ROYAL ASCOT is finally here – and it’s a huge event for many reasons.
The style and pageantry put it amongst the top sporting days out for Brits – topped off by the opportunity to see the Queen.
The Queen at Royal AscotLast year was just the second time Her Majesty missed the event in her 70-year reign, with the pandemic ruling her out of 2020 too.
With the world just about getting back to normal, will the Queen make an appearance at the Royal festival next week?
Will The Queen be at Royal Ascot?
As it stands, no-one is quite sure if Her Majesty will make an appearance.
The recent Jubilee celebrations showed her ability to take in events has become limited.
A keen racegoer throughout the entirety of her life, you can bet she will do everything in her power to be there in the flesh.
Hopefully we’ll get a glimpse of the Queen on one of the five days – and it looks like it most likely could be on Thursday.
Her Majesty traditionally greets the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, which is run on that day.
The Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, a race named after her late husband, will be run on Friday.
Does The Queen have any horses running at Royal Ascot?
BOOKIES claim they would love to see a Royal winner this week.
But they are saying it through gritted teeth as patriotic punters plunge on the Queen’s horses.
The layers are running scared of Reach For The Moon who looks a banker bet in the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday.
Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady said: “A win for him will be a disaster for us. He is 4-5 now and one of our worst results of the week. We don’t want to take a penny more.”
Her Majesty is likely to watch much of the meeting at home — with her one likely visit to the track coming on Gold Cup Day on Thursday.
However she could have as many as TEN runners across the five days.
King’s Lynn trained by Andrew Balding — one of her favourite handlers — is the first up.
The sprinter goes in tomorrow’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes but is a 14-1 shot and up against two hotpots from Australia and the USA.
Balding said: “He is in great form but it looks a red-hot race and we would be delighted to get a place.”
Perhaps the one race this week the Queen wants to win more than any other will be the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday.
And punters believe it will be Just Fine too. Her runner has been laid out for the race by Sir Michael Stoute and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
McGeady said: “Just Fine is a 5-1 chance. I think even the corgis have put a few quid on.”
Perfect Alibi is an 11-1 chance for the Queen’s Vase on Wednesday, her only runner on Day Two.
Things really hot up on Thursday. As well as Reach For The Moon, the Queen could have four other runners: Naval College (12-1) for the King George V Stakes, Saga and Kiteflyer who are both 16-1 for the Britannia and Tactical, a big-looking 25-1 for the Buckingham Stakes.
The Queen’s final two entries are for Saturday with Discretion, a 12-1 chance for the Sandringham and Spring Is Sprung, 20-1 for the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes.
McGeady said: “Her Majesty is odds-on to have one winner at least. We are 5-2 for two Royal winners and 12-1 to have three or more.”
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to HOAR. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
