Best bets for Royal Ascot from the Sporting Life racing team and pundits
Get the best Royal Ascot bets from Oli Bell, Mike Cattermole, Ed Chamberlin, Richard Fahey, Alex Hammond, Simon Holt and our racing team.
Oli Bell - Order Of St George, Gold Cup
I think Aidan O'Brien's star sets the benchmark in this race for all Stradivarius and Vazirabad are greatly respected. The selection was touched off in an epic renewal of the race last year and can gain compensation. (7/4 non-runner/no bet & Best Odds Guaranteed Sky Bet)
Matt Brocklebank - Clemmie, Coronation
There is a danger that Clemmie hasn’t trained on, but given everything we know about her sire, her trainer and her form as a juvenile, those fears are rendered negligible. Aidan O’Brien was keen to stress that it was just a minor setback that saw her miss the guineas and no doubt he has been working back from the Royal meeting ever since.Her two-year-old form is absolutely bombproof and continues to work out well, so it’s fair to suggest that a leaner, meaner Clemmie will ultimately prove herself to be among the best three-year-old fillies. It’s a fairly open market and in truth the race - as it stands - lacks a star. Step forward, Clemmie. (9/2 non-runner/no bet & Best Odds Guaranteed Sky Bet)
Mike Cattermole - Romanised, St James's Palace
Romanised is 8/1 in places for Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes and that seems to completely underestimate his chance. His win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, with a superb sustained run from the back - notably on good to firm - puts him in with a proper shout and is at least the equal of Tip Two Win's second in the Newmarket version. In fact, on a line through Gustav Klimt, sixth at Newmarket and third at the Curragh, that puts him almost alongside Saxon Warrior. Without Parole could be a very good horse but there is nothing like Classic form and Romanised looks one of the value bets of the week. (7/1 non-runner/no bet & Best Odds Guaranteed Sky Bet)
Ed Chamberlin - Clemmie, Coronation
The bookmakers kept my money having backed her ante-post for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas. Now she gets the chance to prove she is the best three-year-old filly over a mile in the Coronation Stakes. Given fast ground I expect her to do just that. (9/2 non-runner/no bet & Best Odds Guaranteed Sky Bet)
Richard Fahey - Sabre, Windsor Castle
We have Sands Of Mali who I really like in the Commonwealth Cup but that's a Group One and I think Sabre might be our best chance of a winner in the Windsor Castle. He's a colt I've always thought a lot of and he ran well in the National Stakes when things didn't necessarily fall right for him. You never know what you're going in against at Ascot but I've won the Windsor Castle before with a horse that wasn't as good as this fellow.
Alex Hammond - Clemmie, Coronation
Clemmie is my Royal Ascot banker. Aidan O’Brien’s filly made a belated return to the track in the Irish 1000 Guineas after missing the English version due to a small setback. She is sure to improve for that run last month and whilst she is a speedy filly, I think she can win the Coronation Stakes on Friday. I’ve been waiting for her to hit top form and I hope it happens here. (9/2 non-runner/no bet & Best Odds Guaranteed Sky Bet)
Simon Holt - Hydrangea, Duke Of Cambridge
Hydrangea has an obvious chance in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on Tuesday despite being beaten on her reappearance at The Curragh. Like so many of Aidan O’Brien’s horses, she should improve for that run and any reproduction of her two Group One victories or close second to stable companion Rhododendron in the Prix de l’Opera last autumn should put her in a different league to the opposition here. (7/2 Sky Bet)
Ben Linfoot - Lady Aurelia, King's Stand Stakes
I really like Battaash, but there are a few concerns with him ahead of the King's Stand. The most important one is keeping a lid on him pre-race amid the atmosphere and fanfare of the opening day of Royal Ascot. The second is his best two performances have come with significant cut in the ground. Lady Aurelia loves it fast, she loves Ascot and the reports from Wesley Ward couldn't be any more positive about her current well-being. At around 3/1, she looks lovely banker material. (3/1 Sky Bet)
David Ord - Crystal Ocean, Hardwicke
We won't be getting rich with this one but Sir Michael Stoute's charge is worth the wait. He's a typical Freemason Lodge improver and showed the benefit of his Sandown reappearance when running away with the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury. He's open to more progress over a mile-and-a-half and can take this before going onto contest even more prestigious prizes through the summer and autumn. (6/4 Sky Bet)