Andrew Wilsher
Show Bio
Royal Ascot is one of the biggest weeks in the British horse racing calendar, and every race this week from Tuesday, June 15 to Saturday, June 19 will be broadcast live on NBC.
America will have a number of representatives, with trainer Wesley Ward deploying a string of top horses while US-based Brendan Walsh will also send Extravagant Kid to post in the King’s Stand Stakes at 10.40am ET on Tuesday.
Here at Pickswise, we’ll be providing free picks and predictions for every single race. If you’re new to Royal Ascot, then be sure to check out our handy guide, which explains exactly why it is the most prestigious horse racing festival in Britain.
Race 1: Palace Pier to win the Queen Anne Stakes, 9:30am ET
The Queen Anne Stakes has been a very open race in the last few years but it looks a lot more one-sided this time, with PALACE PIER clear of the rest of the field based on form and ratings. He has quickly ascended to the top of the mile ladder and should follow up his Lockinge Stakes success at Newbury last month. The Aidan O’Brien-trained colts Order Of Australia and Lope Y Fernandez are still unexposed over a mile and worthy of some respect.
CREDIT – Edward Whitaker
Race 2: Ebro River to win the Coventry Stakes, 10:05am ET
There was a 150/1 shock in this race last year but it usually pays to trust those at the top of the betting market and 12 of the last 13 winners had won the time before. Although Kaufymaker commands the utmost respect when held in such high regard by American trainer Wesley Ward, it does go against the grain to side with a filly when the last successful female in this two-year-old race was in 1916.
There should be a big effort in EBRO RIVER, who looks an exceptionally talented horse to win in the manner he did at Sandown, and it will be intriguing to see what he might deliver if covered up for longer in this bigger field. The Acropolis looked the part at Listowel and is Aidan O’Brien’s chosen one of four entries in his bid for a tenth Coventry success, while Gisburn and market mover Dhabab also need taking seriously.
Be sure to check out our insider look at Wesley Ward, including comments from the trainer on two of his leading contenders for Royal Ascot!
Race 3: Oxted to win the King’s Stand Stakes, 10:40am ET
This race should be run at a tremendous pace with several fast front-runners in the field. The horse with the best form is again Battaash, who wasn’t seriously troubled to win this last year but is returning from an injury and has been in a race against time to get here.
It will be fascinating to see what Winter Power comes up with on this much stiffer track than when he impressed at York, but the free-racing OXTED, who beat some big names over 6f last summer, is an interesting contender back on a track that suits as he has shaped as though he will be fully effective at 5f and the return to fast ground is in his favor. Liberty Beach, third in this race last year, has fair claims again, along with the American contender Extravagant Kid.
CREDIT – Edward Whitaker
Race 4: Lucky Vega to win the St James’s Palace Stakes, 11:20am ET
This is an open-looking St James’s Palace Stakes. Poetic Flare is a major contender provided his bid for a Guineas treble hasn’t left its mark, while Heron Stakes protagonists Mostahdaf and Highland Avenue are also firmly in the mix. Battleground and Thunder Moon remain of interest, Chindit is open to further progress on suitable ground and LUCKY VEGA has a bright chance provided the race pans out favorably. Narrow preference is for Lucky Vega, with Battleground second choice ahead of Mostahdaf.
Race 6: Patrick Sarsfield to win the Wolferton Stakes, 12:35pm ET
The Joseph O’Brien-trained PATRICK SARSFIELD is selected to take full advantage of escaping a penalty for last summer’s Group 3 win at Leopardstown. His close, strong-traveling second in a Curragh Listed race 13 days ago suggests he’s returned in good form and he’s preferred to Felix, who transferred all of this year’s all-weather improvement to turf when third to Lord North in a Group 1 race at UAE track Meydan in March. Blue Cup, so impressive in an Epsom handicap last time, and Windsor Listed scorer Solid Stone complete the shortlist.
CREDIT – Patrick McCann
Race 7: Global Storm to win the Copper Horse Stakes, 1:10pm ET
The inaugural running of this race last year was won by an unexposed six-year-old and Sleeping Lion has a similar profile — in his case having won on his debut for Roger Charlton at Kempton in April. With a solid course record he should give a good account of himself. Brilliant Light, Throne Hall, and Arthurian Fable are others with strong win-and-place claims but the vote goes to GLOBAL STORM, who ran so well at Royal Ascot last year and seemed very well suited by stepping up to 1m6f when winning at Newmarket. Saldier could be the main danger.
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