Royal Ascot 2023 Best Bets
Mid-June can mean only one thing to racing fans, as the top-class Berkshire track of Ascot plays host to the biggest and best Festival of the flat season. Whilst famed for its unparalleled levels of pomp, pageantry, and high fashion, the best thing about this five-day feast is, of course, the racing.
Here we pick out our four standout bets of the meeting, in addition to a couple of solid each-way options.
Best Win Bets
Queen Anne Stakes: 2:00pm Tuesday 20th June - Inspiral
We kick things off in the opener, where the only filly in the line-up can show the boys how it's done. Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games is respected following his excellent win in the Lockinge, but he may be biting off more than he can chew with Inspiral.
A daughter of the living legend that is Frankel, she has won six of eight career starts, with three of those coming in Group 1 company. This hugely talented filly is a perfect 2 from 2 on her first start of the season, making her absence since October of little concern. Thrashing her fellow fillies in the Coronation Stakes last year, she receives 3lbs from the colts, and is fancied to have too many gears close home.
- Recommended Bet - Inspiral to win @ 7/4 with Ladbrokes
St. James’s Palace Stakes: 4:20pm Tuesday 20th June – Paddington
This should come down to a head-to-head clash between English 2000 Guineas winner, Chaldean, and Irish 2000 champ, Paddington.
Chaldean is hard to knock as a proven Group 1 performer, but we suspect Paddington may be a little bit special. Progressing through handicapping and Listed events to begin the campaign, he then proved well up to Group 1 standard at The Curragh. Looking set to be in for a battle at the ½l pole, the Siyouni colt produced a sudden and devastating burst of speed to win by daylight. There aren’t too many horses with that type of late-race acceleration off a strong pace and, if in similar form here, he’s going to take some stopping.
- Recommended Bet - Paddington to win @ 9/4 with William Hill
Copper Horse Handicap: 6:10pm Tuesday 20th June - Vauban
There’s bad news for the flat trainers in this handicap contest, as Willie Mullins is flying over to spoil the party. The Cheltenham Festival specialist has two runners amongst the current entries – easily the most interesting of which is the Rich Ricci owned, Vauban.
A Listed class winner on the flat in France, Vauban was an outstanding juvenile hurdler, winning three times in Grade 1 company, including in the Triumph hurdle at Cheltenham. Whilst not making it to the winner's enclosure in the jumps season just gone, he did manage fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and second in the Irish version of the same race. Whether judged on that flat success across the Channel, or his jumping exploits, he looks the one to be on with Ryan Moore doing the steering.
- Recommended Bet - Vauban to Win @ 2/1 with Coral
Norfolk Stakes: 2:30pm Wednesday 22nd June – Elite Status
Karl Burke is no stranger to success at this meeting and can hit the mark again with the impressive Elite Status.
Winning in little more than a canter on debut, he was made to work harder up at Listed level on his second start but marked himself out as a sprinter to follow when quickening into the lead before opening right up for a five-length success. He looks the best of the Burke crop of youngsters who have been sweeping all before them this season and can prove too good for these.
- Recommended Bet - Elite Status to Win @ 13/8 with BetUK
A £1 Lucky 15 on the above selections returns £216.50 with Ladbrokes.
Best Each Way Bets
Prince of Wales’s Stakes: 4:20pm Wednesday 21st June - Mostahdaf
The Day 2 feature looks set to be a cracker, with Irish Champion Stakes winner Luxembourg, 2021 Derby hero Adayar, and Ascot Champion Stakes winner Bay Bridge all in the line-up - and all understandably prominent in the market.
It would be slightly surprising were the winner not to come from the aforementioned trio, but there does look to be a decent each-way bet in the shape of the John & Thady Gosden-trained, Mostahdaf. Sent off at just 8/1 in a red-hot Dubai Sheema Classic last time out – when running well to finish fourth despite not seeing out the 1m4f trip – it makes little sense that he is as big as 25/1 for this. Only 2lbs off the top-rated runner in the field, he has never finished outside the first two in three starts over this distance and is a perfect four from four following a break of 58 or more days. With that most recent outing in Meydan coming 88 days ago, he has enough in his favour to take a chance at a big price.
- Recommended Bet - Mostahdaf each way @ 25/1 with BetVictor
Gold Cup: 4:20pm Thursday 23rd June – Subjectivist
This year’s edition of the signature staying event of the season appears a far from vintage renewal. St. Leger hero Eldar Eldarov heads the betting, but this is over 6f further than the Doncaster Classic, and he was beaten out of sight over 2m here in October. Coltrane looks more appealing as a course and distance winner who won well on his seasonal return in May, but we fancy he and the rest may be a notch below the 2021 winner of this race, Subjectivist.
A two-time winner in Group 1 company, this Charlie Johnston-trained son of Teofilo made a talented field – including three-time Gold Cup winner Stradivarius – look ordinary when scoring by 5 lengths two years ago, only to then be derailed by injury. Returning to the track following a yawning 618-day absence in February, he was always going to need that run but showed much more when 3rd to Broome out in Meydan in March. With another three months of training under his belt - and still only six years of age - he looks good value to grab gold once more.
- Recommended Bet - Subjectivist each way @ 10/1 with Ladbrokes
Top 20 Betting Offers
18+. New Customers Only. Max 1 x £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as Bonus Token Min 4/5 Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply |
|||||
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 1 x £10 Football Free Bet, 1 x £10 Horse Racing Free Bet, 2 x £10 Free Bet Builders. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. |
|||||
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. |
|||||
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Stake not returned. Restrictions + Free bet T&Cs apply. |
|||||
New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly |
|||||
New UK Customers only. Use code welcomeMB40. Sign up and place at least 3 bets of £10 or more on seperate events on your first day of betting. If account has net sportsbook losses at the end of first day's betting, Gentleman Jim will refund 50% of these as a free bet up to £40. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
New UK Customers. Register using code BETGETSPORTS. Must bet £10 in total on 4+ legs, min odds 4.0. £20 awarded as 4 X £5 free bets once settled, AND 50 Free Spins to use on Big Bass Splash (valued at 10p per spin). Free bet T&Cs Apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org |
|||||
18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min. £10 deposit, debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, 7 day expiry. See full terms. #AD |
|||||
New UK customers only. Qualifying bet should be a Single or Accumulator bet, min stake £10, and min odds 1.9. Get £50 in Free bets which must be placed with a min odds of 2.0 include: 1 x £10 Free bet for horse racing, 1 x £10 Free bet on football, 2 x 10 Free bet In-play, 1 x £10 Free bet Acca (min 3 selections). To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app. Max payout – £500. 7 day expiry. 18+. Begambleaware.org |
|||||
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, payment method exclusions apply; New customers only. T&C apply; 18+ |
|||||
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. |
|||||
18+. New Customers Only. Min deposit £20. Maximum one £10 Free Bet & two £5 Bet Builder Free Bets. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of Evens (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus tokens: Token 1 Min odds Req: 4/5 (1.80). Token 2 & 3 are valid for Bet Builder only and are subject to min odds of 2/1 (3.00). T&Cs Apply. |
|||||
New Customers place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get £50 in Free Bets as: 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Total Goals spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst 18+. Full promotions terms apply. |
|||||
New Customers. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First qualifying bet with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00+ (2/1). If first bet loses free bets will be credited after bet settled. 100 Free Spins on Gold Blitz credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full terms apply |
|||||
New customers Deposit and place your first bet on Sports at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater. Once bet is settled you will receive 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Football, 1x £10 Free Bet Token to be used on Horse Racing, and 20 Extra spins (value per spin 50p), to be used on Book of Dead. Total bonus value £30. Full terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |
|||||
New Customers Only. Sign up with bonus code: EB20. Bet £20 and get £20 in Free Bets. Paid as £5 Free Bet on Soccer, £5 Free Bet on Horse Racing, £5 Free Bet on Multiples and a £5 Free Bet on any Market. Terms apply 18+ gambleaware.org. |
|||||
£10 min deposit. First bet mins odds 1.5 placed within 14 days of sign-up. 2 x £10 in Free Bets: valid for 7 days, free bet stakes not returned. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ T&Cs apply.
|
|||||
New customers only. Min deposit £10. Max one £15 Free Bet. Min Turnover £15 to qualify. Qualifying bets must be at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger. Full Terms apply. 18+ begambleaware. |