Royal Ascot day 1: Tips and racecards for today's racing
The opening day of Royal Ascot is special for many reasons but chief among them is the bounty of top-class racing there is to enjoy. The only one across the five days to feature three Group One races, today's action will be truly exhilarating.
The three Group Ones – the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30), the King Charles III Stakes (3.40) and the St James's Palace Stakes (4.20) – are among the most competitive races of the entire week and Telegraph Sport is here to help you find the winner.
There will be extra attention on the Ascot Stakes (5.00) with Reaching High set to go off favourite in the colours of the King and Queen.
Below, our experts give their selections for every race on the card as well their best bet (Nap) on Tuesday. Check back here once racing kicks-off for the results.
Royal Ascot Tuesday tips
2.30pm: Queen Anne Stakes (Group One)
Charlie Brooks – Dancing Gemini does not have to find much improvement to reverse Lockinge Stakes form with Lead Artist.
Marcus Armytage – Lead Artist. Nothing wrong with his Lockinge win, going away at the finish, and should relish Ascot's stiff mile.
Marlborough – Notable Speech should be suited by the stiff Ascot mile and fitness is sure to have improved for his reappearance fourth at Newbury.
3.05pm: Coventry Stakes (Group Two)
Charlie Brooks – Aidan O'Brien's second string quite often represents good value and so it's Warsaw for me.
Marcus Armytage – American Gulf was obviously showing up well at home to justify favouritism first time out. Trainer Paul Cole used to farm these races.
Marlborough – Rock On Thunder did well to win in tricky conditions on debut and the third and fifth from that race won at the weekend.
3.40pm: King Charles III Stakes (Group One)
Charlie Brooks – Mgheera is going in the right direction for her new trainer.
Marcus Armytage – Believing consistently found one or two too good last year, but she's now in foal to Frankel and it's amazing how often pregnancy in a mare can bring out some improvement.
Marlborough – Believing seemed to be better than ever in April when winning at Meydan and deserves to win a Group 1 on these shores.
4.20pm: St James's Palace Stakes (Group One)
Charlie Brooks – Field Of Gold is the best three year old colt in Europe. (NAP)
Marcus Armytage – I'm not sure Field Of Gold is way clear of either Henri Matisse or Ruling Court, but he appears to hold the aces in a race for the ages.
Marlborough – Field Of Gold will enjoy the likely pacemakers as much as his opponents and the most impressive Guineas winner out of the three in the field can land the spoils.
5pm: Ascot Stakes (Handicap)
Charlie Brooks – Ascending for Henry de Bromhead. Irish National Hunt trainers do well in these staying handicaps.
Marcus Armytage – All eyes will be on Royal runner Reaching High but stablemate Poniros, who won the Triumph Hurdle at 100-1, can spoil the party.
Marlborough – Willie Mullins is usually a trainer to keep on the right side of in these races and two of Reaching High's last three runs suggest this stamina test will suit.
5.35pm: Wolferton Stakes (Listed)
Charlie Brooks – Ecureuil Secret was hugely impressive at Epsom – he can back up here.
Marcus Armytage – Ecureuil Secret was excellent at Epsom and should come on for the run. The only concern is the quick ground. (NAP)
Marlborough – This has been the plan for Sons And Lovers all spring and the form of his two warm-up runs in Ireland couldn't have worked out better. (NAP)
6.10pm: Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)
Charlie Brooks – You just can't ignore the Willie Mullins/Ryan Moore combination. Charlus is the one.
Marcus Armytage – My Mate Mozzie, third a year ago, is only a pound higher this time and has apprentice find-of-the-season Warren Fentiman taking off 5lb.
Marlborough – French Master was brought by Wathnan Racing after an impressive victory last time and he can take this before moving on from handicap company.
What are the racecards for the week?
(Group/class, distance, age, prize money)
Tuesday, June 17
2.30pm: Queen Anne Stakes (Group One, straight 1m, four-year-olds and older, £750,000)
3.05pm: Coventry Stakes (Group Two, 6f, two-year-olds, £175,000)
3.40pm: King Charles III Stakes (Group One, 5f, three-year-olds and older, £650,000)
4.20pm: St James's Palace Stakes (Group One, round 1m, three-year-old colts, £650,000)
5pm: Ascot Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 2m, four-year-olds and older, £110,000)
5.35pm: Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m2f, four-year-olds and older, £120,000)
6.10pm: Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 1m6f, four-year-olds and older, £110,000)
Wednesday, June 18
2.30pm: Queen Mary Stakes (Group Two, 5f, two-year-old fillies, £150,000)
3.05pm: Queen's Vase (Group Two, 1m6f, three-year-olds, £265,000)
3.40pm: Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Group Two, round 1m, four-year-old and older fillies and mares, £225,000)
4.20pm: Prince of Wales's Stakes (Group One, 1m2f, four-year-olds and older, £1,000,000)
5pm: Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap Class Two, straight 1m, three-year-olds and older, £175,000)
5.35pm: Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap Class Two, straight 1m, four-year-olds and older fillies and mares, £110,000)
6.10pm: Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f, two-year-olds, £110,000)
Thursday, June 19
2.30pm: Norfolk Stakes (Group One, 5f, two-year-olds, £150,000)
3.05pm: King George V Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 1m4f, three-year-olds, £110,000)
3.40pm: Ribblesdale Stakes (Group Two, 1m4f, three-year-old fillies, £250,000)
4.20pm: Ascot Gold Cup (Group One, 2m4f, four-year-olds and older, £650,000)
5pm: Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap Class Two, straight 1m, three-year-old colts and geldings, £120,000)
5.35pm: Hampton Court Stakes (Group Three, 1m2f, three-year-olds, £150,000)
6.10pm: Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 7f, three-year-olds and older, £110,000)
Friday, June 20
2.30pm: Albany Stakes (Group Three, 6f, two-year-old fillies, £125,000)
3.05pm: Commonwealth Cup (Group One, 6f, three-year-old colts and fillies, £650,000)
3.40pm: Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 1m4f, three-year-olds and older, £110,000)
4.20pm: Coronation Stakes (Group One, round 1m, three-year-old fillies, £650,000)
5pm: Sandringham Stakes (Handicap Class Two, straight 1m, three-year-old fillies, £110,000)
5.35pm: King Edward VII Stakes (Group Two, 1m4f, three-year-old colts and geldings, £250,000)
6.10pm: Palace of Holyroodhouse (Handicap Class Two, 5f, three-year-olds, £110,000)
Saturday, June 21
2.30pm: Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f, two-year-olds, £110,000)
3.05pm: Hardwicke Stakes (Group Two, 1m4f, four-year-olds and older, £250,000)
3.40pm: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group One, 6f, four-year-olds and older, £1,000,000)
4.20pm: Jersey Stakes (Group Three, 7f, three-year-olds, £150,000)
5pm: Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap Class Two, 6f, three-year-olds and older, £175,000)
5.35pm: Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap Class Two, 1m2f, three-year-olds, £110,000)
6.10pm: Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Class Two, 2m6f, four-year-olds and older £110,000)
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