A sensational day’s racing will take place on Tuesday 17th June as Day 1 of Royal Ascot will see a host of top quality Group races alongside some really tough handicap puzzles. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form guides and picked out his four best bets, which includes a brace of 33/1 each-way plays.
2:30pm Royal Ascot – Queen Anne Stakes
Punters will be eager to kick off Royal Ascot 2025 on a winning note and it’s wise to stay at the head of the betting and back ROSALLION, who can storm to victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at 2:30pm for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey. A narrow winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting last season, the four-year-old made a pleasing return when third in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month.
Beaten by Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini that day, Hannon’s star will have both of those to face in this event, but the trainer was quick to state that the son of Blue Point will improve immeasurably for that outing and he should have enough class to turn the tables here. Likely to be ridden just off the pace, Rosallion can shot his customary turn foot in the final two furlongs to pull to the front, and his class can maintain the advantage to bag victory.
5:00pm Royal Ascot – Ascot Stakes
There’s a fascinating renewal of the 2m 3f 210y Ascot Stakes at 5:00pm as the National Hunt trainers venture on to the Flat and unleash some of their big guns in this staying event. Triumph Hurdle hero Poniros returns to the level and will carry bottom weight, while recent Chester Cup winner East India Dock will be looking for another big race success on the level.
With five places available in the each-way markets with bet365 then there could be some value further down the betting and Ralph Beckett’s ARTISTIC STAR could run a huge race at massive odds. Seventh in the 2023 Derby, the five-year-old has struggled to get his head in front of late, but he ran well at Newmarket last time out when finishing fourth and stepping up in trip here could see him improve again. You have to take a chance on stamina, but with Jack Dace taking off a valuable 7lbs then the Galileo gelding could outrun his odds and grab a place at the very least.
5:35pm Royal Ascot – Wolferton Stakes
Roger Varian trained Royal Champion to victory in the Wolferton Stakes two years ago and he can taste more success in the Listed contest on Tuesday as the well fancied ENFJAAR can outclass his rivals. A clear winner of the John Smith’s Cup at York last season, the Lope De Vega gelding nearly followed up with a victory at Glorious Goodwood when finishing second.
Second at Ayr on his last start last season in Listed company, the Shadwell-owned five-year-old made his reappearance in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. Fifth of seven in that event, he’s sure to come on significantly for that outing and dropping back in grade here he could prove to just be a cut above his rivals in what is an intriguing renewal.
6:10pm Royal Ascot – Copper Horse Stakes
Alan King’s LOUGHVILLE has been a real model of consistency in recent times and she could well outrun her lofty odds in the Copper Horse Stakes at 6:10pm. She failed to settle last time out when seventh at Goodwood, but prior to that had run two big races to finish third. With a big field lining up here and from stall 11 she should be able to settle and maintain a prominent position through the early part of the race.
A winner over 1m 4f at Newbury earlier in her career, she’s yet to taste victory over Tuesday’s trip of one-and-three-quarter miles, but if Rossa Ryan can get her relaxed through the first half of the race then she has shown she can run big races in tough handicaps, so is worth taking a chance on in what is a hugely competitive finale.
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