Royal Ascot Tuesday Tips: Three To Back On Epic First Day

The week all flat fans wait for like kids wait for Christmas is finally here, it's time for Royal Ascot 2025! Billy Grimshaw has got a trio of tips to kick things off on an amazingly stacked Tuesday of action and makes the case for all three here...

14:30 Royal Ascot - Queen Anne Stakes

The Queen Anne nearly always kicks Royal Ascot off with a bang, and this year it should be another thriller with the Lockinge at Newbury looking the main formline to follow. Of those Lockinge runners, I'd be with favourite Rosallion if forced to solely bet on the competitors who took each other on at Newbury, for all he was beaten fair and square by Lead Artist and Dancing Gemini that day. Richard Hannon is always bullish about his horses and I have fallen into the trap of being sucked into the praise he dishes out in the past, but after Newbury he told anyone who'd listen how shocked by the amount Rosallion was blowing following the race, indicating the St James's Palace winner of 2024 was not as fit as he thought for his seasonal debut.

He will no doubt come on massively from that run and I believe back at Ascot, albeit over a straight mile and not a bend, he will be able to get past his conquerors in the Lockinge. He also has the measure of 2024 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech so I'll stick a line through him too, but one horse who looks wildly overpriced given how much he loves Ascot is the Queen Anne second from last year DOCKLANDS.

I figured this was his long term plan when opposing him at Epsom last time out, a track where he ran well but clearly wasn't at full tilt for third behind Persica. That run should've put him spot on for this return to a course where his record reads: 1-1-3-2-2-2 and although this year's Queen Anne looks stronger than 2024's, Charyn was a fine miler and our pick here was a decisive winner of the race without him. If he repeats that run he will be in the four, I'm confident of that, and as such he rates a great each-way bet. A repeat of 2024's run may even be good enough as I'm not sure anything in here, perhaps barring Rosallion, is as good as Charyn! I like his chances a lot.

16:20 Royal Ascot - St James's Palace Stakes

Sadly it's not all going to be 25/1 shots in this column - I'll leave the regular massive prices to RaceOlly! - as I think in the St James's Palace we will see another statement performance from the clear best three year old colt of this generation, odds-on favourite FIELD OF GOLD. The whole Kieran Shoemark debate regarding his loss at Newmarket to Ruling Court, who re-opposes, has been done to death and I won't rehash it here, but I'm very content with Colin Keane keeping the ride following the pair teaming up for an emphatic win over in Ireland in the Irish 2000 Guineas.

Field Of Gold was the best horse in the race at Newmarket but didn't get the result to prove it but made amends at the Curragh and just like his father Kingman I am expecting him to win this race after a second in the 2000 Guineas on these shores to really announce himself as a world class miler. The main danger in the field to my eye is not his Newmarket conqueror, but the Ballydoyle representative Henri Matisse, who is unbeaten over a mile and brings with him the French 2000 Guineas crown. It is great to see these three Classic winning colts clash to see who is top dog, but I am in little doubt barring bad luck the Gosden trained grey will reign supreme. 

It's fascinating trying to guess how Ryan Moore will attempt to ride his race, knowing how lethal he is off the front end but also knowing he could well give Field Of Gold the perfect pace to aim at. My guess is he will take the lead, although there is plenty of pace on in here, and attempt to make things a bit messy so the Kingman colt has less time to get into top gear and run away with the race. Hopefully Colin Keane is wise to this and can track Moore or whoever is leading for as long as he needs before kicking in the turbo just like his old man did here for a decisive success eleven years ago.

18:10 Royal Ascot - Copper Horse Stakes Handicap

Last but no meals least on the card is the intriguing Copper Horse Stakes Handicap and this is a race that Willie Mullins definitely targets with his high class juveniles. He has won the last two renewals, with Ryan Moore riding the winner in 2023 and the best jockey in the business is booked on CHARLUS here, which will do for me. We last saw this horse finishing down the field in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham but that is no barrier to success back on the level for these French recruits and even though he did win his maiden hurdle, he's never looked the most natural over obstacles so a switch back to the flat makes a lot of sense.

The draw in one is certainly not ideal but if any jockey can negate that it is Ryan Moore and I wonder whether the plan will just be to fire him out of the gates and lead them all a merry dance. Charlus has not been a front runner as yet, and there is some pace in this race that'll have something to say if Moore does attempt to snatch the lead early, but he is certainly quick enough to get there and should stay this trip, providing he handles the fast ground. 

There are dangers aplenty and while I respect Jesse Evans, the Noel Meade trained favourite, I am most fearful of Lavender Hill Mob for James Owen. The team always professed this was a tool of a horse, even claiming he was better than East India Dock, which now looks a bit fanciful in hindsight. Nevertheless, he is clearly a good dual purpose stayer and the fact he's learned to settle could be a massive boost to his chances. He was too keen here last year in the Queen's Vase and blew all chance but seems to have matured as a horse since, so rates the chief threat to Charlus.