Royal Ascot Tips: Three Each Way Plays On Day 1 Of Royal Meeting

Steve Chambers picks out three big-priced each-way selections for day 1 of Royal Ascot on Tuesday...

15:40 - King's Stand Stakes

Reigning King's Stand Stakes champion Battaash will bid to retain his five-furlong Group 1 prize at 15:40 on Tuesday, and the Charles Hills-trained raider will be likely sent off favourite for the sprint prize. However, he's likely to face some notable speedy rivals with the likes of Winter Power, Oxted and Liberty Beach all looking eye-catching challengers.

In a hugely competitive betting heat, there could be some value further down the betting, and with bookmakers paying out on four places in the each-way markets then there could be some eye-catching contenders available at double-figured prices.

One that catches the eye is the John Quinn-trained KEEP BUSY, who around the 20/1 mark looks a cracking each-way bet.  Quinn will unleash a two-pronged attack at this race with the aforementioned Liberty Beach spearheading his charge, but in Keep Busy he has a really smart filly that could outrun her lofty odds here.

Placed in six of her nine runs last season, Keep Busy was a fine second to Art Power in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot 12 months ago, and she recorded another fine second placed finish when she was runner-up in the Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh in September. Fifth in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in her final start last season, Keep Busy was unable to show her best on her first start this campaign, as she was a well beaten fifth behind stablemate Liberty Beach in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.

But, a return to Ascot should see a marked improvement on Tuesday, and having shown she relishes a big field then she could well bounce back to form with aplomb. Ryan Moore will be in the saddle, and if he can chase the leaders through the early stages before unleashing her fine turn of foot then she could well challenge for glory.

17:00 - Ascot Stakes

Willie Mullins has trained three of the last six winners of the Ascot Stakes, and the National Hunt trainer will look to extend that fine record on Tuesday and has a strong team heading to Berkshire for this contest. M C Muldoon and Rayapour shall both represent the Closutton yard, and the pair are sitting at the head of the betting, and looks to be leading contenders for victory.

Some talented Jumps horses take their chance and the Emmer Mullins-trained Grade 2 winner Cape Gentleman will look to carry top weight to victory, while last year's winner Coeur De Lion will attempt to retain his staying crown for Alan King.

But, the value choice in the betting is the Mark Johnston-trained LUCKY DEAL, who, if he can produce his best form looks significantly over-priced. Johnston last won this race back in 2004 with Double Obsession, but in Lucky Deal he appears to have a horse that has stamina in abundance, and the marathon trip of 2m 3f 210y should see him play a prominent role in the closing stages.

A winner off 98 at Kempton Park on the all-weather in January, Lucky Deal failed to kick on and was last seen finishing way down the field in the Chester Cup off a mark of 102. Dropped 2lb by the handicapper for Tuesday's event, Lucky Deal will line up off 100, and has his first start t Ascot since finishing fifth in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the 2019 Royal meeting.

Blinkers being applied is a huge positive, and that could bring on a whole flurry of improvement, and if they go a decent gallop then he could well be one of those staying on in the closing stages, and he can make the frame at least at massive odds.

18:10 - Copper Horse Stakes

Former Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle winner Saldier will switch from the hurdling sphere to the Flat code in the final race of day one of Royal Ascot, and the Willie Mullins-trained raider is sure to prove popular in the 1m 6f 34y Copper Horse Stakes, which will see a field of 16 runners go to post.

A strong favourite, at the time of writing, Saldier's main market danger appears to be Global Storm, who was last seen winning a Newmarket handicap, and appears to be a stayer on the upgrade. That pair are the only two available at single figured odds on Monday lunchtime, which highlights that there could be some cracking each-way value lower down the betting.

Having already sided with one Johnston contender on Tuesday, it's another of his stable that catch the eye in Tuesday's finale and that's HOCHFELD, who has some smart staying form in the book, when at his best, and he looks a decent bet for this event. Down the field in this race 12 months, Hochfeld showed his best when winning at Nottingham earlier in the season, and he ran a cracker when a fine third in the Chester Cup in May.

He disappointed next time out at Goodwood in softer conditions, but a return to a quicker surface on Tuesday should see him perform much better, and with bookmakers offering five places in the each-way markets then he looks a decent bet.