As the most famous race meeting in the world arrives once again, it’s time to pick our Royal Ascot punts for the week.
Just like during Cheltenham, major surprises will often pop up among the 35 races on the slate and punters will be eyeing big-value winners.
So, with seven trips to come over each of the five days, we have once again scoured the form guide and come up with five well-priced names from each day to consider.
Bobsleigh (Coventry Stakes, Tuesday, 15:05) – 20/1 William Hill
We’re going early with Tuesday’s punt in the Coventry Stakes.
Set to be a tasty matinee before the King’s Stand and St. James’s Palace Stakes, Bobsleigh could go well.
With 17 of the 22 entrants coming into this on the back of a win, finding a winner may prove tricky.
However, the in-form Eve Johnson Houghton has had a strong flat season so far and Bobsleigh could give it a very nice sheen.
Pipping Balon D’or to the Woodcote on Derby Weekend, the 2yo has enjoyed a strong start to his career, now with successive wins as a winning debutante at Brighton in April.
His most recent win at Epsom was eye-catching at 5/1, but can Bobsleigh slide to another win over 6f?
At a lofty 20/1, we say he can.
Majestic (Royal Hunt Cup, Wednesday, 17:00) – 20/1 888Sport
For pick two, one of the big betting races of the week in the Royal Hunt Cup catches the eye for many reasons.
The favourite rarely wins this contest, so eyes are invited further down the SP list; ours are looking at Majestic.
Yet to win since changing trainer from Mick Channon to his son Jack, his biggest win to date in the bet365 Cambridgeshire showed ability.
That is not to say the four outings this year have been underwhelming; far from it.
Indeed, after a fourth at Doncaster and a rather disappointing ninth in the Howden on the Rowley Mile, another fourth at the Dante Meeting was followed as an impressive runner-up to Cadillac on Derby Weekend.
Just waiting to get a clear run, Wednesday may just be a majestic one.
Lumiere Rock (Ribblesdale Stakes, Thursday, 15:40) – 12/1 BoyleSports
As we move on to Thursday, Al Asifah is the big favourite in the Ribblesdale Stakes for John and Thady Gosden, but for e/w value alone, Lumiere Rock looks a cracking shout.
The big draw for us comes in the form of the raiding James McDonald.
Making his annual pilgrimage from Australia, the Kiwi rode the indomitable Nature Strip in the King’s Stand last year.
The mount of a filly who has placed in all six career outings, McDonald’s 3yo has pedigree as the daughter of Japanese raider Saxon Warrior, winner of the 2000 Guineas in 2018.
With just the one win at the Curragh last October, three runner-ups though point to her consistency.
On UK debut and on the big stage, this Irish youngster has punter appeal.
Quinault (Palace of Holyrood House Stakes, Friday, 18:10) – 12/1 QuinnBet
We then move to Day 4’s finale sprint race, the Palace of Holyrood House Stakes.
With 28 runners pencilled in, another wide open contest is on the cards but Quinault might just come out on top.
Formerly on the books of Charlie Appleby, since gelding last June, trainer Stuart Williams has had to wait for a winning run but boy, it arrived and how.
What a finish! ????
Quinault pips Washington Heights in the Oakmere Homes Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap ????#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse pic.twitter.com/RukK5XW9pH
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 17, 2023
A first win on the AW at Chelmsford back in April, Class 5 victory on the turf followed at Brighton.
Back-to-back victories at Newmarket then came over 6f, and he arrives at Royal Ascot looking for an impressive sixth win-in-a-row after a narrow decision at York.
Though Quinault is yet to win over this shorter trip, the German has matured beyond his youth.
At a 12/1 price, looks the most interesting of Ascot punts.
Raatea (Wokingham Stakes, Saturday, 17:00) – 25/1 BetUK
For the last of our Royal Ascot punts, we juggled a few names but came up with a contender in the Wokingham Stakes; Raatea.
A late mover on to our radar after a tidy trip in the SkyBet Reverence earlier this month, Julie Camacho’s 6yo got his first win in almost a year.
However, in Raatea’s prior outing in the Howden this term, the signs of improvement were there from last season.
Well in touch with the leading pack with 1f to go but fading to fifth, another 6f outing at Haydock followed with a a surprise victory at 25/1.
Set to go off at a similar price to end the week, the very same trip can prove his consistency.
Now in changed colours, if the going remains Good to Firm, Raatea has real chances.
