The first race on Day One sees the biggest certainty of the week with Palace Pier who at odds of 1/3 or worse is of course of no betting value and we can just sit back and admire this class act. I am not even going to bother searching for each way value as I just want to enjoy the race and ease into one of the toughest weeks in the racing calendar.
We tipped Lucky Vega in the 2000 Guineas earlier in the year and he wasn’t beaten far by Poetic Flare that day. However I was hugely impressed by the winner and he was beaten a short head in the Irish Derby after that. I think both of these horses will run massive races again today in The St James’s Palace Stakes and personally feel that betweeen them they have the best form on offer. I am going to side with POETIC FLARE and at odds of about 9/2 we can advise Maximum each way bets
Now for the race that is closest to my heart at the Royal Meeting – The Ascot Stakes. I like to take any opportunity I can to mention my old horse Sweet Glow who won this race for us way back in 1994. The glory years as I refer to them. I don’t think you will ever see a horse win The Ascot Stakes any easier than he did that day. No whip required and just cruised to victory in a canter. We backed him down from 28/1 to 14/1 and he should have been the favourite. In those days the race consisted of 30 runners and was a much tougher race to win than it is today. That is not to say it is easy of course! It just makes what we achieved in 1994 even more impressive. I have tipped the winner of this race quite a few times over the years and I think I have an overpriced one for you today.
I just can’t get away from Mick Easterby’s ELYSIAN FLAME. So unlucky in the Chester Vase over 2 miles and 2.5f. He was badly hampered at the start and many will say there was plenty of time to get over it, but at Chester if you lose your position early then you are up against it. He was still going well and sneaking into the race when he couldn’t get a gap a couple of furlongs from home and ended up coming wide. He was staying on all the time so there is absolutely no doubt that he will see out the trip no problem. His odds of 25/1 just seem absolutely huge to me and I have to advise Maximum each way bets as I just can’t see him not making the frame, particularly with some bookies offering as much as first 6 each way terms.
