THE first day of Royal Ascot 2024 is forecast to be dry with the ground good to firm, which fortunately is much better than was predicted last week.
As ever the racing on day one is the best you can get and one of the races of Royal Ascot 2024 is the St James’s Palace Stakes Group 1 over the straight mile. The favourite is the 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech Unibet 11/8 , who is renewing rivalry with the runner-up Rosallion Unibet 7/2, trained by Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon. Notable Speech was brilliant at Newmarket when following up on his all-weather performances where he had recorded some excellent speed figures, and he is a true miler. Rosallion was having his seasonal debut at Newmarket and this very classy individual, who won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last season, has since won the Irish 2,000 Guineas, beating his very smart stablemate Haatem, the English 2000 Guineas third. Outside of the first two in the betting Metropolitan, the winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Longchamp, looks the main danger ahead of Henry Longfellow, who was eighth in the same race. This is very close race to call, with Rosallion just my preference to beat Notable Speech, though this is a race I’m really looking forward to watching.
Enjoy whether at Royal Ascot or watching all the races #athome on ITV Racing.
See you there!
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
2.30 Ascot – Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 (1m Str)
Docklands has strong claims from an each way perspective with question marks over a few of those towards the head of the market. Docklands winner of the Royal Hunt Cup last year on good to firm has an excellent course and distance record which reads 1132.
He ran a cracker on his reappearance this year when only beaten a neck by the improving Quddwah in the trial for this back in May and lost nothing in defeat in a Listed event at Longchamp last time, sticking on well to the task in heavy ground to be beaten half a length. He will be well suited by the conditions and Hayley Turner’s record on the straight course here should not be ignored either.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK as CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
3.05 Ascot – Coventry Stakes Group 2 (6f)
Catalyse was well-touted up before his Hamilton debut (and very well backed) and didn’t disappoint, travelling really well and looking like he knew his job before showing a good turn of foot at the furlong pole and going away in the closing stages. This stiff six should be right up his street and he can continue his progression.
Angelo Buonarroti is unraced, and we know that isn’t prohibitive to winning at Royal Ascot as happened two years ago. Angelo Buonarroti looked very good at the breeze ups where he was purchased for 1,000,000 euros and is a very interesting contender, who is the only runner making his racecourse debut in the field. He is worth an each way play.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
3.45 Ascot – King’s Stand Stakes Group 1 (5f)
Believing (nap) was very eye-catching last time out at Haydock when delivering an excellent performance on only her second start over 5f when winning a Listed race with very positive comments about her success post-race. This was no fluke as she won three times in 2023 and finished third to Regional (reopposes here) beaten ½ length in the Haydock Sprint Cup. She has won on good to firm and can run a big race.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
5.05 Ascot – Ascot Stakes Heritage Handicap (2m 4f)
Divine Comedy hasn’t finished outside the first three on his last twelve starts and he continues on an upward trajectory as he showed at Haydock last time out when looking the winner a long way out to past the post 5½ lengths clear of the second Solent Gateway.
He has won on good to firm, is in stall 5, which is a good draw and has been overlooked.
Temporize won at Goodwood over 2m 4½f in 2023 and on seasonal debut last month over 2m he ran a good race to be second to Pledgeofallegiance, who reopposes here.
The return to this trip will suit Temporize, as will the quick ground and on his only previous appearance at Ascot he was second here last season.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.
