Royal Ascot accas: the Tuesday treble that has bookmakers braced for a hit

Bookmakers are bracing themselves for a potentially costly opening day of Royal Ascot as several short-priced favourites are set to usher in the first meeting without coronavirus restrictions since 2019.

The five-day meeting is set to begin with a bang as the brilliant Baaeed bids to extend his unbeaten record to eight and take a fourth Group 1 in the opening Queen Anne Stakes (2.30).

US trainer Wesley Ward said his sprinter Golden Pal was "the fastest I've ever had" when speaking to the Racing Post on Tuesday and he will be bidding to give the trainer a 13th victory at the meeting in the King's Stand Stakes (3.40).

Add in the electric 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus, who will be bidding to continue an excellent Group 1-winning spree for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby in the St James's Palace Stakes (4.20), and the bookmakers could be off to a tardy start, with all three likely candidates for accumulators or a treble returning nearly 5-1.

Baaeed: the star miler could kick off a bad start to Royal Ascot week for the bookmakersCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dave Stevens, Coral spokesman, said: "Short-priced accumulators tend to be the trend with festival days like that, we see it at Cheltenham and we've seen it at Royal Ascot too just because of the nature of those Group 1s. It's always a fast start with the Queen Anne and St James's Palace.

"You can have short-priced favourites and have a good level of turnover. You put your finger on the pulse for the sort of day it will be for bookmakers and punters.

"It's been a brilliant start to the Flat season, there's been good horses everywhere, Baaeed has been brilliant, Coroebus as well and you've always got interest in the American horses coming over.

"The great thing about Royal Ascot is there's always places for punters to play but you can't beat star appeal. You wouldn't worry about them, if they all won you'd get a hit but it wouldn't be catastrophic.

"Baaeed appears to have Royal Ascot's curtain-raiser at his mercy, while Coroebus is also odds-on for the St James's Palace. Add in Wesley Ward's confidence behind Golden Pal for the King's Stand, and we have the makings of what is sure to be a very popular treble.

"Victory for all three would cost us a few quid, but we all like to see the best horses win, and with some competitive contests following the Group 1 feast on Tuesday, and four more days to come, our fate at this year's royal meeting won't be decided after just three results."

Top US trainer Wesley Ward has been bullish about his King's Stand favourite Golden PalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield took a similar stance and suggested similar bets on Frankie Dettori's mounts were not uncommon.

He said: "Baaeed, Coroebus and Golden Pal will be popular on the day. Punters will be throwing in a horse like Blackbeard and we'll see plenty of accumulators with those three and people throwing in one other.

"Whatever Frankie's got on day one will also be thrown into accumulators on day one and that's what gives the odds boffins at Power towers the real headaches. Lord North, Stradivarius and Reach For The Moon could possibly be one that builds up as well."

Analysed: the Tuesday three for acca punters

Baaeed

Odds: 2-7 favourite

Race: Queen Anne Stakes (2.30 Tuesday)

Yet to be beaten in a sublime seven-race career and looked as good as ever when powering away with the Lockinge on reappearance.

He beat Real World by three and a quarter lengths then and it looks unlikely that form will be reversed here given that horse has 7lb to find on ratings.

It is worth noting he came closest to defeat in the QEII over this course and distance last year, but that came at the end of the season, with cut in the ground and against a top-class rival in Palace Pier.

None of those three factors will be the same on Tuesday and he looks to have a straightforward task at becoming the seventh winning favourite in the last 11 years.

Star rating: *****

Golden Pal

Odds: 2-1 favourite

Race: King's Stand Stakes (3.40 Tuesday)

Blisteringly fast sprinter and the winner of his six of his nine starts, but has yet to score on British soil.

He was reeled in by The Lir Jet in the 2020 Norfolk over this course and distance and faded tamely after an electric start in last year's Nunthorpe, eventually coming home seventh behind Winter Power.

The Lir Jet (left) downed Golden Pal over five furlongs as a juvenileCredit: Julian Finney

Despite his trainer's bullish reports he still only has just the one Group 1 victory to his name in Del Mar's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and Ascot's straight mile offers a vastly different challenge.

Golden Pal has an incredible amount of raw talent but could have competition for the lead with Nature Strip, who is one of the best horses in the world in his own right, and comes here with risks attached.

Star rating: ***

Coroebus

Odds: 1-2 favourite

Race: St James's Palace Stakes (4.20 Tuesday)

Showed an exceptional burst of speed as a juvenile and took his form to a new level when beating stablemate Native Trail in the 2,000 Guineas.

Dawn Approach, Gleneagles, Galileo Gold and Poetic Flare all won at Newmarket before winning here in the last ten years and Coroebus sets a high standard.

William Haggas will be hoping for an upset and he could field his Heron and German 2,000 Guineas winners against the favourite.

Coroebus should get the job done, but do not be surprised if Maljoom gives him a run for his money.

Star rating: ****

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.
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• 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.

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