Royal Ascot: Saturday Best Bets
All good things must come to an end, and Saturday afternoon sees the curtain come down on another spectacular Royal Ascot Festival. One of the hottest sprints on the planet takes centre stage on the closing day in what looks to be an enthralling Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but this is a quality card from top to bottom. Here we pick out our best bets on this sizzling Saturday of racing action.
Best Win Bets
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes: Artorius
The Aussie raiders have plundered this prize twice in the current century, and we fancy the pot may be heading down under once more in 2023. With the home challenge led by Highfield Princess - who could manage only sixth in the race last year - this could be there for the taking for one of the overseas contingent.
Wellington looks dangerous for Hong Kong-based Richard Gibson, but the Anthony & Sam Freedmnan-trained Artorius boasts the most compelling claims. Third in the race twelve months ago, he looked like an unlucky loser to our eyes. Having been crowded out and forced to switch around horses, he then finished to great effect to go down by under a length. Granted a clearer passage this time around, he may prove tough to stop.
- Recommended Bet - Artorius to win @ 4/1 with BetUK
Queen Alexandra Stakes: Run For Oscar
It would be some performance if the Willie Mullins-trained ten year old Stratum were to win this for the third year in a row. Given the unique 2m5½f trip, he can’t be ruled out - despite his advancing years - but we suspect he may come up just short, having shown little in four starts since last year's success.
The one to be on is the Charles Byrne-trained Run For Oscar. Landing a famous success in the Cesarewitch last season, the manner in which he powered clear at the end of that 2m2f event suggested that this step up in trip could be well within range – with that fact he was won over 2m6f over obstacles lending further weight to that theory. Fit and well following a recent outing over an inadequate 1m4f, he looks worth backing to stay on best of all.
- Recommended Bet - Run For Oscar to win @ 4/1 with Coral
Each Way Picks
Chesham Stakes: Carolina Reaper
Sired by Too Darn Hot, and named after one of the fieriest peppers on the planet, Carolina Reaper didn’t exactly scorch the turf on her recent debut, but she did more than enough to go straight into our notebook. Giving the field a good head start when rearing up in the stalls, she then seemed clueless when faced with Beverley’s turning track. All of which is perfectly forgivable on her first career start, and we loved the way she sprouted wings in the straight to hit the line strongly in fourth. The horse to finish fifth that day has since come out and won, lending a little substance to the form.
This is a big step up in class, but the Johnston team have recorded three wins and a stream of places in this race, so know the type required to succeed. Nicely bred for the task at hand, we can't resist an each-way punt at a huge 50/1 with bet365, with the firm paying out on the first four.
- Recommended Bet - Carolina Reaper each way to win @ 50/1 with bet365
Wokingham Stakes: Albasheer
The big handicap of the day looks like the ideal race for another each-way punt at a big price. William Haggas’s Khanjar is the obvious one but is into 10/1 now, and a better value option is Albasheer from the yard of the shrewd Archie Watson.
This horse has clearly had his issues but was a hugely promising juvenile – finishing ahead of the likes of Chindit and subsequent Guineas hero Poetic Flare in the 2020 Dewhurst. Hitting a peak rating of 110 in 2021, injury then saw him off the track for 582 days. Understandably in need of the run on his comeback at Thirsk, he then ran well when not beaten far in a Listed event at Salisbury. Now down to a mark of 98 and with his fitness returning, it would be no surprise if a shot at this had been plotted for a while.
The final tick in the box comes in the shape of jockey Jamie Spencer, who is just about the best in the business in these big field handicaps. Betway are paying out on a generous eight places, and whilst bigger odds are available elsewhere, that looks the way to go.
- Recommended Bet - Albasheer each way @ 33/1 with Betway
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