Royal Ascot 2024 Preview & Betting Tips 18/06/24
Royal Ascot 2024 is currently forecast to start on ground that would be described as Good, Good To Firm in places. Clerk of the course Chris Stickels does not see the need to commit to selective watering ahead of the meeting but the situation will be kept under review as the week progresses. And so at this stage, classic summer ground is forecast for the meeting. With this in mind, a number of key races can be analysed.
Queen Ann Stakes (Tuesday)
The meeting kicks of as always with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1 mile for older horses. The top of the market currently features the likes of Charyn, Facteur Cheval and Big Rock with the latter two performers bringing top class Group 1 form to the table. Facteur Cheval arrives at Ascot on the back of victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan over 9 furlongs at the end of March and that race was littered with proven Group 1 performers. Big Rock blew his rivals away (including Facteur Cheval) when making all the running in the QEII Stakes over the course and distance in October and on that form he sets a high bar. Meanwhile Charyn has been hugely progressive this season winning a listed event and a Group 2 race on his first two runs before finishing a very creditable second in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May. The winner that day was the Gosden trained Audience and he reopposes Charyn here. Although there will be more dangers abound, it would be a surprise if the winner does not come from the four horses discussed above.
St James’s Palace Stakes (Tuesday)
This race could be the race of the meeting. It features the winners of the English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas and so it will go some way to determining the best 3 year-old miler in Europe. Notable Speech took the English 2000 Guineas by a length and a half from the subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Rosallion, whilst Metropolitan took the French version by a half-length from Dancing Gemini who went on to run a respectable sixth in the Epsom Derby. Throw in Henry Longfellow and Darlinghurst and this really is a top class renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes. The betting currently suggests that Notable Speech will be the one they all have to beat and based on his Newmarket heroics, that assessment holds plenty of weight.
Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Wednesday)
This is another Group 1 race that features plenty of top class operators. The enigma that is Auguste Rodin heads the market and although clearly the best horse in the race on certain form lines, the son of Deep Impact is also known to throw in a performance that can be head scratching at best. He was very firmly put in his place on his latest appearance when beaten 3 lengths by White Birch in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May. The presence of the top class mile filly Inspiral has really ignited the betting markets in the past week and having won over the distance of 10 furlongs at the Breeders Cup back in November, she comes here with a huge chance. In addition to these two horses, Blue Rose Cen, Lord North and Horizon Dore will all be firmly in the mix. However Auguste Rodin and Inspiral will be the main focus here and it will be a fascinating clash between the best of the middle distance older horses versus the best of the mile generation. Will speed or stamina win the day?
Gold Cup (Thursday)
The Gold Cup currently houses the only horse that is touching odds-on throughout the whole week and that is the 2022 winner Kyprios. The Ballydoyle Team have done wonders to get this horse back from a serious injury incurred ahead of the 2023 campaign and he comes her on the back of two solid victories this season. Fellow countryman Vauban could provide one of his biggest threats and he comes here having finished second in the Yorkshire Cup just over a month ago with the reopposing Gregory three quarters of a length behind in third place. Sweet William and Caius Chorister both have solid claims and as always Coltrane could be the forgotten horse in the betting markets as he is a solid performer in these races. There are plenty of people who want to oppose the favourite however it could take a good one to get by him in his quest for a second Gold Cup.
Coronation Stakes (Friday)
Similar to the colts in the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Coronation Stakes could well throw up the best 3 year-old filly in the mile division albeit the recent Irish 1000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel will now sadly not line up. However the English 1000 Guineas winner Elmalka is scheduled to take on the French 1000 Guineas winner Rouhiya and with Ramatuelle, Opera Singer and the unbeaten Devoted Queen all due to line up, Ascot looks set to stage the best race for 3 year-old mile fillies this season. At this stage, it could just be that Elmalka is still going under the radar a little given that she was a big price when winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May. However that victory looked to be no fluke and with Ascot expected to suit her, she could well back-up that victory and stake her claim for the fillies crown of top miler in Europe.
Royal Ascot Selections
- Facteur Cheval (Queen Anne Stakes)
- Notable Speech (St James’s Palace Stakes)
- Auguste Rodin (Prince Of Wales’s Stakes)
- Kyprios (Gold Cup)
- Elmalka (Coronation Stakes)
- Highbury (Queens Vase)
- Whistlejacket (Norfolk Stakes)
- Inisherin (Commonwealth Cup)
