Frankel the star turn on Day One of Royal Ascot

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:01 19.06.2012

Email:

racing preview

The imperious and unbeaten Frankel is expected to cruise to victory this afternoon, beginning a fantastic week of racing at Royal Ascot.

Henry Cecil's superstar will be around 1-6 to land the opening Queen Anne Stakes and should not be troubled to see off some modest opposition. At the prices he is of interest only to the big hitters, but the specatacle of him sauntering clear will be one to savour.

The Kings Stand Stakes at 3.05 has drawn a huge field and is complicated by the main principals all preferring a fast surface. Bated Breath is the likely favourite having smashed the track record in the Temple Stakes last time out on firm ground. However, he has struggled in the mud in the past and perhaps Wizz Kid can get the better of him. He returned to his best at Chantilly last time out and is proven over this course and distance in the past (second to Deacon Blues in October).

The Group 1 St James Palace is again extremely competitive with the layers currently offering around 6-1 the field. Gabrial may have only won a Haydock handicap last time out but the manner of the win was very impressive, and he reportedly works like a "120 horse" at home. With proven ability to handle testing ground he is selected to overturn some more illustrious and established names.

Charlie Hills Englishman is the sporting nap of the day in the Coventry Stakes at 4.25. He created a deep impression when cutting down a useful field on his sole start at Newbury, and the form has been well franked several times since. Sir Prancealot may be the main danger but there is a suspicion he was flattered at Sandown last time in the National Stakes as the leaders went off far to fast and folded in front of him.

Jump trainers have a terrific record in the Ascot Stakes handicap at 5.00 and Nicky Henderson, David Pipe and Willie Mullins are all represented and the market seems sure to sort the wheat from the chaff. Ashbrittle has a good low draw to work from and will revel in the mud so is selected to outstay a big field in the straight.

The concluding Windsor Castle Stakes at 5.35 can fall to an Irish raider for the first time in 32 years. Tommy Stack's Dylanburu showed improved form when runner-up in a warm Listed event at the Curragh last time and can go one better at the expense of Ask Dad and Lyric Ace.

In summary, a high quality opening salvo but one where punters must tread carefully in the soft ground with big fields the order of the day. The more astute will watch for any draw bias in the early races and capitalise on it later on. Frankel is the star attraction, but is prohibitively priced and perhaps Englishman can offer a better return on investment. At around 7-1 this morning he is fancied to swoop in the closing stages under Michael Hills.

Stephen's Tuesday Nap Englishman 4.25 Royal Ascot

Keep track of Stephen's Daily Nap's on our BettingExpert Daily Naps page.

Enter our £5,000 Horse Racing Tipping Competition. It's on now sponsored by Betfred.

Follow Stephen on Twitter :@stephenh61

You must be logged in to post a comment! Sign up + or log in in the top right corner.