Royal Ascot Day One: Milers, Sprinters, and Classic Contenders Shine
In the build-up to the opening day of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, our esteemed racing experts have provided their insights and predictions for some of the key contests.
The Queen Anne Stakes, the traditional curtain-raiser, is shaping up to be a thrilling affair. As Matt Brocklebank notes, last year’s narrow runner-up Inspiral will be a key player, though he remains “opposable” on the straight Ascot track. The Lockinge one-two, Audience and Charyn, along with the French duo of Big Rock and Facteur Cheval, are poised to provide stern opposition.
John Ingles believes Charyn, the improving older miler, could be primed for a breakthrough victory at the top level, while Ben Linfoot is also keen on the Newbury runner-up, predicting he will come out on top from the Lockinge form. Facteur Cheval, the French raider, is another contender they are keeping a close eye on.
In the King’s Stand Stakes, the elder statesmen of the sprint division are expected to hold sway, with the likes of Believing, Rogue Lightning, and Diligent Harry fancied to outperform the younger brigade, including the popular Big Evs. As John Ingles highlights, Australian mare Asfoora could be a threat if she has improved from her recent Temple Stakes run.
The St James’s Palace Stakes promises a mouth-watering clash between the impressive Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech and the Irish Guineas hero Rosallion. While Notable Speech is the clear favorite, John Ingles suggests Henry Longfellow from the Aidan O’Brien stable could be the one to shake up the top two.
Away from the spotlight of the Group 1 contests, the experts have also highlighted a few intriguing handicap prospects, such as Gentleman Joe in the Copper Horse Handicap and the debutant Andesite in the Coventry Stakes. Additionally, Botanical in the Listed Wolferton Stakes is tipped by Ben Linfoot to build on his emphatic York victory.
With the stage set and the anticipation building, day one of Royal Ascot is sure to deliver another captivating chapter in the storied history of this quintessential British sporting event.
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