Our tipster rounds up where you should put your money for the first day of the meeting...
The biggest event of the summer is finally here.
Five days of exhilarating action, 30 races, including eight Group 1s – Royal Ascot is always one of the best weeks of the year.
To mark the occasion, we have a great offer for you: Money back up to £10 if your horse loses the first race, every day.
Ribchester looks too good in Queen Anne Stakes
We start with the first of the eight Group 1s in the 2.30pm Queen Anne Stakes.
Won impressively last year by American mare Tepin in what was a really open race, this year’s looks fairly straightforward for RIBCHESTER.
The colt is proven on this course and distance after a very impressive win in the Jersey Stakes last year, where he won by 2¼ lengths.
He was also a decent runner-up to Minding on Champions Day and has since put in a solid performance in the Dubai Turf at Meydan and won the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
There’s not great value with him at {ODDS:164951978:1/1}, but the fact you’re covered in the first race means he’s a good bet to start the week.
If you fancy an each-way punt, I think Oh This Is Us is a huge price at {ODDS:164951974:25/1}.
He is a horse I’ve grown fond of this season and has won for me on two occasions, as well as finishing second and third.
He was slightly unlucky to be boxed in at the Diomed Stakes last time out, but can handle larger fielders, as shown with his victory at Bath and unlucky second in the Betway Lincoln.
Also proven over 1m and great form this season (212-13) he looks a good punt.
Denaar one to watch in Coventry Stakes
Next up is the 3.05pm Coventry Stakes in what looks a very open contest over the 6f.
Jessica Harrington has had a magnificent season and will be hoping Brother Bear can add to that.
He’s won twice over this distance in Ireland so it will be interesting to see how he performs making the trip over.
Arawak is another for the Wesley Ward yard and won on his only start. That was over 5f so it’s quite tough to judge how good he is so I’d stay away from him here.
De Bruyne Horse will also be in contest and won really well in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom at the start of the month, but the one who is really appealing to me is stablemate DENAAR.
Also trained by Richard Hannon, the colt is unbeaten having won over 5f at Chelmsford and then stepped up to 6f at Newbury last month.
Frankie Dettori was due to ride but after injury has ruled him out of the week, Pat Smullen steps up.
After winning both in convincing fashion and Smullen more than capable of deputising, this looks a good bet at {ODDS:164951936:10/1}.
Marsha can get better of Lady Aurelia in King’s Stand Stakes
Next up in the 3.40pm King’s Stand Stakes in the second Group 1 of the day.
A field filled with an abundance of class, I think this is going to be the best of the day.
Profitable won this last year for Clive Cox and is back to try repeat that triumph alongside stablemate and Temple Stakes winner Priceless.
However, the first three in the betting are very tough to pick apart.
Signs Of Blessing put in a solid run here in the Champion Sprint Stakes and has since ran well over in Japan and won the St-Georges Stakes at Deauville last month.
The drop back to 5f seems to be best for this horse, but the weight given to Lady Aurelia and Marsha may cost him.
We all remember how easily won the Queen Mary Stakes last year in one of the impressive displays in the Festival’s history.
She did flop a bit at Newmarket in September but was very comfortable last time out at Keeneland.
If she shows her raw speed again it will be tough to beat her but not having Dettori on board is a blow.
However, I’m really drawn to MARSHA here.
Sir Mark Prescott’s filly has done nothing but impress over the past six months landing big wins in the Palace House Stakes and a Group 1 at Chantilly.
Luke Morris has a great record on board with three wins and three seconds from six rides and certainly gets the best out of the four-year-old.
She is a high-class sprinter and I think the one to catch here at {ODDS:164952009:100/30}.
Barney Roy and Churchill set for another tight battle
The third and final Group 1 of the first day comes in the 4.20pm St James’s Palace Stakes in what is built as a rematch from the 2000 Guineas.
Aidan O’Brien’s Churchill has been unbeaten since his debut, having won all seven, including the Chesham Stakes last year and completed a 2000 Guineas double.
He’s among the greats that O’Brien has trained and with an official rating of 123, he’s going to be tough to beat.
However, I think BARNEY ROY can reverse the form this time out.
The colt won his first two comfortably at Haydock and Newbury and was really unlucky with his ride in the 2000 Guineas.
He met all kinds of trouble in that race and James Doyle couldn’t find the space for a clear run for home.
Despite that, he finished just a length behind in second and the drop down to 7f could really suit him.
I think at {ODDS:164951931:5/2} he looks the best value in what should gift Godolphin a second Group 1 on the opening day.
Alan King’s Dreamer could be his best outside chance of Ascot Stakes glory
Next up is the 5.00pm Ascot Stakes, which is dominated by a lot in the field making the switch from jumps to flat.
The first of which is favourite Thomas Hobson where Ryan Moore rides for Willie Mullins.
He’s been a very good seven year-old for the Mullins yard, with four wins from eight on the flat and four from 12 from jumps.
His last appearance on the flat was a victory at Doncaster in October 2013 so he should go close.
Alan King has three entered who are making the switch and two of which, Who Dares Wins and Rainbow Dream, ran at Cheltenham Festival.
Who Dares Wins put in a good performance to finish fourth in the Chester Cup while Rainbow Dreamer has won and placed in his last two on the flat.
That’s why I’m more drawn to RAINBOW DREAMER here.
He’s won three from his last six on both flat and jump, including a runner-up to Defi Du Seuil in January.
He won well last time out at Newbury, where he beat stablemate Oceane that day, over 2m 2f.
Andrea Atzeni is the man to ride for the big occasion, and with four places on offer, {ODDS:164952018:14/1} looks good each-way value.
Another Batt and Black Orange big each-way shouts in Windsor Castle Stakes
We finish off with the 5.35pm Windsor Castle Stakes, which is usually a very open race and good for big-priced fancies.
It was won last year by John Gosden’s Ardad as a 20/1 shot and joined in the top five by 100/1, 14/1, 33/1 and 50/1 chances.
Two appeal to me here, the first being ANOTHER BATT for George Scott.
Having only joined the yard a few months ago, he won very impressively at Ripon just two weeks ago by five lengths.
Silvestre De Sousa rode that day and is in the form of his life recently, including a 230/1 four-timer and 969/1 five-timer last week.
At {ODDS:164951967:14/1}, I think he’s worth an each-way punt.
The other I like is Gay Kelleyway’s BLACK ORANGE, who has started his career with one win, two seconds and third so far.
That win came at Ripon at the end of April. He was also incredibly unlucky last time out losing to a photo-finish in in the opening race at the Chester Festival.
Proven over the 5f, he also looks a good bet at {ODDS:164951982:40/1}.
Win Double
A £10 win double on Marsha and Barney Roy returns £160*.
