Put on your top hat and tails, as we're off to Royal Ascot for one of the most presitigious and celebrated international race meetings in the world. Royal Ascot 2022 features world-class racing, huge prize pools and Day 1 on Tuesday evening brings Australian racing fans the treat of one of our very own as a warm favourite in a Group 1 race.
Nature Strip has done it all in Australia and now has the chance on the world stage against the very best in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes. Punters are keen to show their support and those who are prepared to stay up until 12:40am tonight may get rewarded with the race of a lifetime.
We've partnered with the UK-based team at Tips 4 Punters who will bring us their preview and horse racing tips for every race on the card this week!
2022 Royal Ascot Betting Tips - Day 1
Race 1 - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) - 11:30pm AEST
Kicking off Royal Ascot 2022 with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and this should go to the Sea The Stars colt BAAEED who is top-class and remains unbeaten. Winning all his races last season including 2 Group 1’s at Longchamp (beating Order Of Australia that day) and here at Ascot (beating Palace Pier – five time Group 1 winner in the UK and France) in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. More recently winning the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury giving Real World a 3 ¼ length beating. I expect Real World and Order Of Australia to fill the places in that order.
Baaeed is the $1.16 favourite here so there's just no value in betting at that price.
Race 2 - Coventry Stakes (Group 2) - 12:05am AEST
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has an impressive record in this race winning it a record 9 times and in this year’s Coventry he has 2 runners. Age Of Kings and Blackbeard. Going with the betting here the more fancied runner is Blackbeard who will be ridden by top jockey Ryan Moore. The speedy No Nay Never colt is 3 from 3 so far over in Ireland with an impressive win in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on his last start. I am taking on the O’Brien duo with the Richard Hannon trained PERSIAN FORCE. Impressive winner of the Brocklesby (major 2-year-old race in the UK ran at Doncaster) in March and beat Holguin (runs in this race) at Newbury in a 3 runner race last month. He has displayed a wicked turn of foot and can do some serious damage with it in this race I feel.
Race 3 - King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) - 12:40am AEST
What a race we have! It’s America versus Australia! Chris Waller (trainer of the legendary Winx) and Wesley Ward (12-time Royal Ascot-winning trainer) ship over the brilliant Nature Strip and Golden Pal. Lets talk about Golden Pal, 7th in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last year and is since unbeaten over in the States. Slamming a rival in a Grade 2 at Keeneland by 4 ¾ lengths on last start. Australian readers know all about the high-class NATURE STRIP, an eight-time Group 1 winner including 3 wins in the TJ Smith Stakes (ran at Randwick) in 2020, 2021 and this year. A race won by the mighty Black Caviar in 2011 and 2013. The only other horse to have won the TJ Smith Stakes 3 times is ‘The Grey Flash’ Chautauqua in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Simply put Nature Strip is pure class and I think he takes this. For eachway money I’ll throw in the Godolphin owned and Charlie Appleby trained Man Of Promise.
Race 4 - St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) - 1:20am AEST
Godolphin’s Coroebus is well fancied for this and its easy to see why. Nearly unbeaten in his career and was last seen beating stablemate Native Trail in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in April. Will be hard to beat but I’m siding with the William Haggas trained MY PROSPERO ridden by Tom Marquand AKA Aussie Tom. With more to come from this colt after wins at Newbury and Sandown, winning the Listed Heron Stakes over a mile on his last start. Listed to Group 1 action today and should make the most of it. Others worth a mention are Maljoom the other Haggas runner and Mighty Ulysses for John & Thady Gosden.
Race 5 - Ascot Stakes - 2:00am AEST
A big field of 20 runners go in the Ascot Stakes. ARCADIAN SUNRISE for John Queally enjoyed success at the Galway Festival and the Ebor Meeting at York in 2021. Staying on for 4th in a recent outing at Chester’s May Festival in the Chester Cup (won by the Aidan O’Brien trained Cleveland who runs in the last race today). With apprentice jockey Harry Davies taking off 5 lb he is the pick. Coltrane ran 2nd in the mentioned Chester Cup for trainer Andrew Balding. At bigger odds take a look at Make My Day for an each-way go.
Race 6 - Wolferton Stakes (Listed) - 2:35am AEST
Frankel gelding JUAN ELCANO won this race last year. On his most recent start he was 3rd in the 3 runner Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown (Foxes Tales – runs in this was 2nd that day). Should go well and I fancy him to beat Foxes Tales in this. Another I want to mention is Tasman Bay with his record reading 132233-, each-way play.
Race 7 - Copper Horse Stakes - 3:10am AEST
We come to the last race of the day. Straight in with Dettori’s mount STOWELL for John & Thady Gosden. Has been running in Listed/Group 3 races this season. With his last win coming in May 2021 at Ascot. Expect him to go close in this handicap race. Another potential winner is recent Chester Cup hero Cleveland trained by Aidan O’Brien although does have a 5 lb rise and the drop back in trip to deal with, the Chester Cup is over further. Aidan’s son Joseph runs Okita Soushi who is also worth a mention as is Alright Sunshine for each-way purposes.
