The iconic Royal Ascot Carnival begins Tuesday night Australian time with a bumper seven race card, headlined by a host of feature races, including the Queen Anne Stakes (1609m) and the King Charles III Stakes (1006m), where Aussie mare Asfoora will take her place.
Find Adam Page's best bets for Royal Ascot below, and be sure to head over to our Racing Tips page, for more free tips from the key meets this week.
Royal Ascot 2023 Day 1 Preview and Betting Tips
Race 3: King Charles Ill Stakes 1005m - 12.45am Wednesday AEST
(7) Twilight Calls has run super in the last two editions of this race and I am keen on him each way. Comes through a lead up at Newmarket, the Palace House. He got back to near last in the run and while he was never a winning threat, his finale was very good late in the piece. Ran second to Nature Strip in 2022 and was close up in defeat behind the placegetters last year. If he's close 300m out, I am convinced he has the finale to get over the top.
Aussie hat on, I'd love to see (8) Asfoora win. The query I have with her is the form she was in when racing here in the Autumn. Her trial/jumpout work was ordinary and her three runs indicated as such. But perhaps Henry Dwyer had eyes on Ascot and this race only. She went over early and had a prep run in the Haydock when on speed throughout and gave a very strong kick but just felt the pinch. Gun dry track horse, drawn to get clear air...her best sees her go awfully close.
(9) Believing is flying for George Boughey and has to be respected. She comes through a different race to Asfoora at Haydock but she won her respective race and the win had a lot of merit to it. She was on speed throughout and racing into a very strong head wind, so she was entitled to knock up and feel the pinch but she ran through the pain barrier and was quite dominant late. Dry track no issue, good racing style and is tough.
(7) Twilight Calls E/W
$11.00/$3.00 (1U/2U)
Race 4: St James's Palace Stakes 1603m - 1.25am Wednesday AEST
Very strong edition of the St James's Palace I feel. But, I do like (7) Rosallion. He won a Group l as a juvenile and hasn't gone backwards as a three-year-old. He pushed Notable Speech all the way fresh in the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before wearing down a stablemate to win the Irish 2000 Guineas at Curragh, and was impressive late in the piece. I feel he has good room for improvement and for mine, he's the value between he and Notable Speech.
(6) Notable Speech is a deserving favourite given he is unbeaten in four career outings for Charlie Appleby and he potentially could be a star. He has been kept on ice since the 2000 Guineas triumph mentioned above where he gave them a start and a beating, winning with a fair amount of ease. You don't know how good they are ‘til they're beaten, but Ascot is a different beast to Newmarket and is drawn off the inside, which could be a slight disadvantage given how firm the track is likely to be.
(7) Rosallion
$4 (2 Units)
Race 5: Ascot Stakes 4014m - 2.05am Wednesday AEST
Since 2012, legendary trainer Willie Mullins has won this race four times, and on three occasions, Ryan Moore has ridden. When the two combine, especially in these long distance races, they rarely misfire, so that is why I am keen to be with (4) My Lyka. He ran several weeks ago in a 4023m Hurdle at Killarney and ran very well in defeat to finish second in what was his first run for Mullins. He'll have loads of improvement to come and has the grounding for this. Best on the program for mine.
(1) Pied Piper will be popular with Australian punters given last start he ran third in a Cheltenham Hurdle to Absurde, the Willie Mullins stayer who was backed for a stack in the Melbourne Cup last year. Pied Piper is first up since that Cheltenham effort, which was on March 15, but he did run very well over a longer trip at Newmarket last year, notably with Ryan Moore steering, but he chooses to ride My Lyka. But that shouldn't discount the chances of this guy.
(7) Titronic is a slight query at a strong 4000m but maps perfect near the speed to get every chance. Thought he had his chance last time out at Southwell but just couldn't quite finish it off after getting a suck run in behind. He has placed at this track/distance previously but can get keen in the run so hopefully his manners can improve here, because his best is good enough.
(4) My Lyka
$4.50 (3 Units)
