Trainers

John Gosden

Whilst it wouldn’t be best advised to blindly follow trainers at Royal Ascot, it is worthwhile knowing who excels there and who doesn’t. John Gosden has saddled 25 winners since 2010 at Royal Ascot, so he is almost certain to pop up with a success again this week. A word of warning for Gosden in three-year-old races though. Of his 117 runners, only 10 have won, producing a level stakes loss of £54. 

However, he has a far superior record with both two and four-year-olds. 13 winners from 62 runners reads much better, and would have netted you £38 profit to level stakes following blind. 

He has had a sensational start since the resumption of racing too, having 29 winners from 93 runners at a 31% strike-rate. Plenty will fancy him to continue this hot form into next week.

Aidan O’Brien

Unsurprisingly, top of the list of trainers last year with five winners, was Aidan O’Brien.  

Keep a close eye on his runners in the Coventry, which he was won an incredible nine times. With plenty of unexposed two-year-olds this season, O’Brien is sure to have some stars ready to go here.

He also has a knack for winning the St James’s Palace Stakes, where he has the joint favourite for the race in Wichita. The 2000 Guineas runner-up is looking to follow in Circus Maximus’ footsteps last year. 

If you backed every Aidan O’Brien runner in Group 2, Group 3 and Listed races you would be up £64 to level stakes, with 27 winners from 166 runners. 

Sir Michael Stoute

Sir Michael Stoute proved extremely profitable to follow in 2018, landing four winners from just 14 runners. He put in another solid showing last year with two winners, so he is worth keeping a close eye on throughout the week. 

He excels in Group 2 and Group 3 races, none more so than the Hardwicke Stakes, which he has won eleven times. Queen Power lines up for him there this year, so keep an eye on her after a pleasing run on her seasonal reappearance. 

It is a cliché, but Stoute is brilliant over the middle distances and it shows at Royal Ascot. If you backed every horse that ran over 1m4f for him here, you would have hit 10 winners from 46 bets and netted £17 profit to level stakes. 

Laafy could add to that record, entered in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday over 1m4f, after an impressive victory at Newbury on Friday. 

Jockeys

Ryan Moore

Of course, Frankie Dettori is the jockey on everyone’s mind at Royal Ascot, especially after last year, but there are some interesting stats on Ryan Moore that are worth acknowledging. 

He has ridden at least five winners for the last six years, which is incredible. Backing him blind is unlikely to see you profit, but there are a few angles that are worth noting.  

Firstly, when riding on good to firm ground, he has landed 33 winners from 159 rides at a level stakes profit of £21. However, when the ground is good or softer, he shows a £41 loss. He has ridden 19 winners from 130 rides in these conditions. Keep a close eye on the ground conditions if you are weighing up whether to back one of his rides or not. 

A slightly more niche stat, but keep an eye out when Willie Mullins and Moore team up. It has only happened 12 times, but they have won on five occasions, yielding a profit of £15 to level stakes. 


William Buick

After missing last year’s meeting, William Buick could slip under the radar for some. He is coming into Royal Ascot after a brilliant weekend, riding five winners from just ten rides. Not a bad strike-rate. 

His record at Royal Ascot is strong too, having ridden seven winners in 2017 and 2018. 2017 proved very profitable to follow him, yielding £23 profit to level stakes. 

He will get the ride of Pinatubo this year, hoping to make amends after being well beaten in third in the 2000 Guineas. Although, he isn’t actually seen to best effect over a mile at Royal Ascot. Rather, following him over 1m2f-1m4f would see you in £41 profit to level stakes. 

It's worth noting, if you are looking for one at a bigger price, Buick may not be your man. He has failed to ride any winners over 22/1 in 45 attempts.