2021 Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips for Tuesday 15th June

Royal Ascot 2021 has arrived and the day 1 action kicks off with the Queen Anne Stakes at 2.30pm, where Palace Pier is the short priced favourite. See all of Henry’s day 1 tips below and a preview of the seven-race card.

All this week’s Royal Ascot races are live on ITV and you can get the Paddy Power sign-up offer to kick-start your Ascot betting, with £70 in free bets for the week.

 

2:30 Ascot

The opener on a fantastic’s day racing is the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile at Ascot. Palace Pier heads the market after an emphatic victory in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time. He will be very tough to beat here but his price is far from appealing at 4/9.

I will play the without the favourite market here and the one for me is TOP RANK (betting without fav) (9/2 with bet365). He made a very encouraging seasonal debut when winning a listed contest up at Doncaster. He then went on to finish third in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes which Palace Pier obviously won. He is progressing well and I think he can come on again. I don’t think he’ll improve past Palace Pier but I can see him chasing him home today.

 

3:05 Ascot

The Coventry Stakes is next up, a Group 2 contest for the 2 year-olds over the 6f trip. The filly Kaufymaker heads over representing Wesley Ward and she is certainly the talking horse of the race. She was impressive on debut and has to be feared.

The one for me here though is DHABAB EW (7/1 with bet365). John and Thady Gosden have had a quiet start for their high standards but this 2 year-old looked really useful on his debut at Leicester at the start of the month. He showed a very useful turn of foot there and the sun was very impressive on the clock. The short gap in between races is no concern given Gosden won this in a similar path with Calyx. I think Dhabab is a nice each way price here in a open renewal of the Coventry.

 

3:40 Ascot

It’s back to Group 1 action as the sprinters get their turn in the 5f King Stand Stakes. The fastest horse on the planet heads the market, Battaash. He has been a fine servant for connections but I’m happy to take him on here at the prices given the interrupted preparation and the fact his legs aren’t getting any younger.

The one for me is QUE AMORO EW (14/1 with bet365). This filly was lightning fast herself last year and she ran a cracker when finishing second to Battaash in the 5f Nunthorpe Stakes at York last season. I’m happy to forgive her last run last season at the Curragh as it wasn’t a true reflection of her ability and I think she was just ready for a break. I think she’ll improve for another winter on her back and this 5 year-old has her ideal conditions here with the ground likely to be very lively at Ascot. She couldn’t have it quick enough and I think she’s a great each way bet today.

 

4:20 Ascot

The 4:20 race is another intriguing Group 1. This time it’s the St James Palace Stakes over 1m for the 3-year-olds. Poetic Flare heads the market but this will be his 4th run since May and that just isn’t ideal in my opinion.

The one I like is LUCKY VEGA EW (15/2 with bet365) who was third in the English 2000 Guineas behind the favourite. The Irish Guineas didn’t work out well for him so I’m happy to put a line through that effort. I think this track will suit him very well and I think he’ll be well suited by this easier mile than Newmarket offered. The fast ground will suit and I think he’s another great each way bet on Day 1.

 

5:00 Ascot

The first handicap of the day comes up at 5pm and it’s the Ascot Handicap ran over just shy of 2m4f. Therefore, it’s no surprise to see Willie Mullins has a great record in the race and is well represented yet again.

The one for me is M C MULDOON NB (4/1 with bet365). The mount of Ryan Moore, trained by Willie Mullins it’s hard to look elsewhere given the love affair the pair have with this contest. This will have been the target for a while now and I think the summer ground will suit this horse well.

 

5:35 Ascot

The 5:35 race is the Wolferton Stakes. A listed contest over just shy of 1m2f, it is a wide open contest where market movers on the day must be considered.

The one for me is PATRICK SARSFIELD (4/1 with bet365). A horse I liked from the start of last season and he sent me to the pay window often enough last season to utilise them winnings this season. He progressed well throughout last season starting off winning handicap races before translating that form to Group 3 level. He was just touched off on his seasonal return in listed contest finishing a very close second and I’m hoping he can come on for that effort like a lot of Joseph O’Brien’s have and give us a nice winner here.

 

6:10 Ascot

The finale on Day 1 is the Copper Horse Stakes, a handicap over 1m6f.

Again I think the duo of Ryan Moore and Willie Mullins can team up with another winner in SALDIER NAP (3/1 with bet365) here. A horse that’s always had a lot of ability but has had his injury problems. He had a disappointing season over hurdles but he returned to the flat this month at Killarney where he won doing handstands by 7l. I think that effort will have done his confidence the world of good and he’s another horse that will absolutely relish quicker conditions over the summer. I expect a very bold bid.

 

Royal Ascot Day 1 Free Bets

Relevant news