Royal Ascot tips: Day 1 Best Bets, Picks and Horses to Watch
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We have all our Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips in one place, as our horse racing expert has taken a look Tuesday's action at the Royal meeting and has a selection for each of the seven races taking place throughout a sparkling day's racing.
The Queen Anne Stakes, King's Stand Stakes and St James's Palace Stakes take center stage on the first day of the royal meeting, so check out our Day 1 Royal Ascot Tips here...
Royal Ascot 2023: Day 1 Picks
14:30 – NATIVE TRAIL
15:05 – HAATEM
15:40 – MANACCAN
16:20 – PADDINGTON
17:00 – PLEASANT MAN
17:35 – CHECKANDCHALLENGE
18:10 – VAUBAN
Royal Ascot 2023: Selections
14:30 - NATIVE TRAIL
Despite being overlooked in jockey bookings, his talent should not be underestimated. This race marks his second appearance after undergoing a wind operation, and the straight mile track will perfectly complement his strong running style. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Godolphin Boys in Blue secure a victory in the opening race with Native Trail.
15:05 - HAATEM
Selecting River Tiber or Asanda as the frontrunners may seem obvious, but their short odds in the market fail to consider the uncertainties that often arise with two-year-olds in this particular event. Haatem, who has raced three times, was unable to showcase his true potential at Epsom due to a poor start, resulting in a significant loss of ground. Despite this setback, he managed to secure a commendable third-place finish. The Richard Hannon team has been quietly preparing Haatem, making him a promising dark horse at a remarkably generous price.
15:40 – MANACCAN
Over the years, the four-year-old trained by John Ryan has shown consistent progress, steadily climbing from handicap races to the elite level. In the beginning of this season, he experienced misfortune at Newmarket, finding himself trapped in a pocket just as the race intensified. Nonetheless, he displayed resilience and secured a commendable third-place finish, with Vadream taking the victory. Manaccan thrives on firm ground, so it is hoped that the rain holds off. If all goes well, this race at Royal Ascot could witness Frankie Dettori's first triumphant dismount as he nears the end of his illustrious career.
16:20 – PADDINGTON
In his recent victory at the Curragh, the Ballydoyle colt delivered a standout performance, marking a significant milestone in his career. Winning the 2,000 Guineas on home turf, he showcased immense potential and demonstrated that he has yet to reach his peak both in terms of physical capabilities and ratings. Paddington displayed remarkable strength, finishing strongly right at the winning post. With each race, he seems to be improving and progressing steadily.
17:00 - PLEASANT MAN
In his previous outing at Musselburgh, he showcased remarkable resilience by adopting an aggressive riding style and managing to secure an admirable third-place finish. The quality of that race has proven to be exceptionally strong, as the winner Wise Eagle went on to claim second place in a Group 3 event, while the runner-up Metier emerged victorious in the Chester Cup. For the upcoming race, my hope is that Tom Marquand adopts a more patient approach with Pleasant Man, especially considering his wide stall position. By doing so, he has the potential to become another significant contender in the each-way category, under the expert guidance of champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls.
17:35 – CHECKANDCHALLENGE
Although he previously showcased his talent over a shorter distance, his true top-level performance is yet to be seen at this 10-furlong track. Checkandchallenge has displayed a pattern of initially falling behind in his races before finding a burst of energy towards the end, making a strong finish. Given his wide-starting position in box 14, it will be crucial to ride him patiently and conservatively. The anticipated fast pace set by the frontrunners in this particular contest will work to his advantage, allowing him to find his rhythm and unleash a powerful surge towards the finish line.
18:10 – VAUBAN
Willie Mullins' success extends beyond the realm of jumps racing as he consistently secures major victories on the Flat as well. With a multitude of promising contenders throughout the week, one horse stands out as particularly formidable: Vauban. As a former Triumph Hurdle winner, Vauban possesses remarkable talent, and based on his jumps rating of 160, he appears exceptionally well-handicapped on the Flat with a mark of just 101. This combination of achievements and ratings suggests that Vauban holds a significant advantage and has the potential to dominate the competition.
Royal Ascot 2023 - Everything You Need to Know
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Claiming Royal Ascot free bets is simple and easy to do, especially as we have five days worth of action to enjoy across the whole meeting.
The first step is to choose which offer you would like to take advantage of, from those we have listed above.
After this, click on the offer which should take you to the bookmaker’s landing page for that deal, and sign up to a new account.
Check out the terms and conditions to make sure you adhere to those, and when you have completed the sign up process, it’s time to place your bets.
After these have been settled, you should receive the free bets from your bookmaker, giving you those to spend on the rest of the royal meeting.
When is Royal Ascot?
Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday, June 20 and will run through to Saturday, June 24.
Where is Royal Ascot?
The meeting is held at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, just 20 minutes outside of London.
How do I watch Royal Ascot in the US?
NBC traditionally provides coverage each day from Tuesday to Saturday, through its livestreaming service Peacock.
What are the biggest races at Royal Ascot 2023?
For bettors who like playing on elite-level racing it doesn’t get much better than the royal meeting, which features eight Group 1 races across its five days. They are:
The Queen Anne Stakes – Horses aged four and over clash on Ascot’s straight mile
The King’s Stand Stakes – Elite sprinters battle over the minimum trip of 5f
The St James’s Palace Stakes – The next big 1m test for three-year-old colts after the 2,000 Guineas
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes – A 1m 2f contest for middle-distance stars aged four and over
The Ascot Gold Cup – This 2m 4f contest for the very best stayers is the meeting’s signature race
The Commonwealth Cup – Three-year-old speedsters clash over 6f
The Coronation Stakes – The leading three-year-old fillies fight it out over a round mile
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes – An all-age speed test for the top 6f sprinters. Renamed from Platinum Jubilee Stakes in 2022.
Your day-by-day guide to Royal Ascot 2023
There are so many huge races taking place every day during the five days of Royal Ascot meeting, but we've taken a look at what we consider to be the race to watch on each day, as well as our expert pick, too!
Tuesday June 20
Race to watch: In the upcoming King's Stand Stakes, the spotlight is on two formidable contenders: Highfield Princess, the seasoned Yorkshire-bred runner who has consistently improved with time, and Coolangatta, the exceptional filly hailing from Australia. Highfield Princess has displayed remarkable progression as she has matured. With each passing race, her speed and performance have reached new heights, making her a force to be reckoned with in this competition. Coolangatta arrives on the scene as a highly touted filly from Australia. With a reputation for excellence, she has garnered significant attention and anticipation. Her exceptional skills and pedigree mark her as a top contender in this prestigious race.
Tip of the day: Zoulu Chief in the Coventry Stakes (3.05pm). A 150-1 winner of his last start, the result has been dismissed all round. Never came out of his comfort zone winning by five lengths that day and sure to start a big price again.
Wednesday June 21
Race to watch: The highly anticipated event to watch out for is the Prince of Wales's Stakes, where the 2021 Derby champion aims to secure his first Group One victory over a distance of one mile and a quarter, solidifying his reputation as a potential stallion. He will face tough competition from Bay Bridge, who emerged victorious over him in the Champion Stakes. However, with the ground conditions favoring a faster track, the tables could turn this time around.
Pick of the day: Intellogent in the Royal Hunt Cup (5pm) likes fast ground and Ascot. He was runner-up in this race 12 months ago only beaten half a length. This year he comes in 1lb lower in the ratings - which should give him half a length to spare!
Thursday June 22
Race to watch: The Norfolk Stakes is a race that demands your full attention, as it flashes by in the blink of an eye. While it's been a while since we witnessed American two-year-olds displaying their blistering speed on this track, Wesley Ward's American Rascal appears to be a standout contender. In his sole start at Keeneland, he triumphed convincingly over four and a half furlongs, leaving his rivals trailing behind by a remarkable margin of 10 and a half lengths. It's worth noting that American Rascal is the offspring of Lady Aurelia, a formidable mare who claimed victory in both the Queen Mary and King's Stand Stakes under Ward's guidance.
Pick of the day: Two years ago Subjectivist was as good a Gold Cup winner as there had been for a long time. An injury looked like putting paid to his career but he’s been brought back. He’s been a bit rusty but two runs should have put him right and in an open Gold Cup (4.20pm) he looks a steal at 8-1.
Friday June 23
Race to watch: The King Edward VII Stakes, often regarded as the Derby consolation race, presents an opportunity for the King and Queen to secure a victory at the esteemed Royal meeting this week. Circle of Fire emerges as their most promising contender in this event. Despite a subpar performance on the all-weather surface in the previous race, Circle of Fire is expected to thrive on turf, making a significant improvement in his performance.
Pick of the day: Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup (4.20). Little Big Bear will be a short priced favorite but he came up the golden highway when impressive at Haydock and it might be worth opposing such a short-priced runner.
Saturday June 24
Race to watch: The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes marks a significant moment in the career of Richard Gibson, a prominent trainer originally hailing from Northumberland. Gibson has been regarded as one of the finest exports from our shores, having achieved great success in both France and Hong Kong. As he approaches his final season in the Far East, all eyes are on Wellington, one of the sprinting stars in Hong Kong, to see if he can provide Gibson with a victorious send-off at Royal Ascot. It will undoubtedly be an intriguing spectacle as we witness if Wellington can secure a memorable win and bid farewell to Gibson's tenure in Hong Kong with a resounding triumph.
Pick of the day: Chipstead in the Wokingham Handicap. An improving sprinter whose brother was Oxted who won the July Cup and King’s Stand Stakes, an impressive winner at York last time.
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How do I watch Royal Ascot 2023 in the U.S.?
NBC traditionally provides coverage each day from Royal Ascot from Tuesday to Saturday, through its livestreaming service Peacock.
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