Racing expert's Royal Ascot day 1 tips including 10-1 shot after 8,000-1 tricast

Daily Mirror

13 hours ago

ITV Racing pundit Kevin Blake is back with his tips for day 1 of Royal Ascot, just weeks after helping punters take the bookies to the cleaners with a staggering 8,000-1 Derby combination tricast
ITV Racing star Kevin Blake has shed light on his fancies for day 1 of Royal Ascot. The pundit successfully tipped up a brilliant 800-1 Cheltenham Festival treble in 2021, and inflicted more pain on the bookies earlier this month.
Blake is in tip top form following the Derby at Epsom. The ITV star appeared on the channel's Opening Show before the race and selected three horses who he believed could win or run well on the Downs.
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Proven stayer Lambourn at 13-2, Chester Vase runner-up Lazy Griff at 50-1 and 33-1 shot Tenesseee Stud were his selections, and they ended up romping home 1-2-3 to land a mammoth 8,249-1 bet for anyone who used his picks in a combination tricast. Now, Blake has three horses to follow for day one of the historic Royal meeting.
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Blake's first selection of the day comes in a hot Queen Anne Stakes, the opening race of the afternoon, which takes place at 2:30pm. The one-mile affair on Ascot's straight course is a stern test, and this year the Richard Hannon-trained Rosallion looks to maintain his unbeaten record in Berkshire and is the market leader.
However, Blake has opted for superstar Ryan Moore's mount, 10-1 shot Diego Velasquez. This four-year-old son of the great Frankel has been off since September, having last run in the Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown, which he won that impressively.
Aidan O'Brien's colt was unruly in the stalls last month when attempting to make his intended return, and while Blake acknowledges that coming here into Group 1 company without a prep run is a worry, he feels his affinity to sit handy could help in this clash.
Speaking on the Queen Anne, Blake told Betfair: "The market is dominated by the form of the Lockinge Stakes, with the first four home reopposing. My preference amongst them is Rosallion, who I expect to improve notably from that run, but he is priced accordingly, and I've decided to venture outside the Lockinge form in pursuit of bigger-priced alternatives.
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"While it isn't ideal that Diego Velazquez comes here without a run, his trainer has had over a month to tighten the screws on him [from his intended May run]. He is a straightforward ride that enjoys sitting handy in his races, and that might well be a big help in a race that could get messy for those that are held up."
Next, Blake has set his sights on the King Charles III Stakes at 3:40pm. This five-furlong Group 1 sprint is open to horses aged three or older, and last year's winner, six-year-old Australian mare Asfoora, is back to defend her crown.
Yet again, Blake has decided to veer away from the market favourite, and has an 8-1 selection in the form of Ed Walker's charge, Mgheera. The four-year-old mare is unbeaten since arriving at Walker's yard, having come over from France in April, and won the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last time out.
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READ MORE: Newsboy's horseracing tips and 1-2-3 for every race at Royal Ascot on Tuesday on ITV
Star rider William Buick is back in the saddle, with his booking a significant plus, and Blake feels Mgheera's draw and consistent improvement work in her favour for this 23-runner sprint.
"This really is brutally competitive with 23 runners set to sprint down the straight at Ascot. With there being plenty of pace on show, my inclination is to side with one that will be ridden with patience and look to strike late," said Blake.
"Mgheera has that profile and has been booming forward in terms of improvement this year. She needs to improve again to get seriously involved at this level, but this setup will maximise her prospects of doing so. She is drawn close to some of the best pace, so it all looks lined up for her to have every opportunity to run a big race."
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Lastly, Blake's third selection comes in the final race of the day, the 1m6f Copper Horse Stakes. This staying handicap is open to four-year-olds and older, and it is 17-2 tip that ITV's finest has thrown up. Blake has sided with Joseph O'Brien's Aeronautic, who has seen significant market movement, as the son of Gleneagles started at a general 16-1 to begin the morning.
"His comeback run over an inadequate mile-and-a-quarter at the Curragh will have blown away any cobwebs, and this course and distance promises to suit him well," said Blake.
"While a wider draw would be preferred, he is set to be ridden with patience and covered up, so it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience. He looks a big price."