Royal Ascot Tips: Day 1

Britain’s internationally renowned showpiece of the Flat season, Royal Ascot, gets underway today and BoyleSports are offering an Irish exclusive in the opening Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Not only can you get €50 in free bets, you get your money back on all losers in the curtain raiser at 2.30 - a contest which has split opinion among racing pundits.

Find out who our Formscan experts have pinpointed as the coveted winners on day 1:

2.30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)

The globetrotting Modern Games returned to home soil with a decisive win in the Lockinge at Newbury last month, where he had the reopposing Chindit (second) in behind. A classy sort, the son of Dubawi should be thereabouts at the business end, but preference is for INSPIRAL. The champion two-year-old rounded off her three-year-old campaign with a below-par effort in the Queen Elizabeth II, but that performance can be excused given she blew the start.

John & Thady Gosden's charge looks to have been laid out for this and the fillies' allowance could prove vital.

Native Trail has yet to repeat the achievements of his juvenile campaign, but he's closely matched with the principals on official ratings and isn't out of this, while Cash could outrun his lengthy odds.

3.05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

With 17 of the 22 runners successful last time out and no favourite scoring since 2019, the winner will need to be well above average and that points to the chances of ASADNA.

He strolled home by 12 lengths at Ripon and clocked some decent fractions that day on his only start, so he may prove too good for the short-priced River Tiber, who has won both races so far and represents Aidan O'Brien, who has won three of the last 10 renewals of this contest.

Wesley Ward's speedy Fandom is another to consider, while the booking of Frankie Dettori on Givemethebeatboys for Mrs John Harrington also catches the eye.

3.40 King's Stand Stakes (Group 1)

The King's Stand serves up a fascinating contest, with 19 runners from four different countries lining up to wage war over the minimum trip.

Highfield Princess completed a Group 1 hat-trick last term and gave a good account when conceding weight all round to finish runner-up in the Duke Of York Stakes last time out. The six-year-old mare is a worthy favourite, but marginal preference goes to the progressive MANACCAN, who could have more to come.

Despite being drawn away from the winner, the John Ryan-trained colt took another step forward to finish third in the Palace House Stakes and he may go close on this preferred sounder surface.

Coolangatta arrives after claiming Group 1 honours at Flemington and is worthy of consideration, while Twilight Gleaming finished second over course and distance in the Queen Mary in 2021 and completes the shortlist.

4.20 St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1)

Although Chaldean was the comfortable winner of the 2000 Guineas last month, he may need to improve again if he wants to get the better of PADDINGTON, who took the Irish equivalent with similar aplomb.

On a line through Royal Scotsman, beaten two lengths at Newmarket but seven lengths adrift at the Curragh, Ryan Moore's mount might have the edge, though both could still have much more to offer. Isaac Shelby was beaten into second in a photo finish in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and is another who warrants plenty of respect, leaving the unbeaten Cicero's Gift and impressive York Novice winner Mostabshir needing to improve if they want to figure.

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