Royal Ascot Day 1 preview: A 16-1 Irish fancy and a 9-1 chance for the Wolferton Prepare yourself for the biggest, most international and eclectic five days of the British racing calendar as Royal Ascot gets underway. Runners from Ireland, Australia, Japan, France, the Czech Republic and America will be in action over the week, taking on the best the British can offer in 35 races all worth at least £100,000 and featuring the sport’s blockbuster equine and human competitors. In celebration of the spellbinding action ahead, BoyleSports are offering a generous €50 in free bets when you bet €10 and you get your money back as a free bet on all losers in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at 3.05. Baaeed and Coroebus are the potential superstars in action on day one of the royal meeting and will show what they are made of in front of an international audience. Below we preview the big betting contests on the card, in an attempt to pinpoint some value. 3.05 Royal Ascot - Coventry Stakes Speedy juveniles take the spotlight at 3.05 and it’s always worth looking at past records in the race, particularly when it looks such an open contest. Aidan O’Brien, has won this prize a staggering nine times and could easily make it ten with his unbeaten favourite, Marble Hill winner, Blackbeard. Another of his market principals, Age Of Kings, showed an impressive turn of foot when winning at the Curragh last time and has Frankie Dettori on board, who also knows how to win this race. It may be worth siding with Richard Hannon’s smart juvenile and Brocklesby winner Persian Force. Hannon is renowned for training smart juveniles and thinks this son of Mehmas is one of the best two-year-olds he has trained for years, comparing him to 2009 winner of this race Canford Cliffs. This race has always been the plan for this speedy type, who has scored twice over today’s distance of six furlongs. 3.40 Royal Ascot - King’s Stand Stakes Not since Black Caviar rolled into town ten years ago has a sprint at Royal Ascot been so dominated by what the international participants bring to the race. Nature Strip and Golden Pal have shown themselves to be lightning fast sprinters of the highest quality - Nature Strip is ranked third-highest horse in the world and Golden Pal ninth - and both are likely to help ensure this year’s King’s Stand Stakes is run at an electric pace. If the pace collapses towards the end (not certain, given the quality of these two but still) with the likes of Existent and Arecibo interesting at big prices in that regard. However, the same is true of Mooneista, who put up a career best at the Curragh last time when second over 6f, her chances far from helped by winner Brad The Brief leaning across her in the final furlong. The filly has the ability to travel strongly, so should handle the pace, has a marked turn of foot and has the top-class Colin Keane aboard. The good to firm ground is a query, but it would not be a surprise to see her running on and being involved at the finish at odds of around 16-1. 5.35 Royal Ascot - Wolferton Stakes You suspect those connected to Foxes Tales threw their arms up in frustration when seeing their four-year-old had been drawn in stall 16 of 16 for the Wolferton Stakes. Foxes Tales had shown up nicely in his comeback run at Sandown and then was a clear non-stayer when upped to 1m4f at Newbury, so dropping back to 1m2f - the same course and distance as he won the Golden Gates Stakes at the meeting last year - is a sensible move. The draw is going to make his life very tricky, but Foxes Tales won from wide at Royal Ascot last year and it is not impossible to overcome a wide draw to win from the 1m2f start. Foxes Tales has the potential to be competing in higher-grade races as the season progresses, so it is worth chancing him to have enough latent talent to overcome the draw and get involved where it counts at decent odds. You can back Persian Force, Mooneista and Foxes Tales with BoyleSports. *IRE/NI new customers only. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. Free Bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free Bets expire in 7 days. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment method restrictions. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&C's Apply. **18+. UK/IRE customers only. Max refund £/€20. Win or win part of e/w outright singles only. 5 or more runners. 1st bet on each race. Free bet expires after 7 days. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. T&Cs apply. Dunlewey.org
