The Grade 1 Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot today (4.20 p.m.) is an intriguing contest in which five of the nine runners are priced up at 6-1 or less. Los Angeles and Anmaat will renew their rivalry from the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month when the former beat the latter by half a length.
That form, with highly-rated rivals Kalpana in third and White Birch in fourth, looks red hot and so it is not surprising to see these two horses at the top of the market today for this 10-furlong race worth £600,000 to the winning connections.
However, at the prices, I am going to side with the horse that was supplemented last week or this race – at a cost of £70,000 – SEE THE FIRE. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old filly has long been the apple of her handler’s eye and it was easy to see why last time out when she routed seven opponents in a Grade 2 contest at York, with the second horse beaten all of 12 lengths.
Today’s rivals are a good bit better than any horses she faced last month but I think she will handle the step up in class today. The French raider Map of Stars and the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman are also in with big chances of landing this prize but one point each way See The Fire is the suggestion at 5-1. She is that price with most bookies.
Kevin Ryan is a Northern trainer who loves to target Royal Ascot and with plenty of success over the years too. The Royal Hunt Cup (5 p.m.), a 30-runner race run over the straight mile, is one of the most competitive contests of the week but I hope Ryan and jockey Clifford Lee can land it with SISYPHEAN.
There was plenty to like about the four-year-old colt’s seasonal debut at York last month when the heavily-backed, race-fit Old Cock beat him by just half a length. This stiff mile at Ascot should suit him perfectly as he was tried over further last season, admittedly with mixed results. Back Sisyphean one point each way at 20-1 with BetVictor, paying five places.
If there is the proverbial group horse masquerading as a handicapper in today’s field, then it is almost certainly the Roger Varian trained My Cloud but 7-2 seems plenty short enough in a race in which almost every runner has a shout.
Sadly, my ante-post tip Native Warrior did not make the cut for this race but stakes will be returned as he was declared for the race at the 48-hour decs stage.
I have already put up Spicy Marg each way at 16-1 for the opening race today, the Queen Mary Stakes (2.30 p.m.) for two-year-old fillies over five furlongs. She’s a good bit shorter now and so I am happy enough with that bet.
According to the betting, two horses should dominate the race: the Aidian O’Brien trained True Love and the Karl Burke trained Zelaina. True Love was a close second at Navan last month behind yesterday’s impressive Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad. Zelaina was impressive first time out at Nottingham earlier this month. Both market leaders have solid form but they have some really excellent rivals in today’s field and this is far from a two-horse race.
Trainer Ralph Beckett’s Society Kiss equalled the two-year-old course record on her seasonal debut at Ascot and she must have a huge chance today, while Shine on Me can out-run her odds of 50-1 for handler Archie Watson.
However, for my second bet in this race I am siding with STAYA for the George Scott/Callum Shepherd trainer/jockey combination. At the weekend, Scott was adamant that this expensive filly – a 375,000 guineas buy – was his best chance of a Royal Ascot winner and there was plenty to admire about her win at Yarmouth last month in a fast time. Given how well Scott’s runner Caballo De Mar ran yesterday, it says a lot that the handler thinks Staya has an even better chance today. So back her one point each way at 16-1, that price with BetVictor, Ladbrokes, Coral and Unibet, all paying four places.
My two tips for the race, Spicy Marg and Staya, are drawn next to each other in stalls five and four respectively and so there should be plenty of speed on that side of the track. I hope the two fillies will bring out the best in each other.
Yesterday certainly went well enough for this blog with winners at 25-1 and 16-1
So that is four horses for the blog at Royal Ascot today, by chance all beginning with the letter ‘s’. I am going to leave today’s other races alone betting wise and simply enjoy watching them.
Finally, CABALLO DE MER, who was second yesterday in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot to a very well handicapped rival, is such a tough, robust horse that I expect he may turn out again on Saturday week in the Northumberland Plate. The trip and all-weather surface will be perfect for him so Paddy Power, SkyBet and Betfair are taking a risk leaving him at 10-1 for the race on 28 June. Back him two points win at 10-1. I have already put up two outsiders for this race but, hey-ho, this is a good bet too so having three horses in the same race does not worry me at all.
Yesterday certainly went well enough for this blog with winners at 25-1 and 16-1 (10p in the £ deduction for the non runner) and a couple of seconds as well from the six runners. Thanks for the appreciative messages in the comment section. I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts for day three, including the horse that I consider to be my best bet of the week even though it runs in a hugely-competitive handicap.
Yesterday: + 43.26 points.
1 point each way Docklands at 25-1 for the Queen Anne, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1st. + 30 points.
1 point each way American Affair at 16-1 for the King Charles III, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 1st. +17.46 points (10p in the £ deduction for the non runner).
1 point each way Mgheera at 9-1 for the King Charles III, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Non runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Rashabar at 25-1 for the St James’s Palace, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Nurburgring at 14-1 for the Ascot Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 2nd + 1.8 points.
1 point each way Jesse Evans at 12-1 for the Copper Horse, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Caballo de Mar at 13-2 for the Copper Horse. 2nd. – 2 points.
Pending:
1 point each way Spicy Marg at 16-1 for the Queen Mary, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Staya at 16-1 for the Queen Mary, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way See The Fire at 5-1 for the Prince of Wales, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Sisyphean at 20-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way.
1 point each way Native Warrior at 50-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup today, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Non runner, stake returned.
1 point each way Trawlerman at 8-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Elite Status at 25-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Duke of Oxford at 33-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Who’s Glen at 16-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
2 points win Caballo de Mer at 10-1 for the Northumberland Plate.
2025 flat season running total: + 38.26 points.
2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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