Bets for tomorrow and the Chester Cup
Field of Gold is going to be hard to beat in tomorrow's Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket (3.35 p.m.). He was impressive when winning the Group 3 bet365 Craven Stakes over course and distance last month and, according to his joint trainer John Gosden, the horse was only '80 to 85 per cent' fit for that race.
However, his rating of 118 means he is not officially the best horse in the race – that honour goes to Shadow of Light. Field of Gold is the most likely winner of the race but odds of 7-4 make no appeal.
After careful consideration, Godolphin's stable jockey William Buick has decided not to ride Shadow of Light, the winner of both the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, the two Grades 1s for two-year-olds at Newmarket last season.
Instead, Buick has opted to ride Ruling Court, also trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, and this accounts for the fact that this horse has been heavily backed into 4-1 second favourite over the last couple of days.
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Spectator
13 hours ago
- Spectator
Four wagers for the last two days of Royal Ascot
My main fancies for Royal Ascot this year have all run in the first three days and the final two days look a lot harder to me in terms of finding good wagers. Winning money from the bookmakers is hard, giving it back to them is easy. I am therefore going to approach today and tomorrow with caution and have fewer bets. In today's Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (3.05 p.m.) over six furlongs, Shadow of Light and Jonquil have been heavily backed as both horses drop back in trip from a mile. The former was third in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, while the latter was second in the equivalent French race at Longchamp. Both horses clearly have strong form but I prefer to side with a proven sprinter in the shape of BABOUCHE, who has winning Group 1 form from Ireland last year and who was impressive last time out at Naas when winning a Group 3 contest, beating the odds-on Whistlejacket very comfortably. I hope this three-year-old filly can continue to improve for the Ger Lyons/Coline Keane trainer/jockey combination and I would be surprised if she is out of the frame today. Back her 1 point each way at 4-1 with bet365 or SkyBet, both paying a generous five places (she is 9-2 elsewhere paying one place less). Trainer Emma Lavelle is best known for her exploits over jumps but when she turns her hand to the flat her runners are always worth a second look. Silver Ghost is an improving horse and must have a chance of landing today's Sandringham Stakes (5 p.m.) at Royal Ascot. However, the handicapper has raised Silver Ghost 8lbs for her comfortable win at Goodwood last time out and that may prevent her from landing her hat-trick. Twenty-five three-year-old fillies are due to line up for this one-mile contest which is worth more than £56,000 to the winner and I am going to side with Ed Bethell's unusually named OOLONG POOBONG, who won with plenty in hand at Haydock last time out over seven furlongs. Jockey Connor Beasley keeps the ride today and the extra furlong should be within his mount's reach. Back Oolong Poobong 1 point each way at 11-1 with Betfred, Paddy Power, Betfair and Unibet, all offering six places. At a much bigger price in the same race, I am going to take a chance on Owen Burrows' second string SEA POETRY, who is lightly raced and open to improvement. She would ideally want the going softer than it is today having won on her racecourse debut at Newmarket last year with cut in the ground. She has been second in both starts since. However, at big odds, I am prepared to take the risk on her being able to handle this quick ground and so the suggestion is 1 point each way at 50-1 with bet365, paying six places. Odds of 10-1 that he will reach the first six seem more than fair, although her draw in stall 9 may not be ideal. I have already put up Elite Status each way at 25-1 for tomorrow's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (4.20 p.m.) but I was hoping this race would cut up more than it has. Furthermore, trainer Karl Burke's horse have not been in sparkling form this week but the bet is on so let's hope for the best. However, I now want to go into this race double-handed in this race with the six-year-old French raider TOPGEAR for the Christopher Head/Stephane Pasquier trainer/jockey combination. This six-year-old is on a four-timer tomorrow after comfortably winning on his seasonal debut, a Grade 3 contest at Longchamp over seven furlongs. This stiff six furlongs at Ascot should be ideal for him and, although most of his best form is with cut in the going, his handler insists his horse is versatile ground-wise. Back him a point each way at 7-1 with SkyBet, offering five places rather than at 8-1, less places, with other firms. That's it for a week of tipping at this glorious event. As usual with betting every day at these big meetings, there have been plenty of highs and lows but fortunately more of the former than the latter, with three decent-priced winners and some other placed horses at big odds too. I am pleased to say that my tips this week will have shown a healthy profit overall even if these five wagers for today and tomorrow, including the one from last Friday, all bomb (and hopefully that will not happen). Thanks for those who have shared their views and expertise this week in the comment section – keep those thoughts coming please. I will be back again as usual next Friday. Yesterday: + 12.6 points. 2 points win Parole d'Oro at 10-1 for the Britannia. Unplaced. – 2 points. 1 point each way Afentiko at 25-1 for the Britannia, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points. 1 point each way Trawlerman at 8-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1st + 9.6 points. 1 point each way Yorkshire at 40-1 for the Buckingham Palace, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. 6th. + 7 points. Pending: 1 point each way Babouche at 4-1 in the Commonwealth Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1 point each way Oolong Poobong at 11-1 for the Sandringham, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. 1 point each way Sea Poetry at 50-1 for the Sandringham, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places. 1 point each way Elite Status at 25-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. 1 point each Topgear at 7-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 1 point each way Duke of Oxford at 33-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places. 1 point each way Who's Glen at 16-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places. 2 points win Caballo de Mer at 10-1 for the Northumberland Plate. 2025 flat season running total: + 44.86 points. 2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points. 2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips. 2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips. 2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips. 2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- The Independent
Friday's Royal Ascot Day 4 tips: Back the favourites in two Group 1 contests
Royal Ascot Day 4 betting tips The 2025 Royal Ascot festival continues with day four on Friday, 20 June, with two Group 1 contests headlining the day's action. The Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes are the main races of the day, supported by the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes and the opening race of the day, the Group 3 Albany Stakes. There is £650,000 in prize money up for grabs in each of the day's Group 1 races, with the Commonwealth Cup taking place at 3.05pm and the Coronation Stakes following at 4.20pm. And withdrawals in both races mean that horse racing betting sites have clear favourites in the main events of the day, with Shadow of Light offered at 7/4 in the Commonwealth Cup and Zarigana at 6/4 in the Coronation Stakes. Commonwealth Cup prediction Godolphin's Shadow of Light heads into this race as the clear favourite, with Juddmonte's Babouche next in the running in the eyes of the bookies. Babouche's only win this season came in the Lacken Stakes in Naas in mid-May, though the three-year-old looks set to build on the early promise shown as a juvenile. However, Shadow of Light remains one of the strongest fancies of the week at Royal Ascot, having been the European Champion two-year-old in 2024 with three wins at Newmarket alone between August and October. The favourite has run just once in 2025, but a third-place finish in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May only added to his tag as favourite for this one. His performance in that Classic – finishing a length behind the winner – as well as positive results over further distances at Newmarket show that he has the requisite pace and power, while suggesting that six furlongs may be his optimum distance. As the odds suggest, he should have too much class for his opponents on Friday afternoon, so we've gone with Shadow of Light to win the Commonwealth Cup at 7/4 with various Royal Ascot betting sites. Coronation Stakes prediction This is another race that now has a clear favourite due to a withdrawal, with Irish 1000 Guineas winner Lake Victoria having dropped out while being the odds-on favourite. That leaves Zarigana as the favourite on betting sites for the second Group 1 contest of the day, with the three-year-old having impressed on five home runs in France since debuting at Chantilly in July 2024. She has two wins in 2025, including the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp last month, and has proven to be versatile on different ground while building on solid performances from last season. Though this will be her first race outside of France, she'll set off as cleat favourite on Friday. Falakeyah is second in the running in the Royal Ascot odds having performed well on the way to a win in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, but this is another one where the favourite might have little competition. Though Falakeyah each-way could offer value, we're backing the favourite, with odds of 6/4 for Zarigana to win the Coronation Stakes. Responsible gambling Always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm supremely confident my big Royal Ascot tip on Friday will be far too good for his rivals
It's hotting up on and off the track now MATT CHAPMAN I'm supremely confident my big Royal Ascot tip on Friday will be far too good for his rivals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUT of the shadows and into the limelight — that's what I'm expecting for last season's champion juvenile at Ascot on Friday. We've made it to Day Four of the Royal meeting, and SHADOW OF LIGHT (3.05) — last season's Group 1 Middle Park and Dewhurst hero — drops back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Is Shadow Of Light a bit of a good thing in what would normally be a hugely competitive Commonwealth? Credit: PA Like many, I suspect he will take all the beating after his comeback third to stable companion Ruling Court and Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas. Shadow Of Light might well have won that race if he had been delivered a little later, but whatever the case, the drop to 6f should be exactly what he will enjoy and I just think he will be far too good. I'm happy with stall 19, so come on, William Buick. GOLD DIGGER (2.30) can get the day off to a flyer in the Albany Stakes. She looked special on debut at Yarmouth and it would be a famous winner here for Phil Cunningham and Richard Spencer. I was there that day, and many thought Awaken would take all the beating for George Boughey. She ran well, but was no match for Gold Digger, a Starman offspring who cost 260,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up sale. She stays well and will be well suited to a Jamie Spencer special from off the pace. Stall 14 should not be an issue. ETHICAL DIAMOND (3.40) was fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh last year when the 7-4 favourite. But he was out in stall 18 that day and get a much handier box in stall seven this time. The Willie Mullins challenger will hopefully be a stronger horse this time as he just weakened late on in 2024 and I suspect he will take all the stopping under Ryan Moore. He was a fine fourth at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle. For many the big one of the day is the Group 1 Coronation Stakes. We get the chance to see what might be a monster in FALAKEYAH (4.20) and her draw (stall two) has worked in her favour. Owen Burrows was considering the French Oaks after her demolition job in the Pretty Polly but also the Irish 1,000 Guineas. I'm pretty sure she has the speed for this test. She should be improving all the time as had only been to Wolverhampton prior to her Newmarket victory. She looks an absolute tank. Jim Crowley takes the mount. NEVER LET GO (5.00) is the one for me in the Sandringham. A strong gallop will be ideal for her and she has plenty of experience for Ed Walker. Many in this race are stepping up in trip, but Never Let Go drops in distance and looks sure to be suited by a proper gallop. Kieran Shoemark would not usually want to get down to a weight of 8st10lbs every day but he might just be rewarded here for making the effort. She's up in the handicap for a Listed third when last seen but as a lightly-raced animal I'm not too fussed about that. An each-way wager. Amiloc could easily win the King Edwards VII Stakes - also known as the Ascot Derby. But ZAHRANN (5.35) might just be one of the best Johnny Murtagh has trained in his career. The Aga Khan-owned colt and son of Night of Thunder was impressive in Listed company at Leopardstown last time and stayed this trip very well. He was well backed and it looked as though the stable knew he's classy. I'll chance him each-way. The day closes with JORGE ALVARES (6.10) in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap. A lot of very fast horses here and I suspect something will come flying through late. He could be the one each-way for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons. The gelding has plenty of experience and ran really well when last seen at Curragh staying on strongly having been close to the pace. He's up 1lb here but that shouldn't make any difference and he's raced up to seven furlongs so that bit of stamina could be useful. Good luck one and all. Yeeehaaa! FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
