festival. Our leading horseracing tipsters share their Royal Ascot tips and predictions and it's completely free!