The feature on the opening day at Royal Ascot is the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes. Only horses aged three are able to compete in this race, which is run over a distance of a mile. This year’s race looks a sensational renewal with the French, Irish, and British Guineas winners all involved.
Before Betting On St James’s Palace Stakes
The St James’s Palace Stakes will be the feature on the opening day at Royal Ascot, with horses aged three competing in the race over a mile. It is a traditional showdown between horses that have won or competed in the Guineas races held across the United Kingdom and Ireland, and there have been some standout recent winners of the race, including Paddington, Coroebus, and Palace Pier.
A wide-open betting heat for the race will likely be headed by Notable Speech for the Charlie Appleby yard. This three-year-old is perfect under rules, and has won on all four starts over a mile so far this season. His most recent win could be the key form angle after heading Rosallion to land the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May.
However, the second on that day had a number of excuses, as he was making his return to action after a 216-day break. He firmly bounced back to winning ways in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, traveling like the winner for a long way before beating Haatem by a head. The second on that day could also be upgraded, and is a likely danger.
Henry Longfellow is the runner from the Aidan O’Brien yard in this race, and confidence would have been taken from his comeback run when eighth in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Darlinghurst could be the one unknown factor in this race, with the French raider having dominated in stakes company this year so far, and he could play a role once again on British debut.
St James’s Palace Stakes Offshore Odds & Pick
The St James’s Palace Stakes is arguably the race of the week at Royal Ascot, with a number of key form lines all being brought to the table. However, we are firmly in the Rosallion camp, as we believe he would have won the 2,000 Guineas with a run under his belt, and was a solid scorer in Ireland over a mile on his latest start.
-
Tags:
