We are closing in on the start of Royal Ascot 2024.
Royal Ascot, held in Berkshire, is the most prestigious flat-meeting festival held across the entire season, with top-class horses doing battle throughout the week.
With eight Group 1’s, eight Group 2’s, three Group 3’s, 12 handicaps, three Listed races, and a valuable conditions race making up a total of 35 races, the fixture never fails to disappoint.
In this exclusive insight piece, I’ll be looking at the odds and dates before analysing four key runners to look out for during the week.
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Royal Ascot Odds
Here are the five most backed horses for Royal Ascot 2024 in the last seven days through oddschecker, together with the race and current best price.
| Name | Race | % of Bets | Best Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspiral | Queen Anne Stakes | 43 | 10/3 |
| Auguste Rodin | Prince Of Wales's Stakes | 42 | 7/4 |
| Kyprios | Ascot Gold Cup | 40 | 10/11 |
| Dark Trooper | Wokingham Stakes | 32 | 12/1 |
| Believing | King Charles III Stakes | 30 | 12/1 |
Royal Ascot Dates
Held across five days from Tuesday 18th to Saturday 22nd June. The first of six races for each day will commence at 2.30pm, with the concluding race at 6.15pm. All 35 races will be broadcast live on ITV (between ITV1 and ITV4) and Racing TV. Below are the scheduled dates.
- Tuesday 18th June featuring St James’s Palace Stakes
- Wednesday 19th June featuring Prince Of Wales’s Stakes
- Thursday 20th June featuring Ascot Gold Cup
- Friday 21st June featuring Commonwealth Cup
- Saturday 22nd June, featuring Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Royal Ascot Runners
Rogue Lightning - King Charles III Stakes 3.45, Tuesday 18th June
The King Charles III Stakes, known to most as the King’s Stand, is the first big-sprint race of the week. Mick Appleby’s Big Evs, who was impressive on his return at York, will be looking to bag a second Group 1 win of his career.
However, he will face stern opposition, including Tom Clover’s ROGUE LIGHTNING. This four-year-old improved with every run last year, completing a hat-trick of wins between July and September prior to finishing an excellent fifth of 18 in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.
With a clear run, I’m convinced he would have won, as he was only beaten by just over a length after being denied a run twice. He will be all-the-better from his comeback sixth in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and could be set to give the favourite plenty to think about.
To back Rogue Lightning to win the King Charles III Stakes directly through oddschecker at a guaranteed best price, click here.
Holloway Boy - Royal Hunt Cup 5.05, Wednesday 19th June
Karl Burke is having a season to remember, with winner after winner, and confidence in the stable will be high heading into the Royal Meeting with the hope of taking some decent prize money. Some of that could come from HOLLOWAY BOY in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Surprisingly, this four-year-old has yet to succeed since winning at this meeting on his debut two years ago, causing a shock in the Chesham Stakes. Nonetheless, he’s posted some excellent efforts in defeat since by placing in various Group races.
He did well to finish fourth in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at this meeting last year and should be approaching peak fitness now after two starts this year. An opening handicap debut mark of 105 seems lenient, and everything looks in place for another bold performance.
Bucanero Fuerte - Commonwealth Cup 3.05, Friday 21st June
Ireland has only ever landed the Commonwealth Cup once, courtesy of Caravaggio, but they appear to have a great chance this year with BUCANERO FUERTE, who has been trained specifically for this race.
Adrian Murray’s charge, who won last year's Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, remains the clear highest-rated runner in the field at 120. That rating puts him 7Ib clear of favourite Inisherin, yet he’s trading at nearly double the odds.
He has improved enormously since finishing a close-up third in last year’s Coventry Stakes and made a successful start to his campaign in the Goffs Lacken Stakes at Naas. He is a standout contender and should be favourite.
Equilateral - Wokingham Stakes Handicap 5.05, Saturday 22nd June
EQUILATERAL isn’t getting any younger and might not be as good as he once was, but he’s still a classy horse on his day, and it will be interesting to see him line up in this race.
Given that this is his only entry, Charlie Hills has undoubtedly targeted him at this race. This is a huge drop in grade compared to the last four assignments he’s been set at the Royal Meeting, in which he’s contested the King’s Stand three times.
With a record in that race that reads 255, clearly, he acts well here. All four starts at this course have been at the highest level, and the last time he ran in a handicap, he defied a 1Ib higher mark at York. Interesting runner at huge odds.
Royal Ascot Betting tips
Below you can find Architect Tips' three ante-post selections for Royal Ascot 2024. You can also back ante-post selections from both Steve Ryder and Andy Holding.
