Royal Ascot 2021: Day 1 Preview & Betting Tips

The 2021 Royal Ascot carnival is upon us!

The highlight of the flat racing season in the UK, the Royal Ascot carnival spans five days (Tuesday-Saturday) and consists of 35 races, with over £6million in prize money on offer, making it Britain’s most valuable racing carnival.

We’re set to see the best flat horses from Britain and Ireland, with eight Group 1 races contested over the carnival, three of which come on day 1.

Day 1 features the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, G1 King’s Stand Stakes and the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

Once again we’ve partnered with the team at Tips4Punters (@tips4punters) to bring you local insights and betting tips for every day of the carnival.

Royal Ascot 2021 – Day 1 Betting Tips 

Race 1 – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)

Tuesday 11:30pm AEST

The Queen Anne Stakes gets Royal Ascot 2021 underway and is the first of three Group 1 races on Day 1. Diving straight in PALACE PIER looks formidable in this. Father/son John and Thady Gosden train the top class-miler who was last seen winning the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month. 7 wins from 8 races and will be hard to beat with Dettori riding.

Palace Pier’s main challenger in this looks to be the Aidan O’Brien trained Order Of Australia who was the Breeders’ Cup Mile 2020 winner at Keeneland back in November. O’Brien had the 1-2-3 in the race (Order Of Australia, Circus Maximus and Lope Y Fernandez) that day. Ryan Moore up.

Also worth a mention is Lope Y Fernandez who lines up again after his 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup Mile 2020 as mentioned. He is worth another go in this after a weak performance in the Lockinge Stakes (8th) where the ground that day was probably an issue. No issue of slower ground at Ascot now and should go well over the good/faster ground.

One for the bigger money for an each way go is Sir Busker. Has a Royal Ascot win (2020) on his CV.

TIP: Palace Pier – $1.40 at Sportsbet

Race 2 – Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

Wednesday 12:05am AEST

A wide-open Coventry Stakes with plenty in with a chance. I’m quite taken by Wesley Ward’s runner KAUFYMAKER who won impressively at Keeneland on her only start. Granted it was only a 3-runner race on the dirt that day yet Wesley has since stated the filly is one of his best chances after reports she has worked very well on turf. I’ll be honest whilst doing research I came across a video of Kaufymaker’s track work and was impressed with her in this particular video. Could blow them all way. Always wise to pay attention to any Ward runner he brings over from the States, since he is a 11-time winner at Royal Ascot.

Others that deserve a serious mention are The Acropolis trained by Aidan O’Brien with the trainer having a great record in this race (9 wins). The Acropolis was a comfortable 3½ lengths winner on his last start in Ireland.

Gisburn for trainer Richard Hannon looks to be a serious contender. Last seen blowing them away in a 6f Maiden last month at Newbury, winning by 6½ lengths! Sure to improve.

Keeping it in the family Masseto runs for Donnacha O’Brien and has a chance. Winner of a maiden in Ireland then placed in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month.

TIP: Kaufymaker – $6.50 at Bet365

Race 3 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)

Wednesday 12:40am AEST

The “Batmobile” BATTAASH lines up in the King Stand Stakes (winner of it in 2020). Top sprinter. Has been absent since August last year but has a good record fresh and will be ready to rock ‘n roll for his trainer.

One of the villains in the race looking to take down the Bat is Winter Power trained by Tim Easterby. Front-running winner of a Listed York race on reappearance last month. She won the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket on her final start in 2020

The American trained Extravagant Kid runs for trainer Brendan Walsh. 4th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year and has since won the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over at Meydan. Frankie Dettori up.

Extravagant Kid is one of two US runners in this, the other being Maven for Wesley Ward. Wes Ward runners are always worth noting. Maven won a Group race in France in 2019. The horse has had issues but was a winner recently at Keeneland in a 3-runner race. With that in the locker he is sure to run well for Ward.

This might come back to bite me but I can’t see Oxted winning this. He’s regressed since his July Cup win last summer at Newmarket.

One I’d like to mention for bigger money for an each way play is Stone Of Destiny, Will Buick in the hot seat.

I am torn between Battaash and Winter Power in this one but at a push I would side with Battassh.

TIP: Battaash – $3.00 at Sportsbet

Race 4 – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)

Wednesday 1:20am AEST

This may very well go to the Irish, either Poetic Flare (Bolger) or Battleground (O’Brien).

Poetic Flare winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, then recently a short head 2nd in the Irish equivalent last month at the Curragh, beaten that day by stablemate Mac Swiney.

Battleground was sent off favourite for the 2000 Guineas but finished way down the field, but the trainer reported after the race “that the colt did not handle the downhill aspect of the track on the good to firm ground on this occasion”. Interesting. He’s most certainly worth another go and could go close or win.

For home soil I am siding with the John and Thady Gosden trained MOSTAHDAF who is putting his unbeaten (3-3) record on the line today. The Frankel progeny is going from strength to strength winning the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown on his last start. Ireland vs Britain…

TIP: Mostahdaf – $9.00 at Sportsbet

Race 5 – Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

Wednesday 2:00am AEST

The biggest field of the day with 20 runners and I think this one will go to a Mullins but which one? Willie or Emmet. Willie Mullins runs 3 in the race (M C Muldoon, Rayapour and Royal Illusion).

The one I am siding with for the win is M C MULDOON. Firstly, the trainer has a great record in this race. Winning it in 2012 (Simenon), 2015 (Clondaw Warrior), 2017 (Thomas Hobson) and 2018 (Lagostovegas). Its also worth noting that three of those wins was with Ryan Moore in the saddle who rides M C Muldoon today.

The other Mullins, Emmet has a good chance with Cape Gentleman with the “Queen of Racing” Rachael Blackmore riding (made history becoming the first female jockey to win the Randox Grand National this year). Cape Gentleman is a Graded hurdle winner and won the Irish Cesarewitch back in October at the Curragh.

Willie Mullins’ other runner Rayapour is also worthy of a mention and at the bigger price, I fancy the Mark Johnston trained Lucky Deal to outrun his odds each way.

TIP: MC Muldoon – $6.00 at TopSport

Race 6 – Wolferton Stakes (Listed)

Wednesday 2:35am AEST

Let’s start with Patrick Starsfield trained by Joseph O’Brien. Group 3 win on the CV along with good placed efforts in Europe. 3rd in a Group 1 in Germany and more recently 2nd in the Group 2 Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp. 2nd in a Listed race at the Curragh earlier this month will have him ready to go today.

Sir Michael Stoute runs Solid Stone who is an improver and back up in trip looks certain to go well.

However for the win am going with the Marco Botti trained FELIX who has 4 wins on the AW (all weather) but who also has form on the turf including a recent good 3rd in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in Meydan (race won by Lord North).

Blue Cup for trainer David Menuisier gets a mention too.

TIP: Felix – $6.00 at Bet365

Race 7 – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)

Wednesday 3:10am AEST

Last race of the day is a Handicap and am concentrating on three horses here. Saldier for Willie Mullins, Global Storm for Charlie Appleby and Throne Hall for Kevin Ryan.

Saldier and Global Storm both have a great chance but at a bigger price am going with THRONE HALL, the longer trip should suit him and has placed in his last 3 races. Hoping he can land this Class 2. 

TIP: Throne Hall – $10.00 at TopSport