The elite ROYAL ASCOT meeting begins Tuesday in England, the first of five cards of racing featuring the very best racehorses from around the world.
Notably absent this year, however, is American trainer Wesley Ward, who does not have an entrant in any races for the first time since 2012.
Watch the action and place a bet on HPIBET.com.
(Preview of Day 1 below the race schedule)
Tuesday
14:30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) one mile
15:05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) six furlongs
15:40 King Charles III Stakes (Group 1) five furlongs
16:20 St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) one mile
17:00 Ascot Stakes (Handicap) two miles, four furlongs
17:35 Wolferton Stakes (Listed) one mile, two furlongs
18:10 Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) one mile, six furlongs
Wednesday
14:30 Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) five furlongs
15:05 Queen’s Vase (Group 2) one mile, six furlongs
15:40 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) one mile
16:20 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) one mile, two furlongs
17:00 Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap) one mile
17:35 Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) one mile
18:10 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) five furlongs
Thursday
14:30 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) five furlongs
15:05 King George V Stakes (Handicap,) one mile, four furlongs
15:40 Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) one mile, four furlongs
16:20 Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1) two miles, four furlongs
17:00 Britannia Stakes (Handicap) one mile
17:35 Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) one mile, two furlongs
18:10 Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) seven furlongs
Friday
14:30 Albany Stakes (Group 3) six furlongs
15:05 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) six furlongs
15:40 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) one mile, four furlongs
16:20 Coronation Stakes (Group 1) one mile
17:00 Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) one mile
17:35 King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) one mile four furlongs
18:10 Palace Of Holyroodhouse (Handicap) five furlongs
Saturday
14:30 Chesham Stakes (Listed) seven furlongs
15:05 – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) one mile, four furlongs
15:40 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) six furlongs
16:20 Jersey Stakes (Group 3) seven furlongs
17:00 Wokingham Stakes (Handicap) six furlongs
17:35 Golden Gates -Stakes (Handicap) one mile, two furlongs
Headlines:
- Brilliant renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes features four Group 1 winners
- Australian mare Asfoora bids for second consecutive win in the King Charles III Stakes
- British, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas winners clash in St James’s Palace Stakes for the ages
- Reaching High set to be favourite in the Ascot Stakes for Their Majesties The King & Queen
A scintillating opening day of Royal Ascot is headlined by three world-class Group 1 races as the action gets underway in spectacular fashion. The traditional curtain-raiser, the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm) not only looks to be one of the most competitive renewals in recent memory but also one of real quality. The first four from the recent Lockinge Stakes at Newbury all lock horns again in the shape of Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech.
That was the order they finished in at Newbury but there is a suspicion that Rosallion could be the one to improve the most from his first outing for almost a year. The winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes last year still has plenty of potential improvement and it would be no surprise to see him emerge as the class act in the mile division this season.
International flavour is provided by Carl Spackler who won three times at the top level in America under Chad Brown. He has been purchased by Yulong Investments to be campaigned in Australia under the care of Ciaron Maher but takes in Royal Ascot on his route down under and looks a lively player if transferring his form to a straight course.
No fewer than 12 of the 23 runners in the Coventry Stakes (3.05pm) are unbeaten and any number of the runners could have chances here. Aidan O’Brien has won the race ten times and saddles two live chances in Gstaad and Warsaw. Both went off at fairly large prices though when making winning debuts so perhaps not much was expected of them based on homework. In contrast, the two Wathnan horses – Postmodern and Underwriter – were both well supported on debut and Postmodern in particular sauntered home in the style of something special at Yarmouth. Power Blue, Andab and Gavoo represent strong form from a Group 3 in Ireland and may have been overlooked in the market.
Asfoora bids for a historic repeat victory in the King Charles III Stakes (3.40pm), attempting to become the 13th dual winner of the race for her enterprising trainer Henry Dwyer. She was mightily impressive in this race last year and faces much of the same opposition with Believing and Regional lining up once again. Believing has since won a Group 1 in Dubai while Starlust also brings top-level international form to the table having won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November. It’s a deep, competitive field which should ensure it’s a thrilling spectacle over the flying five furlongs.
The St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20pm) was created in 1834 to deliver a definitive verdict on who the best three-year-old over a mile is and we look set to find that out for sure in this year’s renewal. Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court locks horns once again with the second, Field Of Gold, who looked unlucky that day and has since won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. John and Thady Gosden’s colt is a warm order to reverse the Newmarket form while Henri Matisse represents the French form having won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in May. He was also a top-level juvenile winner while Rashabar won the Coventry Stakes last year and can run well at a big price.
A fascinating running of the Ascot Stakes (5.00pm) has a plethora of stories that could unfold but the most popular would see Reaching High claim glory for Their Majesties The King and Queen. Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the four-year-old’s mother is Gold Cup heroine Estimate and he made a really pleasing stable debut for Willie Mullins when second at Leopardstown. Upped in trip he has untapped potential and with Ryan Moore booked deserves to be favourite.
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