Our expert tipster at NetBet has cast his eye over the best horse racing odds ahead of an action-packed week as Royal Ascot returns for its five-day extravaganza.
There has already been some pulsating Flat racing this season and the best horses from UK, Ireland and even the USA will be competing in some of the prestigious races this country has to offer and the betting market looks wide open.
Take a look at our preview and see our trio of top selections from Royal Ascot this week.
Royal Ascot
14th to 18th June
Ascot, Berkshire
Live on ITV
Royal Ascot Preview
This five-day meeting remains one of the most popular in the racing calendar. Royal Ascot dates back to the 1700s with the first-four day meeting of its type held in 1768. However, the meeting really took off in 1807 when the Gold Cup was added to the meeting, with the Gold Cup still being the festival’s biggest race of all. There are 18 Group races in all, with eight of these being Group Ones (the highest-rated of all Flat horseraces).
Horses from all over the world have competed at Royal Ascot over the years, making it a truly international meeting for all the top horses, top jockeys and top trainers.
Charismatic Italian jockey, Frankie Dettori, is the most successful rider in the meeting’s history whilst Sir Michael Stoute has trained the most winners at Royal Ascot. However, Ryan Moore is undoubtedly the jockey to follow during Royal Ascot as his partnership with legendary Irish trainer, Aidan O’Brien, continues to flourish. Moore holds the record for the most winners at a single Royal Ascot meeting (nine in 2015) so will be the guy to watch out for again.
It should be a Royal Ascot to savour!
Royal Ascot Odds
Every year, we have plenty of markets to offer on Royal Ascot at NetBet and this year is no different. Alongside all the racing over the course of the five days, there are plenty of other interesting markets to keep an eye on.
The race to be top jockey at Royal Ascot is usually a competitive affair in the betting but this Ryan Moore is clear favourite at 1/1. Next in the list comes William Buick at 5/2 with Frankie Dettori at 4/1.
The top trainer race is looking a lot closer. Charlie Appleby is 9/4 favourite with Aiden O’Brien at 5/2 and William Haggas at 11/4.
Royal Ascot Betting Tips
We have picked three horses that we think we win this week. Every single one of the 30 races promises thrills and spills but there are also some large fields to that our tipster has had to go through with a fine toothcomb. However, he has picked three for your notebook this week.
Wednesday – Royal Hunt Cup (5pm) – 1m
This race is set to have one of the largest fields of the entire week with 30 runners lining up for a dash down the straight mile at Ascot. However, we believe we have hit the nail on the head with Dark Shift. This horse has won at the track twice and seems to be improving as evidenced by his win at Nottingham last time out. His biggest danger could be the lightly-raced Legend of Dubai, who won convincingly at Newmarket on his reappearance.
Selection: DARK SHIFT – 7/1
Danger: Legend of Dubai – 9/1
Thursday – Gold Cup (4.20pm) – 2m4f
We couldn’t resist having a tip in the biggest race of the whole meeting. With no Subjectivist in the line-up this year due to injury, we think the legendary Stradivarius can regain his crown. This horse is one of the greatest stayers in the history of Flat racing and if he wins (and we think he will!) he will no doubt spark emotional scenes in the paddock. His biggest threat to winning a fourth Gold Cup could be Princess Zoe. She won on her latest start at Ascot in very brave fashion on good ground and looks a live threat from Ireland.
Selection: STRADIVARIUS – 15/8
Danger: Princess Zoe – 6/1
Friday – Commonwealth Cup (3.40pm) – 6f
This is one of the newest races on the Royal Ascot calendar but a strong field will be lining up for this sprint on what is likely to be the hottest day of the year so far. We think El Caballo can lift the spoils and rack seven wins on the spin. He is improving at a rate of knots and won a Group 2 contest at Haydock last time. At longer odds, Tiber Flow could run a big race. He won on good going at Newbury on his last start and could run into a place.
Selection – EL CABALLO – 4/1
E/W – Tiber Flow – 12/1
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