UK Horse Racing Tips: Royal Ascot

BEDTIME STORY, a daughter of Frankel out of dual Nunthorpe winner Mecca's Angel, could hardly appeal more on pedigree and, on the back of a comfortable success over the extended 7f at Leopardstown 16 days ago, the sole representative of Ballydoyle is very hard to ignore, especially when Aidan O'Brien's record in this race is taken into account. By the same sire, Age Of Gold made a pleasing start over 6f on debut at Yarmouth and, now stepped up in trip, he could be a fly in the ointment for O'Brien as he bears down on a seventh Chesham winner. There are a host of potential improvers, with stablemates Expensive Rose and Lazy Griff ones to consider each-way, while big runs from Motawahij and Jewel Of London cannot be ruled out.
Prediction : 1st Bedtime Story 2nd Age Of Gold 3rd Expensive Rose

St Leger winner CONTINUOUS should be a real force over middle distances this season and can put down a significant marker on his first start of the campaign. Versatile regarding the ground, the son of Heart's Cry was far from disgraced when fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when last seen and the forecast quicker surface could be a key element to a dominate effort here. Middle Earth was seventh in the St Leger but returned with a gutsy success in the Aston Park at Newbury last month. The Gosdens' representative is feared most, although Desert Hero is surely better than he managed when fifth in that Group 3 contest and enters calculations. A winner at this meeting in 2022 when with George Boughey, Missed The Cut, a multiple Grade 3 winner for his new trainer in the States, is noted back at this venue with a first-time tongue-tie added.
Prediction : 1st Continuous 2nd Middle Earth 3rd Desert Hero

Following a last-gasp victory in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes over 6f at the Curragh last time, MITBAAHY is fancied most to follow up that success and give last year's winning connections of this renewal a second success in as many years. Charlie Hills' five-year-old got up late to see off Regional on that occasion, who has since confirmed the form by running well into second in the King Charles III earlier this week. The progressive Mill Stream got up in the shadows of the post having been well-fancied in the Duke Of York last month and another bold bid appears likely. Kinross, who finished a disappointing seventh in this race last year, returns to the track after 245 days off and would be of major interest if any significant rainfall hit the track on the day, while the hat-trick seeking Shartash is also shortlisted.
Prediction : 1st Mitbaahy 2nd Mill Stream 3rd Kinross

The Irish 2000 Guineas form could be the key to this race, with preference for the Aidan O'Brien-trained RIVER TIBER. The son of Wootton Bassett finished just over a length behind Haatem (second), but that was his first run of the campaign and, like many of his stablemates this week, he ought to take a big step forward from that effort. This could possibly be his ideal trip after running well at the top level over sprint distances as a juvenile. As for the latter, he makes his fourth start of the year having improved plenty from his juvenile campaign and he commands the utmost respect, despite dropping back in trip and giving away a 3lb penalty for his Craven success. Of the remainder, the progressive Never So Brave makes the most appeal after his impressive victory in a handicap at Chester last month.
Prediction : 1st River Tiber 2nd Haatem 3rd Never So Brave

Saint Lawrence started at odds of 22/1 when winning this contest last year and is a prime example of how this race can be a minefield for punters, but, given Apollo One (runner-up) and Juan Les Pins (third) have also gone up in the weights, he still offers some value in trying to emulate Rohaan, who landed back-to-back wins in the two previous editions. Albasheer drops in class but was notably well held in this 12 months ago and again carries risk. Therefore, perhaps Mums Tipple, off 4lb lower after finishing fourth to Archie Watson's gelding, could reverse that form. However, DARK TROOPER, a dual C&D winner when trained by Ed Walker, may be the way to go for win only purposes, given he is a proven course specialist who is still on an upwards trajectory.
Prediction : 1st Dark Trooper 2nd Mums Tipple 3rd Saint Lawrence

After a bloodless success over 1m2f at Windsor last time, APPROVAL could be anything and this exciting proposition could make a mockery of an opening handicap mark of 90. William Haggas' charge barely saw another rival on that occasion and showed a likeable attitude to race clear in the closing stages, looking better the further he went. The main danger could be fellow prominent racer Hand Of God, who justified a short price to win the Esher Cup over 1m at Sandown in April and will likely appreciate this extra yardage. The hat-trick seeking Old Faithful appears to be Aidan O'Brien's first string, while stablemate Cambridge returns to handicap company after running with credit in Group company. Andrew Balding saddled Foxes Tales to victory in 2021 and he's represented by Portsmouth.
Prediction : 1st Approval 2nd Hand Of God 3rd Old Faithful

Dawn Rising won this last year for Joseph O'Brien and is back for more, but he has raced five times since without success. Ryan Moore was aboard the son of Galileo 12 months ago but switches to QUEENSTOWN for Aidan O'Brien and, if the younger gelding stays the trip, his one-length second to Kyprios at Leopardstown last month gives him the edge at these weights with every chance there is more to come. Uxmal has to be taken seriously, as does Fasol, a rare runner on the Flat for top NH trainer Paul Nicholls.
Prediction : 1st Queenstown 2nd Dawn Rising 3rd Uxmal