Three winning favourites meant the punters were very much in control on the first day of the Royal Meeting, and with Richard Hughes’ 88/1 treble, a new Guineas favourite in Canford Cliffs, plus Mastercraftsman’s street fight with Delegator stealing the headlines, there was something for everyone. Brilliant.
They even let me into the Royal Enclosure with a top hat that looks like it was stolen from a tramp. Big mistake!
Looking ahead to Wednesday, the older horses take centre stage in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 3.45pm, and I’m sweet on the chances of Eric Libaud’s French challenger Vision D’Etat taking the £255,000 first prize back across the channel.
Compare the latest Prince of Wales Stakes Odds for the current best odds on Vision D’Etat.
The classy four year old was this column’s Arc de Triomphe tip back in October, and added to the fact he’s also the selection of my in-form Bulldog editor who rules this column with an iron fist, he gets the vote as the day’s headline bet.
The excellent Olivier Peslier rides the horse for the first time, and he looked to be back to somewhere near his best when taking the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp last out. Perhaps that wasn’t the most visually taking display, but he dossed close home and won with a lot more in hand than the officiial margin suggested.
The 1m 2f trip looks ideal, and if they go off at a strong gallop I reckon they’ll struggle to peg him back. My feeling is there’s more to come from last year’s French Derby and Prix Niel winner, and this race looks an obvious target.
Lest we forget Vison D’Etat does have a couple of very good horses to overcome, notably fellow Francais cheval Never On Sunday and Sir Michael Stoute’s Tartan Bearer, who is certainly entitled to have come on for his Group 3 win at Sandown in April.
The winner of the Dante and second in the Derby in 2008 Tartan Bearer is a formidable opponent, but I’m a big fan of Monsieur Peslier’s mount and at twice the price I fancy him to raise a cheer for any Frenchman braving Berkshire. Get on at 7/2 with VCBet.
A little earlier in the day the girls take their turn in the Windsor Forest Stakes (3.05pm), and I expect this to go the way of the favourite as Jim Bolger unleashes Lush Lashes in Group 2 company.
Granted she has to concede weight to all comers due to a 5lb penalty, but she’s definitely earned it and on official figures she still has a bit in hand despite that imposte.
A Group 1 course and distance winner at this meeting in the Coronation Stakes 12 months ago she’s a tough as they come and had a fantastic time of it as a three year old, also netting the Musidora, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Matron Stakes.
Basically a proven Group 1 performer runs in a Group 2 and should have improved for her recent run when third in the Curragh’s Tattersalls Gold Cup. With that in mind the 13/8 with Paddy Power looks a reasonable price.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a slightly more speculative bet at a massive price then have a couple of quid of one of the William Haggas runners Alfathaa in the Royal Hunt Cup (4.20pm).
Follow the link to get the best odds on the Royal Hunt Cup
Gelded during the winter this fella is held in very high esteem by his shrewd trainer, and could spring a big surprise from stall 16 in the hands of Richard Hills.
The blinkers are taken off tomorrow and the word is he’s grown up since last seen some 270 days ago.
Alfathaa is 40/1 with any of Ladbrokes, William Hills, Betfred and Victor Chandler, but shop around for the firms offering five places.
Good luck!
Wednesday’s bets at Royal Ascot:
3.05 Windsor Forest Stakes – 1 Lush Lashes (win) @ 13/8 (Paddy Power)
3.45 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes – 8 Vision D’Etat (win) @ 7/2 (Victor Chandler)
4.20 Royal Hunt Cup – 4 Alfathaa (each way) @ 40/1 (Ladbrokes)
Tags: alfatha, bet, bets, betting, free, horse racing tips, lush lashes, odds, prince of wales stakes, royal ascot, royal hunt cup, vision d'etat
