Our all-in-one preview pulls together the best bets from our expert team, a suggested Placepot permutation and a recommended multiple.
THURSDAY
Our experts' best bets
Ben Linfoot: Gilded Water - 3.05 Royal Ascot
GILDED WATER has been guided into handicaps superbly by the excellent William Haggas and he can land the King George V Stakes for HM The King & HM The Queen. Haggas won this race for The King last year with Desert Hero who gradually stepped up in trip and Gilded Water has a similar profile for all that he was unraced at two. Instead he has qualified for handicaps with three runs in seven weeks in April and May, with the two runs over a mile readying him nicely for a Chepstow assignment where he bolted up by over seven lengths on his first go at 10 furlongs. He beat a nice sort from the Sir Michael Stoute yard in James Webb that day and he did it easily, while this half-brother to Circle Of Fire could have even more to offer over 1m4f.
Click here for Ben Linfoot's Verdict
Matt Brocklebank: Starlore – 5.05 Royal Ascot
Sir Michael Stoute hasn’t won the Britannia Stakes since 2005, having first landed the three-year-old cavalry charge in 1991, but he’s got a major chance this year with STARLORE who was quite a classy two-year-old and looks to be coming to the boil at the perfect time for this after an eyecatching effort at Goodwood last time. He got no run that day, stuck behind a wall of horses at a key moment, and finished with loads in the tank which – on the plus side - means he can run off the same mark here. He is 4lb better off with the reopposing winner and looks a good bet under Richard Kingscote.
Click here for Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet
Andrew Asquith: King’s Gambit – 17:40 Royal Ascot
KING’S GAMBIT had some strong juvenile form and he made a mockery of his opening mark when making a winning return in the notoriously strong London Gold Cup at Newbury last month. It is a race the yard has often targeted with one of their best middle-distance prospects and King’s Gambit looked another top-level performer that will come out of the race. The fact he was gambled on also suggests he is held in pretty high regard and the manner in which he travelled and quickened in that race marked him out as a horse ready for a higher grade, so he is strongly fancied to take this step up in class in his stride before having his sights raised even further.
Click here for the best of Timeform tips
Andy McLaren's recommended multiple
15:05 Ascot – Gilded Water
He had a few options this week but William Haggas has opted for the King George V Stakes for GILDED WATER, the same race he won last year with Desert Hero, and it looks as if he’s been working back from a Royal Ascot handicap from day one with this royal runner. He comes out 3 lb clear on the Timeform ratings and is open to further improvement stepping up in trip again.
15:45 Ascot – Kalpana
KALPANA chased home Inisherin at Newcastle before making a mockery of a mark of 78 when winning by 10 lengths at Newmarket in April and produced a career best when second to Friendly Soul back at HQ last month. She’s progressing with every run and can serve it up to Diamond Rain, who has to be respected having been supplemented by Charlie Appleby.
17:05 Ascot – Native Warrior
The form of the conditions race at Kempton in April has been working it remarkably well with the winner, Notable Speech, winning the 2000 Guineas and the third, Persica, finishing fourth in the London Gold Cup before scoring on Derby weekend at Epsom, and NATIVE WARRIOR can be the latest winner to come from that race. Fourth that day, Karl Burke sent him to Nottingham for a maiden on his next start to protect his mark and it looks to have paid off, sneaking in towards the bottom of the weights on 90.
18:15 Ascot – English Oak
ENGLISH OAK was identified as a horse to follow when chasing home course specialist Rohaan last season and he’s confirmed that impression this year after an encouraging comeback at Newmarket was followed by a four-and-a-half length demolition at Haydock. He’s up 9 lb but that shouldn’t be enough to stop this rapidly progressive son of Wootton Bassett who could be contesting group races before the season is out.
Royal Ascot Thursday tips!
Timeform race-by-race verdict
14.30 Norfolk Stakes
It's really hard to escape the claims of WHISTLEJACKET, who is the clear pick on form and can chart a similar path to his very smart brother Little Big Bear in tasting defeat on debut at the Curragh before getting it right on second outing and following up at this meeting. Shareholder runs just 12 days on from his winning start and this costly breeze-up buy is arguably open to the most improvement, with Loom another to consider for each-way purposes.
14.30 King George V Stakes
GILDED WATER is improving in leaps and bounds, looking better the further he went when powering clear for an authoritative success at Chepstow 3 weeks ago. Representing Royal connections, who landed this prize 12 months ago, he looks sure to be suited by this longer trip and earns the vote on handicap bow. Going The Distance is another of firm interest, with Aidan O'Brien trained-pair Gallantly and Chantilly also respected. French Duke and Poniros complete the shortlist.
15.45 Ribblesdale Stakes
The regally-bred DIAMOND RAIN looked a smart prospect when following up her debut win in a Newbury listed event last month and, with scope for plenty more progress over this still longer trip, she's a really appealing candidate. Kalpana has progressed significantly with each run and heads up the opposition, along with You Got To Me, who stuck to her task in admirable fashion when fourth in the Oaks at Epsom.
16.25 Gold Cup
KYPRIOS suffered an interrupted campaign in 2023 but he was a high-class stayer the season before, the first of his 4 Group 1 wins coming in this race, and the way he shaped when winning both starts this term suggests he's as good as ever. He can provide his trainer with a record-extending ninth success, though the Gosden stable has an excellent recent record in this and hold a strong hand once again with Gregory and Trawlerman, who will both be suited by this marathon trip.
17.05 Britannia Stakes
Kevin Ryan's VOLTERRA has had the form of his Newmarket handicap debut success boosted and might prove the answer to a typically wide-open renewal. The way Qirat stormed home to land a valuable 7f event at Goodwood last month suggests he'll be suited by the step up to 1m and he's second choice. Mickley is another who promises to benefit from 1m and is also shortlisted along with Starlore, who was a big eyecatcher behind Qirat at Goodwood.
17.40 Hampton Court Stakes
KING'S GAMBIT made a mockery of an opening mark of 93 on return at Newbury last month and with further progress on the cards, Harry Charlton's charge is fancied to take the step up to pattern company in his stride at the expense of French-raider First Look, who found only an unbeaten colt too strong in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Bracken's Laugh and Taraj (who changed hands for £480,000 on Monday) can fight out third.
18.15 Buckingham Palace Stakes
ENGLISH OAK is another one to be added to Wathnan Racing's burgeoning roster after a most impressive display at Haydock and he's comfortably the most progressive sort in this field, so he's preferred to Divine Libra, who is also going the right way. Awaal has an excellent record fresh and should have been primed for a big run.
Suggested Placepot permutation
Leg 1: 13
Leg 2: 6, 13
Leg 3: 2
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 5, 21, 23
Leg 6: 7
1 x 2 x 1 x 1 x 3 x 2 = 12 lines
FRIDAY
Our experts' best bets
Andrew Asquith: Ramatuelle – 3.45 Royal Ascot
RAMATUELLE was a smart two-year-old, narrowly beaten by Vandeek in the Prix Morny at Deauville and, though she wasn’t at her best on her return, she shaped much better than the bare result in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. She was the only one who raced prominently to figure at the finish, while she was also asked to go for home too soon, kicking clear of the field over a furlong out, looking the likely winner – she traded at 1.04 in-running – only to be closed down close home. Ramatuelle strikes as a filly who will be well suited by a mile round a bend and, if she is ridden more economically, I expect her turn of foot to prove the difference in the straight. Oisin Murphy is having a great week and she is another who has excellent claims for him.
Ben Linfoot: Shadow Dance – 4.25 Royal Ascot
Roger Varian’s Royal Ascot got off to a flyer with Charyn and with the Newmarket handler in good form a big run is expected from the grey SHADOW DANCE in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. Horses drawn wide have dominated this race in recent years so his starting berth in 19 looks a positive and there are no concerns over his 252-day absence given how adept Varian is at readying one after a break. Indeed, this horse himself hacked up after three months off at Haydock last September and he improved on that form when second to Alsakib in the Old Rowley Cup, a prestigious Newmarket handicap, when he was last seen in October last year. The way he travelled that day marked him out as a horse going places and it’s likely Varian saved him until now for his seasonal debut simply because he was waiting for a big race for him from his new mark of 94. He was gelded in the winter and he’s only had five career starts, so there are lots of pointers to him improving this year and he looks a big threat to the Irish mob.
Click here for Ben Linfoot's Verdict
Matt Brocklebank: Mukaafah – 6.15 Royal Ascot
He won’t be alone in this regard, but MUKAAFAH has obviously been laid out for the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes since his striking victory over six furlongs at Doncaster in mid-May. Far too keen early on when letting down favourite-backers on his seasonal return at Kempton in March, he was a reformed character in the first-time hood last time but still shaped like a strongly-run five furlongs on a stiff track will be right up his street. The handicapper hasn’t exactly missed the son of Blue Point, putting him up 8lb, but the Doncaster second has subsequently won a competitive-looking handicap at Haydock off a 1lb higher mark and Mukaafah was just in a different league to that one. He’ll need the breaks, that goes without saying, but he’s drawn in between two genuinely quick ones in Toca Madera and Mon Na Slieve, and I’d love to see Jim Crowley hold onto him for as long as possible as his finishing kick is lethal.
Click here for Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet
Andy McLaren's recommended multiple: Lucky 15
15:05 Ascot – Jasour
JASOUR has a bit of an in-and-out profile on first glance but the key to him is seemingly being held up in a well-run race on fast ground, so conditions should be ideal on Friday. He’s two from two with Jim Crowley on board who retains the ride and is drawn right next to market leaders Inisherin and Elite Status who both like to go forward, so he should have a good target to take aim at.
15:45 Ascot – Opera Singer
After missing the 1000 Guineas due to a small training setback OPERA SINGER ran a race full of promise when third in the Irish equivalent on her return on the back of what Aidan O’Brien described as a far from ideal preparation. She was the best of this field a as a two-year-old and will be hard to beat if progressing as expected from the Curragh.
17:05 Ascot – Indelible
Ralph Beckett has a particularly strong team of three-year-old fillies this year and it’s eye catching that INDELIBLE holds entries in the Falmouth and Irish Oaks later in the summer, so she’s clearly well regarded. She was an impressive winner at Doncaster on her return and an opening handicap mark of 91 could seriously underestimate her ability.
17:40 Ascot – Diego Velazquez
It’s worth remembering DIEGO VELAZQUEZ was sent off 9/4 for the Kameko Trophy at Doncaster last year, a race Aidan O’Brien regularly sends his best Classic prospect to, before an incident in the stalls at the start cost him his chance. He was a real eye-catcher in the French 2000 Guineas on his comeback and although he disappointed in the French Derby last time, the soft ground can be used as an excuse there. He could improve a bundle back on a sounder surface and, a close relation to Broome and Point Lonsdale, his breeding suggests he’ll relish this step up in trip.
Timeform race-by-race verdict
2.30 – Albany Stakes
MOUNTAIN BREEZE and Fairy Godmother stand out on form and might fight this out, with the first-named marginally preferred given she's still open to significant improvement. Loads of others have potential but Simmering might be the pick of them after an eye-catching debut in a strong race.
3.05 - Commonwealth Cup
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid holds a really strong hand, with easy Sandy Lane winner INISHERIN preferred to Elite Status, who was equally impressive from the front in a Newbury listed race last time. Jasour, whose connections know what it takes to win this, was a ready winner of the trial over C&D at the start of last month and looks best of the remainder.
3.45 - Coronation Stakes
A cracking race in store and with 1m round a bend promising to be right up RAMATUELLE's street, she's taken to reverse the 1000 Guineas form with Elmalka and Porta Fortuna having been worn down late by that pair at Newmarket. In fact, a bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Opera Singer, who was the best of these at 2 yrs and is sure to step up on her Irish Guineas run.
4.25 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
ETHICAL DIAMOND continued his theme of race-by-race progress on his first start on the Flat for his top NH stable when narrowly denied by another upwardly mobile sort at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago and, with the step back up in trip holding no fears, he makes plenty of appeal under Ryan Moore. Last month's Curragh 1-2 Crystal Black and Deakin bolster a strong Irish challenge and are feared, with returning Shadow Dance another to note. Bague d'Or and Vaguely Royal also make each-way appeal.
5.05 – Sandringham Stakes
INDELIBLE ran out a ready winner on her return at Doncaster and that race has a strong look to it. She could be well ahead of her mark now handicapping, entries in the Falmouth and Irish Oaks catching the eye, and she's hard to get away from. The progressive Fair Angellica is a likely contenders, while Without Words might be the pick of a strong Irish challenge.
5.40 – King Edward VII Stakes
SPACE LEGEND would have surely run out a comfortable winner with a clear passage in a listed event at Goodwood last month and, with further progress on the cards, he's taken to gain compensation in this higher grade. Theory of Tides defied a penalty in the manner of a fine prospect at Yarmouth and looks very interesting pitched into better company, with Ballydoyle pair Agenda and Diego Velazquez completing the shortlist.
6.15 – Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes
The biggest field yet of this competitive 3-y-o handicap and the suggestion is MUKAAFAH, who left his disappointing reappearance behind in no uncertain terms at Doncaster last month and Kevin Philippart de Foy's colt looks the sort that can climb the ranks quickly. Dorney Lake looks a serious threat now handicapping, so he heads up the opposition, with Vantheman, Pilgrim, Jubilee Walk and Dyrholaey all seemingly having plenty going for them, too.
Suggested Placepot permutation
Leg 1: 6, 11
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 3, 7
Leg 4: 16
Leg 5: 9, 17
Leg 6: 10
2 x 1 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 1 = 8 lines
More Royal Ascot previews, tips & features
- Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet
- Ben Linfoot's Verdict
- Karl Burke Stable Tour
- Harry Charlton Stable Tour
- Archie Watson Stable Tour
- Richard Hannon Stable Tour
- Dan Briden's Two-Year-Old Guide
- Timeform: Two-Year-Old pecking order
- Handicappers to note
- Royal Ascot Sky Bet Offers
- Latest Royal Ascot Build-A-Bet
- WATCH: The Stewards' Room Podcast
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