The second-favourite is being heavily backed to take the title off last year's winner.
The first real duel of Royal Ascot takes place this afternoon in the King’s Stand Stakes, as Lady Aurelia battles Battaash.
Lady Aurelia has the form on this track, winning on both of her appearances at Ascot. However, Battaash has improved beyond all recognition from his early days and is now a serious contender for the title of the world’s best sprinter.
Winning by just a head at Haydock last month, we didn’t see the best of Shiekh Hamdan’s Group Two winner, but punters this morning are backing him to come out on top and deny Lady Aurelia from defending her title.
While it’s very close in the number of stakes placed over the last 12 hours between the two (35% for Battaash compare to 33% for Lady Aurelia), there’s far more money coming in for the former, suggesting that the punters with as bit more dough are going for the second-favourite.
You can still get a best price of 11/4 for Battaash, while Lady Aurelia is the 2/1 favourite. It could well be neck and neck on and off the course, but it will be a race that is undoubtedly one of the highlights on day one of the famous festival.
Oddschecker Spokesman George Elek: “Lady Aurelia may be the favourite, but Battaash is seeing much more of the money in the immediate build-up to the King’s Stand Stakes.
“Regarded as Britain’s biggest hope to take down the imperious winner of last year’s race, this duel will have everyone watching.”
