Royal Ascot Tips 2021 - Day One

The small matter of four Group 1 races are on show as Royal Ascot 2021 gets underway, with crowds returning to this meeting for the first time in two years.

The headline stars are Palace Pier and Battaash, both winners at the five-day event last season, and both can arguably be called the best horse in their respective divisions on the planet.

Battaash is unbeaten since 2019, and was a decisive winner of this race last year.

Alongside the four top-level races, there is a Group 2 for two-year-olds and two interesting handicaps, and Matchday FM regulars Harry Reynolds, Ben Wignall and Joseph Richardson have given their selections below.

14.30 - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)

Harry Reynolds: It could be a long week for punters if PALACE PIER loses the opening race at Royal Ascot. He’s only ever been beaten once in his career and had excuses that day, and he’s simply the best miler in Europe. The son of Kingman won the St. James’s Palace last year, and he should easily make it 2/2 at the Royal meeting, having been totally dominant in the Lockinge last time out. Top Rank can follow him home for the forecast.

Ben Wignall: This is simply a one-horse race and it’s all about PALACE PIER. There’s a reason why he’s very short odds and it’s because he’s the best miler about. Good to firm ground is a bit of an unknown with him but the quality of the opposition isn’t good enough to trouble him. Order Of Australia won at the Breeders Cup of course, but he’s still not in the same league as Frankie Dettori’s mount.

Joseph Richardson: I really hope the meeting kicks off with a bang and that Palace Pier bolts up under Frankie Dettori. He returns to Ascot looking to vanquish the memories of being beaten here on Champions Day last year, the only blot on his copy book. I think he wins well, but I can’t be touching him at his odds and there are two against him that I like. Sir Busker loves Ascot and put in a very creditable run in the Queen Anne trial, but TOP RANK is a horse I rate really highly. He was a very solid 3rd in the Lockinge on ground he wouldn’t have liked, but will relish the quick ground here and him in the without the favourite market is one of my most confident bets of the day.

15.05 - Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

HR: Wesley Ward is 0-18 in races over further than five furlongs at Royal Ascot, so I have to take on Kaufymaker in this. The two I like are Masseto and GISBURN, with marginal preference for the latter. His sire Ribchester won at this meeting in 2017, and he can follow suit having won by six-and-a-half lengths when upped to six furlongs at Newbury on his second career start. Masseto ran into all sorts of trouble when second in a Group 3 at the Curragh, and there’s a lot to come from him too.

BW: There’s a lot of hype around Kaufymaker for Wesley Ward but I can’t have her considering she’s only ran over four and a half furlongs in her debut. I’m going to go with MASSETO for Donnacha O’Brien - this Territories colt won on debut in a race that is working out well and came second on heavy ground in a Group 3 race next time out and at 7/1 is good value back on good ground. I also like Vintage Clarets at a big price for Richard Fahey.

JR: The Coventry is always fascinating and I love the challenge of wading through all the different strands of juvenile form. To bet in is hard, but if you can pick holes in a few of the more fashionable runners there is value to be had. I may have found that with BERKSHIRE SHADOW who won really well at Newbury on his one and only racecourse appearance. He completely missed the break, but stormed home to win. With a 150/1 shot winning this last year, nothing can be discounted and the rank outsider of the field Dashing Rat was second last time out to Oscula who went on and won the Woodcote.

15.40 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1)

HR: BATTAASH would be about 1/2 for this race had he not suffered an injury over the winter. He’s by far and away the best sprinter on the planet in my book, and as he’s got older he’s become much more reliable. I don’t think trainer Charlie Hills would’ve run his gelding in this if he wasn’t 100% fit, and he’s 5/5 on his seasonal debut. At odds against, I think that price is a gift, especially as the speedy Ornate is drawn close to him, giving him the perfect toe into the race to defend his crown.

BW: I’m loyal to BATTAASH despite the fact he suffered a small fracture earlier this year. He’s simply the best sprinter about when he’s on form and despite the fact he’s now seven, I don’t think he will be slowing down. I don’t think any of the other market principals are in his league and I think despite the hype around her York win last time out, Winter Power will get found out upped in grade.

JR: An on-form Battaash will take all the beating, but he has had an injury, he’s now seven and we haven’t seen him on the track in 10 months. Winter Power is the obvious danger, but I think with four places LIBERTY BEACH is a cracking each way bet. She is such a tough and consistent horse who always runs her race and is more than up to Group 1 class.

16.20 - St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)

HR: This is an excellent race, and a number of horses have solid claims. 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare doesn’t look like a superstar to me, although he’ll appreciate the return to faster ground, and I’m happy to take him on. Mostahdaf is unbeaten and could be anything, while Battleground and Wembley have been very disappointing this season for Ballydoyle. I’m not totally convinced Lucky Vega is a miler, which CHINDIT definitely is. The only two defeats in his career have come at Newmarket, and despite looking awkward in the Guineas he stormed home to claim fifth in that race. He’s an excellent each-way bet.

BW: A pretty competitive race with the 2,000 Guineas form lines coming into play but horses that didn’t go to Newmarket for that race entering the picture as well, including La Barrosa and Mostahdaf. I like CHINDIT for Richard Hannon though who has good form on good ground and he was staying on well in the Guineas. The likes of Battleground and Wembley have a point to prove whilst Poetic Flare is a worthy favourite but he’s had a lot of racing recently and it may come too soon for him.

JR: The three-year-old mile division has been somewhat confusing, primarily due to the fact that the star two-year-olds of last season have underperformed with the exception of St. Mark’s Basilica. I’m sure people will make excuses for the likes of Battleground and Thunder Moon, but I would much rather go with the proven form of LUCKY VEGA, who ran really well at Newmarket before clearly not acting on the ground at the Curragh. This rattling ground will suit and this could really increase his stud value as he moves over to Australia after this race.

17.00 - Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

HR: A wide-open race and not one I have a massively strong opinion on. I like Irish Cesarewitch winner CAPE GENTLEMAN, who had a relatively successful spell over hurdles during the winter, landing a Grade 2 at Kempton. I find it hard to imagine him not being in the frame.

BW: There’s a reason why he’s top weight and CAPE GENTLEMAN is certainly classy over both hurdles and now on the flat as he won the Irish Cesarewitch last year. He’s race-fit having ran over timber last month and Rachael Blackmore comes over for the ride, which is another big positive.

JR: The Ascot Stakes is often an impossible task, weighing up the national hunt horses vs the proven stayers on the flat. Willie Mullins brings over two which go without saying have to be respected, and Emmet saddles Cape Gentleman. But I will go with the proven JUST HUBERT. He won a Goodwood handicap last year, narrowly beating Rochester House. His comeback run was fine and he has Danny Tudhope in the saddle, who has had success at the Royal meeting in recent years.

17.35 - Wolferton Stakes (Listed)

HR: I’ll be pretty disappointed if PATRICK SARSFIELD is beaten in this. He was chinned on his seasonal debut at the Curragh, having travelled like a very cosy winner. Joseph O’Brien’s horse has comfortably the best form in the field, and escapes a penalty for winning a Group 3 last season. Blue Cup is an interesting rival though, given how easily he won a handicap at Epsom after being fitted with headgear.

Patrick Sarsfield (right) was only just beaten by the top-class Skalleti in France last season.

BW: Definitely not the same race as it was a few years ago when Addeybb faced Magic Wand, there’s not many in here who you’d expect to step up to Group 1 company like those two. PATRICK SARSFIELD though looks to be the obvious one - Joseph O’Brien’s horse was just a length behind Skalleti in October at Longchamp and was quite progressive last summer. I fancy him to get back to winning ways here.

JR: I think PATRICK SARSFIELD may well be a cut above these. His form behind Skaletti at the back end of last season is rock solid, albeit on heavy ground. He has won on good so there’s no concern in that regard and Tom Marquand rides for Joseph O’Brien in the colours of his St Leger success Galileo Chrome last season. The only danger I see is from the unexposed Blue Cup, who runs in listed company for the first time.

18.10 - Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap)

HR: Grade 1-winning hurdler SALDIER has had his problems, but if he turns up anywhere near his peak form over obstacles, he’ll take some beating in this. At his pomp he had a rating of 159 for Willie Mullins, meaning he has about 11lbs in hand in this. He won an easy race last time out but that will be importance for his confidence, and although he isn’t a great price it does reflect his chances.

BW: Much like last year’s winner Fujaira Prince, there will surely be a horse in here that is very progressive and can go onto bigger things like the Ebor later in the season. A horse in the same colours is THRONE HALL for Kevin Ryan and I think this four-year-old has a lot of potential, coming third last time out at York behind Ilaraab and Raymond Tusk. More improvement could be set to come here.

JR: This race last year produced Fujaira Prince who went onto win the Ebor so it could produce a smart animal. I think GLOBAL STORM could well be that horse. A second to the smart Zabeel Champion reads well, before a Newmarket handicap win and I think he has the makings of the classic group horse in a handicap.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

14.30 Palace Pier 4/9

15.05 Gisburn 6/1

15.40 Battaash 2/1

16.20 Chindit 7/1

17.00 Cape Gentleman 9/2

17.35 Patrick Sarsfield 7/2

16.10 Saldier 11/4

Ben Wignall

14.30 Palace Pier 4/9

15.05 Masseto 17/2

15.40 Battaash 2/1

16.20 Chindit 7/1

17.00 Cape Gentleman 9/2

17.35 Patrick Sarsfield 7/2

16.10 Throne Hall 10/1

Joseph Richardson

14.30 Top Rank (w/o fav) 9/2

15.05 Berkshire Shadow 12/1

15.40 Liberty Beach 11/1

16.20 Lucky Vega 13/2

17.00 Just Hubert 9/1

17.35 Patrick Sarsfield 7/2

16.10 Global Storm 7/2