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ITV Racing tips: one key runner from each race on ITV on day one at Royal Ascot

ITV will be broadcasting seven live races from Royal Ascot on ITV and ITV4 on Tuesday. The action on day one features some high-class names, notably Palace Pier and Battaash, and we've got you covered for the day's terrestrial TV coverage.


Royal Ascot Tuesday: ITV Racing tips

Our Spotlight experts select their best bets for the opening day of Royal Ascot

2.30 Ascot
Queen Anne Stakes, Group 1, 1m, ITV

The Queen Anne returns to its traditional slot as the opening race of the royal meeting and Palace Pier, the banker of the meeting for many, is expected to kick off proceedings in style. The brilliant miler faces the likes of Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Order Of Australia and Lope Y Fernandez and past winners Accidental Agent and Lord Glitters.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: PALACE PIER

Top miler; Lockinge win took his record to 7-8; again clear on ratings and hard to oppose

Coventry Stakes, Group 2, 6f, ITV

American trainer Wesley Ward joins the party early by saddling an unorthodox Coventry contender in Keeneland dirt debut winner Kaufymaker, the only filly in a race historically dominated by colts. National Stakes winner Ebro River will have his supporters after showing plenty of raw ability at Sandown as will decisive Newbury scorer Gisburn and The Acropolis, who bids to provide Aidan O'Brien with a tenth win in the race.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: EBRO RIVER

Impressive winner of Sandown's National Stakes despite doing so much wrong; interesting

King's Stand Stakes, Group 1, 5f, ITV

Superstar sprinter Battaash will aim to provide the fireworks on day one as he attempts to win the King's Stand for the second year in a row. He makes his first start for 298 days after a setback over the winter and the likes of Winter Power, Oxted, Liberty Beach and US raiders Extravagant Kid and Maven will be looking to expose any chinks in his armour.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: OXTED

Top 6f sprinter in 2020; below best this year but had excuses and looks worth a go at 5f


Paul Kealy's banker for day one of Royal Ascot


St James's Palace Stakes, Group 1, 1m, ITV4

Qipco 2,000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare competes in his fourth Group 1 contest in 45 days, after trying his luck in the French and Irish equivalents, and faces several of the Newmarket also-rans, including Battleground, Chindit and Lucky Vega. The unbeaten Mostahdaf has been busy too and targets a fourth consecutive win stepping up to Group company for the first time.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: LUCKY VEGA

Close third in the 2,000 Guineas; the Irish version panned out less favourably; big player

Lucky Vega (left) finished third to Poetic Flare (right) in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket
Lucky Vega (left) finished third to Poetic Flare (right) in the 2,000 Guineas at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ascot Stakes, 2m4f, ITV4

Willie Mullins has won this race four times since 2012 and holds strong claims again with market principals M C Muldoon and Rayapour joined by Royal Illusion. The Irish champion jumps trainer's nephew Emmet Mullins has proved a dab hand at raiding British handicaps over jumps and saddles Cape Gentleman – the mount of Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore – while last year's winner Coeur De Lion leads the home challenge.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: TRUMPET MAN

Did not get the best of runs late on when fifth last time in the 2m2f Chester Cup


The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on day one


Wolferton Stakes, Listed, 1m2f, ITV4

Patrick Sarsfield was a consistent performer in Group races last year and escapes a penalty for his Meld Stakes victory last summer. Eight-year-olds Euchen Glen and Stormy Antarctic showed the fire still burns with victories last month, while Solid Stone and Blue Cup are unexposed types on an upward curve.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: PATRICK SARSFIELD

Group 3 winner; Listed second on return; leading form claims; has raced on good or softer

Patrick Sarsfield impressively lands the Meld Stakes on his first attempt at Group 3 level
Patrick Sarsfield: consistent performer for trainer Joseph O'Brien in Listed and Group racesCredit: Patrick McCann

6.10 AscotCopper Horse Stakes, 1m6f, ITV4

The Cheltenham Festival this is not but Willie Mullins could have two of the favourites on day one with two-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Saldier heading the market for the second running of this race. Global Storm, who ran well at the meeting last year, won at Newmarket last month and Sleeping Lion struck at Kempton last time and has been placed in all three starts at Ascot.

SPOTLIGHT TIP: GLOBAL STORM

Career best when winning at Newmarket last time; third at this meeting in 2020; big player


Five horses who should relish the quick conditions at Royal Ascot on Tuesday


Best ITV Racing free bets

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ITV7 tips and predictions

The ITV7 competition is back and is completely free to play, with a minimum £50,000 up for grabs. Users will need a Sky Bet account to enter, so if you don't already have an account sign up using this link and take advantage of the free bet offer.

Race 1, 2.30 ASCOT: PALACE PIER
Race 2, 3.05 ASCOT: EBRO RIVER
Race 3, 3.40 ASCOT: OXTED
Race 4, 4.20 ASCOT: LUCKY VEGA
Race 5, 5.00 ASCOT: TRUMPET MAN
Race 6, 5.35 ASCOT: PATRICK SARSFIELD
Race 7, 6.10 ASCOT: GLOBAL STORM


Tuesday's Royal Ascot previews:

2.30 Royal Ascot: 'Palace Pier looks like the best miler for a long time but Ascot suits us'

3.05 Royal Ascot: US filly Kaufymaker bids to become first female Coventry winner for 105 years

3.40 Royal Ascot: can Battaash make it six out of six first time out? Graeme Rodway gives his view

4.20 Royal Ascot: 'I think he has a big chance' – will Guineas hero Poetic Flare strike at Ascot?

5.00 Royal Ascot: Rachael Blackmore bids for more big-race glory – but this time she's on the Flat

5.35 Royal Ascot: 'I can't believe his price' – find out who's bullish before the Wolferton

6.10 Royal Ascot: can Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore strike with ante-post punt Saldier?


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