Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips

This year's Queen Anne is loaded with pace and likely to be strongly run, which leaves Lockinge winner Audience looking vulnerable, especially over this stiffer 1m. Big Rock is also among the likely front-runners but his peak rating, achieved in last year's QEII over C&D, sets an impressive standard. This should set up nicely for Charyn (second choice) who commands major respect on 2024 form, while 2023 Royal Ascot winners Docklands (third choice) and Witch Hunter are interesting at bigger odds. Maljoom, who was desperately unlucky on this card in 2022, also figures in calculations. However, the selection is FACTEUR CHEVAL who has been a solid performer throughout his career and is evidently still improving judged on his Dubai Turf success. Furthermore, he's bred to run this course fast, being a son of Ribchester who broke the track record (which still stands) in this race seven years ago.

Winners have been drawn high, low and centre in the last decade. The betting is often a good guide to the Coventry but this year's renewal looks especially open. Aidan O'Brien has landed ten of these but only one of his winners was beaten the time before, and Camille Pissarro is no more appealing than his imposing compatriot Cowardofthecounty who didn't half look good on his Curragh debut. However, the key form might be the York race dominated by Andesite and YAH MO BE THERE. Had the selection not consumed quite so much fuel in a bold move that accelerated him past the winner a fair way out, it may have been a different outcome. If smothered up for longer, he could take a huge step forward and reverse placings with Andesite who is rated very highly by Karl Burke. It's unlike the Gosdens to throw a maiden into Group company and Ingot could be a lively one at lengthy odds.

The Australian sprinters have been inspiring at Royal Ascot over the years and Nature Strip most recently left the locals rather downcast in this race two years ago. Asfoora (second choice) is a worthy contender on her Australian form if she can reproduce it back on quicker ground than her British debut behind KERDOS at Haydock but the latter is still preferred with better days to come. He needed a couple of runs to get his eye in this year but was quite impressive last time, he appears to act on any ground and the return to a searching test at the trip is expected to suit. The tough and willing Big Evs has been a sterling operator against his own age group but he does have something to prove back against the older sprinters. Rogue Lightning, Regional and Believing are just three of several other interesting contenders, while Twilight Calls, in the frame in the last two runnings, cannot be left out either.

A cracking St James's Palace Stakes which, not for the first time, features a fascinating clash of Guineas winners and other improving colts. Notable Speech has the strongest claims going into this race, being top rated and still unbeaten, so he's not easy to oppose. However, ROSALLION hit the front sooner than ideal when beaten by that rival at Newmarket and, with a delayed challenge on the cards, he could well reverse the placings in this exciting rematch. Additionally, it augurs well that the selection is a very similar type to the Hannon yard's two winners of this contest. Henry Longfellow (third choice) remains of strong interest and his trainer has won this event nine times. French raiders Metropolitan and Darlinghurst are progressing well, as is Almaqam.

Calculations for the Ascot Stakes usually start with Willie Mullins, last year being a rare occasion that one of his representatives failed to make a serious impact, so his unexposed 5yo My Lyka goes straight on the shortlist. Zanndabad does too, after his fast-finishing third in the Chester Cup, and so does the hat-trick seeking Boher Road, but the most potent Irish challenger may well turn out to be NUSRET, for whom a return to better ground looks ideal and the longer trip could unlock something special. While the British runners clearly have plenty on their hands, Divine Comedy scored so easily at Haydock that she is second on the list, with Pledgeofallegiance and Tenerife Sunshine also bringing potential as well as last-time-out wins.

Botanical and Torito (second choice) appeal as lightly raced, progressive 4yos who can win at this level but the latter's stablemate ISRAR has already achieved several RPRs good enough to win this in a normal year, including when second to Passenger (who was prominent in the betting for the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's before suffering a setback) at Chester last month. Astro King should also be in the mix, while one worth a mention at much bigger odds is Savvy Victory, whose defeat of Poker Face in a Sandown Listed race over this trip last July is good form.

Willie Mullins saddled the one-two in this race 12 months and BELLOCCIO earns the vote today, having comfortably made a winning start for the yard in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month. Intinso remains unexposed and is feared most, with his half-brother Amtiyaz having won this in 2021 for the same connections. A Piece Of Heaven and Fox Journey impressed last time out and could still have more to offer, while Tyson Fury and Lucander kept on well over 1m4f at this meeting last year and are interesting at bigger odds.