Queen Anne Stakes tips (1430): Charyn targets Royal Ascot opener, Docklands to relish favourite track
Docklands ridden by Hayley Turner win the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot
The long wait for Flat racing’s marquee event is over as Royal Ascot kicks off with this high-quality Group 1 opener that should get some bettors’ Festival week off to a flying start.
14:30 Royal Ascot: Queen Anne Stakes
- Race details: 1 mile (straight), Group 1, 4-year-olds+
- 2023 winner: Triple Time 33/1 - Neil Callan (J), Kevin Ryan (T)
- Recent Trends: 17/22 winners priced less than 7/1, 6/10 winning favourites
Planet Sport Bet Royal Ascot Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if the favourite (inc. joint/co) wins, get a £5 Free Bet!
A valid argument could be made for most of the 14 runners lining up for this competitive opener, with Charyn and Facteur Cheval both likely to be battling it out for the favourite tag and for the biggest prize on the day one card.
Charyn hit the ground running this term, landing a Listed race at Doncaster and the Group 2 Sandown Mile before coming a close second behind the reopposing Audience in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury a month ago.
Five other rivals here finished strong well out behind the front two that day, and Roger Varian’s four-year-old looks primed to reverse that result under Silvestre De Sousa, with Ascot’s more challenging track likely to suit.
Suggested best bet: Charyn in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot
- Tip advised by Vrasidas on Tipstrr
Facteur Cheval and Big Rock spearhead a strong French challenge, but looking deeper in the betting, our each-way nod goes in the direction of promising four-year-old Docklands, who is proving to be a top performer with a particular liking for this course and distance.
Nine career outings to date have yielded eight frame finishes, four of which (including both of his wins) have come over Ascot’s straight one-mile trip.
After landing a 0-85 handicap by six lengths on his course-distance debut last May, he confirmed his class by seeing off the challenge of 28 rivals in the Britannia Stakes over the same trip at this Festival 12 months ago.
Best each-way bet: Docklands in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot
Harry Eustace’s young colt rounded off a productive campaign by coming a creditable third of 20 in the Balmoral on Ascot’s Champions Day, and was quickly into his stride this season when finishing a close-up second on season debut, again over this course and distance.
A subsequent trip across the Channel yielded another runner-up spot when last seen at Longchamp late last month, and although this is a big step-up in grade, Docklands should relish this return to familiar preferred territory, and could well carry usual jockey Hayley Turner into a frame finish.
- Tip advised by HorseForACourse on Tipstrr
As a final footnote and a real-each-way punt, it’s always interesting to see Ryan Moore on board a huge-priced outsider, especially when he starts garnering some market support.
Hi Royal made a promising season debut at Newmarket (third of nine) before being well held to finish fifth of 10 in the Lockinge at Newbury, behind three of today’s rivals but ahead of another four, including Big Rock.
First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces, and with Moore sure to have learned from their first ride together last time out, Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old could put a few more of those rivals behind him here.
Outsider punt: Hi Royal each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot
- Tip advised by The King of Horses on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Royal Ascot Tuesday tips: Best bets for ITV action on Day 1, June 18
