After the Platinum Jubilee, it’s time for Royal Ascot. Five days of top-class flat racing and bookmakers are expecting millions of pounds worth of bets to be placed from June 14 to 18.
It’s not just the top UK and Irish horses travelling to Royal Ascot. There are top horses from all over the globe making their way to the Hertfordshire track this week. Several of them have good chances of winning some of the great races being held over the five days of Royal Ascot.
Tuesday sees the King’s Stand Stakes taking place. This is a five-furlong sprint, and the two leading contenders are both from overseas. Australia is represented by Native Strip who may be seven years old but still very speedy with a recent six-furlongs win. This is his first race in England but is the 38th (20 wins to date) of a very busy career. Betfred will give you 5/2 on a win for Native Strip.
American raider Golden Pal won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year. This is his third trip to the UK and he’s yet to get a win. You can get 3/1 at William Hill to finally show British racing fans just how golden he can be. This runner is also entered for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.
Wednesday sees the Prince of Wales’s Stakes with Bay Bridge, trained by Sir Michael Stoute the 6/5 favourite at 888sport. The Stoute yard remains in good form after starting this month with a win in the Epsom Derby. Bay Bridge was an impressive winner of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May, making it five wins in a row.
The second favourite hails from Japan and Shahryar is 7/2 at Betfair. Last time out saw this contender just get home by a neck in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan. The 2021 Japanese Derby winner has a tough task on his hands but could well be placed.
Also over from the USA is Slipstream who runs in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on Friday. The three-year-old won a listed race in April and his trainer Christophe Clement is in good form at present. At 10/1 with BetVictor, this runner has each-way claims.
The same can be written about Mangoustine from France. This three-year-old attempts to win the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on Friday. Four races out of five have been won, the only defeat coming after a 173 day lay-off. A bit of rain would help as all four wins have come on either good to soft or very soft ground. If the heavens do open, the odds of 10/1 at Paddy Power could start to fall.
