ROYAL ASCOT 2018. DAY ONE TUESDAY 19th JUNE

Tuesday Weather update -- High Temp of 24C Starting dry. Plenty of cloud around too, especially during the morning, so it should be warm yet it's not uncomfortable and still advisable to drink plenty [water].

Going -- Good to firm

DAY ONE
This years Royal Ascot meeting will be the usual fashion stakes and social event, and Her Majesty The Queen still gets out and about not bad given she's 92 you know, not sure if she'll be accompanied by Prince Phillip but has Meghan and Harry on standby if she needs more support. 

Six races to enjoy starting at 2.30 with our first Group 1 of the meeting which is the QUEEN ANNE STAKES over the straight mile course, and a field of 15 will line up for our opener this year. RECOLETOS was 4th in the Champion Stakes here last year, and been winning Group races in France so not dismissed lightly here. 

The Godolphin trained BENBATL won here last year too (Hampton Court Stakes) and has spent the year in Dubai winning events at Meydan over 1m 1f on the turf, so appears to have trained on as a 4yo and will take the pair against an open looking field. At much bigger odds the American YOSHIDA could be interesting as certainly not come here for the air miles.

2:30 Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st. Accidental Agent 33/1
2nd. Lord Glitters 20/1
3rd. Lightning Spear 10/1


The COVENTRY STAKES is our second race and takes place at 3.05 over the straight 6f track. This Group 2 race for 2yo's has attracted a field of 24 and it's a minefield with only a few having no winning form to boast about but all could run well and finding the winner here will be tricky. 

Naturally the first port of call is to see what Aiden O'Brien sends over from Ballydoyle and he has the fav with SERGEI PROKOFIEV a dual winner from three starts all of which have been as odds on favourite. Bit too short for me in a field like this so will look at others, his son Joseph has an outsider with NO NEEDS NEVER (33/1) who should be one to follow later in the season perhaps. 

My selection today will also be from Ireland and is INDIGO BALANCE out of the Jessica Harrington yard, a winner of a Curragh maiden on only start but had several good looking horses from the other top years well behind, stayed on well, should improve and 12/1 looks a decent win/place bet for me.

3:05 Royal Ascot -- Coventry Stakes (6f)
RESULT
1st. Calyx 2/1
2nd. Advertise 10/1
3rd. Sergei Prokofiev 3/1
4th. Vange 25/1


At 3.40 our second Group 1 race of the week is the KINGS STAND sprint over 5f, where 14 will line up to charge down the course and the draw will be as vital as the splits for some.

BATTAASH heads the field and the market which is no surprise as a winner of the Prix De L'Abbaye and picked up this season with success in the Temple stakes at Haydock. The big danger will come from last years winner and the very talented LADY AURELIA who returns from America to defend her title. Wouldn't be surprised if she does that and maybe appear again on Saturday in the Diamond Jubilee stakes.

Plenty of big prices around for the rest of the field but I would be surprised if one of the above failed to land this, however DECLARATIONOFPEACE from Aiden O'Brien could go best of his here at 25/1. 

3:40 Royal Ascot -- Kings Stand Stakes (5f)
RESULT
1st. Blue Point  6/1
2nd. Battaash  9/4
3rd. Mabs Cross  20/1

The feature event is at 4.20 the Group 1 ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES over a mile for 3yo colts and they race on the round course. With over £300k to the winner its a strong field of 10, WITHOUT PAROLE justified his reputation with a win at Sandown Park last month and this unbeaten son of the mighty Frankel will take all the beating. 

The Classic form is here in the shape of TIP TWO WIN who was runner up in this years 2000 Guineas and also ROMAINSED who won the Irish 2000 Guineas. 

4:20 Royal Ascot -- St James's Palace Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st  --  WITHOUT PAROLE 9/4F
2nd  --  GUSTAV KLIMT 8/1
3rd  --  WOOTON 8/1


At 5.00 it's the ASCOT STAKES over the Gold Cup distance of 2m 4f for 4yo's+. Just the 20 runners here but unlike the sprint events I think they should be fairly strung out come the end and we'll focus on two against the field that should find the trip to their liking. 

Top weight WHISKEY SOUR certainly appeals over this trip, winner twice within the week at the Galway festival highlights his skills and has been placed over hurdles at both Cheltenham (County Hurdle) and Punchestown (Irish Champion Novice Hurdle) festivals this year. Looks like one that will take a lot of stopping if allowed to go out and dictate this even with all that weight, Willie Mullins runs FIVE today so be surprised if he's not having the 1-2 here.

Others to note include COEUR DE LION (Alan King) and WHITE DESERT (Charlie Appleby) though some questions to answer about staying this far. 

5:00 Royal Ascot -- Ascot Stakes (2m 4f)
RESULT
1st  --  LAGOSTOVEGAS 10/1
2nd  --  DUBAWI FIFTY 6/1
3rd  --  STRATUM 10/1
4th  --  CHELKAR 5/1


And at 5.35 we finish off Day One with the WOLVERTON STAKES over just under 1m 2f and is a change from recent years where the Windsor Castle stakes used to be run at the end of day one, this will now be run on Saturday. A field of 16 runners here and it's 6/1 the field. 

In a wide open affair will aim to pick two against the field at decent odds, first one is AUTOCRATIC from Sir Michael Stoute yard along with YUCATAN (Aiden O'Brien) the latter failed to shine at Epsom but should be better than that and the track could have been an excuse so should give us a run for our money this afternoon. 

5:35 Royal Ascot -- Wolverton Stakes (1m 1f 212y)
RESULT
1st --  MONARCHS GLEN 8/1
2nd --  EUGINIO 33/1
3rd --  MUNTAHAA 33/1

Result will be updated in the evening and we will have details for each of the five days of Royal Ascot posted up as early as possible along with World Cup matches.

Hope you enjoy the week.