The Royal Ascot meeting is widely regarded as the most prestigious flat racing event around the globe, with 36 races held across the five day meeting, including a total of eight Group 1 races, the highest level of competition available. Along with top drawer racing, Royal Ascot is also known for the pageantry and high fashion, with many observers congregating at the venue to check out the latest and greatest in a veritable who’s who of famous patrons. The event takes place from 15th – 19th June.
The highlight of the five-day event is the Gold Cup race, which Stradivarius has won for the last three years, with the John Gosden trained runner attempting to make it a fourth successive win and equal the record set by Yeats between 2006-2009.
Here at Bettingpro.com, we will be taking you through each day of this five day extravaganza, bringing you a preview of the day’s races, along with a specific look at the top Group 1 races throughout and most importantly a tip for each contest. Royal Ascot also becomes a good marker for the upcoming Derby meeting at Epsom Downs, with many of the top performers appearing here, prior to that meeting.
Ascot Day 1 Tips and Odds
- 2:30pm Queen Anne Stakes (Group One) - Palace Pier (4/9)
- 3:05pm Coventry Stakes - Gisburn (7/1)
- 3:40pm King's Stand Stakes (Group One) - Battash (15/8)
- 4:15pm St James's Palace Stakes (Group One) - Poetic Flare (7/2)
- 4:50pm Ascot Stakes Handicap - Cape Gentleman (8/1)
- 5:25pm Wolferton Stakes (Listed) - Sangarius (5/1)
- 6:00pm Copper Horse Stakes - Saldier (6/1)
The Opening day of Royal Ascot features seven races, including three Group 1 contests, the Queen Anne Stakes, the King’s Stand Stakes and St James’s Palace Stakes with more information on those below.
Among those supporting the three races is the Wolferton Stakes, a listed contest for 4-yr olds and over, ran over 1m 1f. Roger Varian’s Mountain Angel won the race last year, when 2.5 lengths clear of Sir Dragonet. John Gosden is the most successful trainer in this race, winning four times so far. The recently added Copper Horse Stakes also continues for 4-yr olds and over, ran over 1m 6f and won by Fujaira Prince in its inaugural edition.
Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips and pricing will be updated accordingly, with significant changes occur in the market, or tips are no-runners
Queen Anne Stakes
The first Group 1 contest of the day is the Queen Anne Stakes, ran over a mile, for 4-yr olds and older. The race previously won by the famous Frankel back in 2012, was won last year by Aiden O’Brien runner Circus Maximus, beating Terebellum by a head. No horse has won two in a row since 1907 and with the previous winner getting a well earned retirement, that is set to continue for another year.
King’s Stand Stakes
The Kings Stand Stakes, is arguably the highlight of the day., with this Group 1 contest for 3-yr olds and older, ran over 5f has seen several multiple winners, including most recently, Sole Power (2013, 2014) and Blue Point (2018, 2019). Last year’s victor was Battaash, who beat Equilateral by 2.25 lengths, however hopes of re-entering this contest to regain the crown are in doubt, due to an injury gained over the Winter.
St James’s Palace Stakes
The St James’s Palace Stakes is the third Group 1 race of the day, ran over 7f, for 3-yr old colts. The race has been run since 1834, with Aidan O’Brien the most successful trainer with eight wins and Mick Kinane the most successful jockey, with six winners. The partnership of John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have won two of the last three editions, with last year’s victor, Palace Pier taking the spoils, ahead of Pinatubo by a length.
Ascot Day 2 Tips and Odds
- 2:30pm Queen Mary Stakes - Twilight Gleaming (3/1)
- 3:05pm Queen's Vase - Wordsworth (5/2)
- 3:40pm Duke of Cambridge Stakes - Queen Power (9/2)
- 4:15pm Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group One) - Lord North (7/4)
- 4:50pm Royal Hunt Cup Handicap - Haqeeqy (10/1)
- 5:25pm Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) - Ruthin (3/1)
- 6:00pm Kensington Palace Stakes - Lights On (4/1)
Day two of Royal Ascot features another seven races, with just the one Group 1 contest, the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, featured below. The Royal Hunt Cup is the big one-mile handicap of the week, while the likes of the Queen’s Vase and Duke Of Cambridge Stakes usually feature exciting, competitive races.
Supplementing the big race of the day is the Windsor Castle Stakes, a 5f dash for 2-yr old runners. Tactical won the race last year, ahead of Yazaman, with Andrew Balding and Jamie Doyle both picking up first victories in this race. Such is the openness of this contest, the last five years have produced five different winning jockeys and Trainers.
Royal Ascot Day 2 Tips and pricing will be updated accordingly, with significant changes occur in the market, or tips are no-runners
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
The day’s most prestigious race is the Prince Of Wales’s Stake, ran over 1m 1f, and open to horses 4-yrs old and over. John Gosden runner, Lord North won last year’s edition, when 3.75 lengths ahead of Addeybb, with big favourite Japan back in fourth. There hasn’t been any major dominance from trainers or jockeys in this race, although Jamie Doyle has won in two of the last three editions, while Godolphin have owned eight winners. Lord North returns for another crack at this contest and be the first since Muhtarram in the 1990’s to win two in a row.
Ascot Day 3 Tips and Odds
- 2:30pm Norfolk Stakes - Nakatomi (8/1)
- 3:05pm Hampton Court Stakes - Maximal (9/2)
- 3:40pm Ribblesdale Stakes - Eshaada (4/1)
- 4:15pm Gold Cup (Group One) - Stradivarius (10/11)
- 4:50pm Britannia Handicap - Raadobarg (12/1)
- 5:25pm King George V Stakes - Nagano (11/2)
- 6:00pm Buckingham Palace Stakes - Red Mirage (11/1)
The highlight of the meeting comes on Thursday, with Gold Cup (see below), while the supporting cast features some top class races, including the Hampton Court Stakes and the King George V Stakes.
The Ribblesdale Stakes is another contest which grabs a lot of attention. This contest is for 3-yr old Fillies and is ran over 1m 3f, with Frankly Darling the winner in 2020, beating Ennistymon by 1.75 lengths. Trainers John Gosden and Aiden O’Brien have shared the spoils over the last five years with Gosden winning three. Frankie Dettori is the most successful jockey in the race, having eight times, including the last two editions.
Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips and pricing will be updated accordingly, with significant changes occur in the market, or tips are no-runners
Ascot Gold Cup
The Ascot Gold Cup is the highlight of the entire five day meeting, with this, the premiere stayers race expected to be the most popular betting race of the week. The race is for horses, 4-yrs and older and ran over 2m 3f. Stradivarius made it three in a row in last years edition, when winning by a margin of 10 lengths that day and will be looking to equal Yeats’s record of four successive victories. He warmed up for the race, with a victory at the venue in April and will no doubt attract plenty of betting interest from backers.
The legendary Lester Piggott holds the record for the most victories in this race, with eleven, while Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer with seven wins.
Ascot Day 4 Tips and Odds
- 2:30pm Albany Stakes - Flotus (4/1)
- 3:05pm King Edward VII Stakes - Alenquer (11/4)
- 3:40pm Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) - Suesa (11/2)
- 4:15pm Coronation Stakes (Group 1) - Mother Earth (9/2)
- 4:50pm Sandringham Stakes - Belief (9/1)
- 5:25pm Duke of Edinburgh Stakes - Quickthorn (8/1)
- 6:00pm Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes - Boomshalaa (8/1)
Friday’s fourth day features two Group 1 events, the Commonwealth Cup (open to 3-yr old colts and fillies) and the Coronation Stakes (for 3-yr old fillies), while supplemental races include the King Edward VII Stakes which can act as a significant trial for the Derby and has been won by the likes of Japan and Pyledriver in recent years. That along with Sandringham Stakes, a quality handicap for 3-yr olds that has been won by the combination of Hayley Turner and Charlie Fellowes over the last two years. All this adds up to a fascinating day’s racing on the penultimate day of the event.
Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips and pricing will be updated accordingly, with significant changes occur in the market, or tips are no-runners
Commonwealth Cup
The Commonwealth Cup was introduced in 2015 and is open to colts and fillies aged 3-yrs old. The race is a ran over 6f and replaced the Diamond Jubilee Stakes which was closed to horses of this age. Golden Horde won last year’s contest and beat Kimari by 1.5 lengths. This has been a very competitive contest, with the six editions so far, producing six separate winning jockeys and trainers.
Coronation Stakes
The Coronation Stakes is a race open to 3-yr old fillies and ran over 7f. The contest has been in existence since 1840 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria. Last year’s victor, was Alpine Star, ridden by Frankie Dettori, beating Sharing by 4.25 lengths. One to look out for in this year’s contest is Alcohol Free, who recently placed fifth in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. In the last three editions of this contest, trainer Jessica Harrington has saddled the winner.
Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips and Odds
- 14:30 Chesham Stakes (Listed) - Masekela (5/1)
- 15:05 Jersey Stakes - Mutasaabeq (13/2)
- 15:40 Hardwicke Stakes - Hukum (6/1)
- 16:15 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group One) - Starman (9/2)
- 16:50 Wokingham Stakes - King's Lynn (9/2)
- 17:25 Golden Gates Stakes - King Frankel (5/1)
- 18:00 Queen Alexandra Stakes - Stratum (5/1)
The final day of Royal Ascot features the final Group 1 contest, the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (for 4-yr olds and over), raced over 6f , (see below for more information) and is strongly supported by the listed Chesham Stakes and Group 3 – Jersey Stakes.
The Chesham Stakes is a 7f race for 2-yr olds, with last years victor, the Aidan O’Brien trained Battleground, who beat March Law by 2.5 lengths. O’Brien is the most successful trainer in this race with five victories. The Jersey Stakes is another 7f contest, but open to 3-yr olds, with last years edition won by Molatham, who beat Monarch of Egypt by half a length. Trainer Richard Fahey has won two of the last five editions.
Royal Ascot Day 5 Tips and pricing will be updated accordingly, with significant changes occur in the market, or tips are no-runners
Diamond Jubilee Stakes
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is ran over 6f, with horse 4-yrs old an over allowed, alog with 3-yr olds and over from the Southern Hemisphere. In modern times, multiple wins are rare, with the record of three held by Prince Charlie way back in the 1870’s. Hello Youmzain won he race last year, ahead of Dream Of Dreams and Sceptical, with less than a length between the three horses in an enthralling contest, hopefully we get a repeat of that excitement in this years installment. Lester Piggott’s record of ten wins is unlikely to be beaten anytime soon, while Vincent O’Brien is the most successive trainer in this race, winning five times.
Our Best Ascot Betting Offers
Royal Ascot betting offers will start to appear nearer to the five day meeting, so keep this paged bookmarked to be kept up to date with the latest and best offers available for new and ongoing customers.
How to Bet on Royal Ascot
Betting on Royal Ascot is simple and straightforward. Visit your favoured bookmaker and find the relevant Royal Ascot race you wish to bet on and make your selection accordingly. With win, each-way and place markets, there are bets for all types of bettor. While those looking for bigger potential wins, can bet on multiple races, for doubles, trebles, lucky 15’s and more.
Also it’s worthwhile checking nearer to the start of the meeting, for special enhanced pricing and offers, along with more interesting bets, such as top trainer at the meeting and top jockey.
Royal Ascot FAQ
What dates are Royal Ascot 2021?
The 2021 Royal Ascot meeting takes place between Tuesday 15th June – Saturday 19th June, with the first race of each day starting at 2:30pm.
Are spectators allowed to Royal Ascot?
With restrictions slowly being lifted in the U.K. for sporting events, it is believed that Royal Ascot will allow in-person attendance at a limited capacity, with Ascot Racecourse, the British Horseracing Association and government agencies, assessing this all the time, in the build-up to the event.
Who are the best bookmakers for Ascot?
Many bookmakers will offer special enhancements and sign-up bonuses to entice new customers, with the likes of Bet365, PaddyPower, and Skybet among the leading companies offering that bit more for your money, however it is wise to keep an eye on all bookmakers, to take advantage of an offer or bonus will work best for you and your betting funds. Once again, keep an eye on this page for special bonuses and offers nearer to the event.