Royal Ascot 2020 - Day One Tips

As the hotly anticipated Royal Ascot festival gets underway, our resident horse racing pundits Harry Reynolds, Ben Wignall and Joseph Richardson have provided you with their selections for the opening day of the meeting in Berkshire.

There won't be the usual crowds at Royal Ascot this year, but we've still got fantastic racing to look forward to.

13:15 – Buckingham Palace Handicap

Harry Reynolds – This race returns after a six-year absence to kick off the royal meeting. I was very taken with the way DAARIK landed a handicap on the all-weather at Newmarket just over a week ago, having been off the track for nearly 14 months. He can get Frankie Dettori and John Gosden straight into the winner’s enclosure. Ben Wignall - A very open handicap to start off Royal Ascot, and one horse who has form at the track is Henry Candy’s GREENSIDE. He came 2nd in October over course and distance to Kynren, and talented apprentice Marco Ghiani takes the five pounds in weight off that he’s gone up in the ratings. In a race where there is a lot of talented four year olds, I’m siding with the experience.

Joseph Richardson - With most firms paying extra places in this race, FIRMAMENT has a good chance of running into the first five or six. Kept race fit over the winter at Meydan, this horse has a nice weight and his chances will not be hindered with James Doyle in the saddle.

13:50 – Queen Anne Stakes

HR – It could be a quick double for Dettori and Gosden, with TEREBELLUM looking to have a great chance of landing a first Group 1. The filly has decent form from last season, and was mightily impressive when taking the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, albeit over a longer distance. She can be prominent and tough to pass.

BW - Circus Maximus is undoubtedly the quality horse in the field going off last years form, but the unexposed MOHAATHER makes a lot of appeal here. Marcus Tregoning has had three winners already since the restart of racing, and his Showcasing colt retains a lot of promise after finishing 5th in the QE2 Stakes back in October over course and distance.

JR - Circus Maximus has proven Group 1 form, but TEREBELLUM was a very impressive winner of the Dahlia at Newmarket and comes under the category of "could be anything". The price is maybe a little short, but I think she wins.

14:25 – Ribblesdale Stakes

HR – With the absence of Born With Pride on account of the fast ground, it makes my decision to stick with Dettori and Gosden in the shape of FRANKLY DARLING an easier one. This is a big step up for her but she can prove that her lofty reputation is justified.

BW - A few of these horses have already run in Oaks trial races – and Miss Yoda has won one – but the potential of FRANKLY DARLING cannot be ignored. She bolted in at Newcastle on the day where racing returned in the UK, and she can confirm her promise back on the turf and perhaps go on to be a live contender at Epsom in July.

JR - Daughter of Frankel, FRANKLY DARLING bolted up on the first day of UK racing at Newcastle. In the colours of Star Catcher, last year’s winner, this filly’s price reflects her ability.

15:00 – King Edward VII Stakes

HR – If he’s half as good as his pedigree suggests he should be, MOGUL will blitz this fairly modest field. He was fourth in the Vertem Futurity Trophy behind 2000 Guineas winner Kameko at the end of last season, and already has a Group 2 to his name.

BW - Another unofficial trial for Epsom as it is now unusually before the Derby, it would be no surprise to see Aidan O’Brien’s MOGUL bolt in here. A full brother to last years Juddmonte International winner Japan, the 3.4 million guineas colt will no doubt want this trip and is very much expected to win here.

Mogul will be hoping to follow up his brother Japan's success in this race from 12 months ago.

JR - Many people’s fancy for the Derby, I don’t see any dangers to MOGUL here in a largely disappointing line up compared to the fillies’ equivalent. 15:35 – King’s Stand Stakes

HR – I’ve been burned by BATTAASH at short odds before but he just looks far too good for these. He’s a superstar on his day and is miles clear at the weights, and with no crowd to rev him up this should be a walk in the park, although I fancy Liberty Beach to run a huge race in receipt of the three-year-old allowance.

BW - In what looks on paper to be a pretty weak renewal of the Kings Stand Stakes, BATTAASH will take all the beating here. Charlie Hills’ star sprinter has come second to Blue Point in this race in the last two years, but with him now at stud, there’s no other horse on his level to stand in his way. Odds of 9/4 to win by two or more lengths could be huge considering what he did in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York back in August 2019.

JR - Another favourite! BATTAASH has 10 pounds in hand on rivals and despite Glass Slippers beating him at Longchamp in October, I expect him to finally win this race following two successive runners up spots.

Our pundits think Battaash and Jim Crowley will make it third-time lucky in the King's Stand.

16:10 – Duke of Cambridge Stakes

HR – Although in receipt of 7lb when beating multiple Group 1 winner Billesdon Brook last time in a Listed contest, you have to be impressed with the performance from NAZEEF that day. She flew home from off the pace and is upwardly mobile, and as long as she gets a good pace to aim at she can swoop late again.

BW - It looks like this year's Duke of Cambridge Stakes is a highly competitive one, and LAVENDER’S BLUE retains her potential from last year. A winner of a Group 3 race at Sandown and a Listed contest at Newbury – where John Gosden’s star Star Catcher was behind in third – Amanda Perrett’s filly is the one I fancy to get the better of the likes of Nazeef and the unbeaten Miss O Connor.

JR - I would happily back Queen Power or MAGIC LILY, who both ran good races behind Terebellum last time out. But at the prices, I will side with the front running Magic Lily despite carrying a 3lb penalty.

16:40 – Ascot Stakes

HR – Expect Nicky Henderson’s Grade 1 hurdler VERDANA BLUE to take the final race off the card. She won the Scottish Champion Hurdle off a mark of 154 last year, and she looks incredibly well treated now rated 100 on the level.

Verdana Blue is a Grade 1 winner over obstacles - can she add a Royal success to her CV?

BW - Dual purpose trainers tend to do well in this race, so it should be no surprise to see Nicky Henderson’s Verdana Blue head the market. She has top weight though on her past exploits, and MOON KING represents some value for Ralph Beckett. He won a race over 2 miles at Haydock last week, and even though this is an extra half a mile, there’s no reason why he can’t keep on improving.

JR - This won’t be a race I will be having a bet in, but COEUR DE LION placed in this race last year and will stay the trip again. Jockey Thore Hammer Hansen claims five to further his claims.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

13.15 Daarik 4/1

13.50 Terebellum 10/3

14.25 Frankly Darling 11/8

15.00 Mogul 4/5

15.35 Battaash 4/6

16.10 Nazeef 10/3

16.40 Verdana Blue 4/1

Ben Wignall

13.15 Greenside 16/1

13.50 Mohaather 11/1

14.25 Frankly Darling 11/8

15.00 Mogul 4/5

15.35 Battaash 4/6

16.10 Lavender's Blue 11/2

16.40 Moon King 9/1

Joseph Richardson

13.15 Firmament 20/1

13.50 Terebellum 10/3

14.25 Frankly Darling 11/8

15.00 Mogul 4/5

15.35 Battaash 4/6

16.10 Magic Lily 12/1

16.40 Coeur De Lion 14/1