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Coming up as the final race of day three at Royal Ascot is the Buckingham Palace Stakes. It is one of the toughest races of the week to find the winner as 29 horses line up over the straight 7f. This race was axed after 2014 but returned in 2020 due to Covid and has stayed ever since. Inver Park did win it from stall 2 last year, but in the 4 previous years, the lowest stall number of the winner was 26! The 3 winners since the race returned have all been aged 4.
Join me in looking through the runners set to line up for this race as we analyse the Royal Ascot odds available on each horse before I give you my four picks for this epic race.
Gorak
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Jockey: James McDonald
Two 7f handicap wins this year at Doncaster and Haydock, but he ruined his handicap mark by finishing 2L behind Jumby at Haydock last time as he’s gone up 19lbs after that.
Witch Hunter
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Had some good runs on the AW in recent months and is yet to win on the turf which is the big worry here.
Rhythm Master
Trainer: James Horton
Jockey: P J McDonald
Finished 4th in the Jersey Stakes in 2021 and won on handicap debut at Newcastle a year ago. Not seen since March when 2nd at Kempton in another handicap, but is well drawn and the Jersey Stakes effort gives him a chance.
Vafortino
Trainer: Kevin Philippart De Foy
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
Only 11th in this race last year but had won the Victoria Cup over C&D previously. Was 3rd in that race this year, but hard to say that he has much in hand of the handicapper at the moment.
Kingdom Come
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Progressive on the A/W in the winter/spring and was a solid 4th at Newbury back on turf last time in a race which didn’t unfold in his favour. One for the shortlist, but could be drawn the wrong side in 4.
Montassib
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Was the favourite for this last year, but things didn’t quite pan out when finishing 5th. Run well on the whole since then and was back in the winners’ enclosure last time when winning at Newmarket. The draw might not be ideal but otherwise has leading claims.
Totally Charming
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Was unable to do himself justice when 9th in the Hunt Cup last year. Ended up winning a 7f handicap in heavy ground at Doncaster in October and has run OK when favourite for two handicaps at Curragh and in the Victoria Cup this season. Looks like he might be primed for this and historically he has a good draw.
Bopedro
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Jason Watson
Pretty solid handicapper and won at Newmarket racecourse in April, but this looks like it will be tough enough for him off a high mark.
Accidental Agent
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton
Jockey: Charles Bishop
The Queen Anne winner of 2018 and still running to a decent level at the age of 9, but highly unlikely to be winning this.
Warrior Brave
Trainer: Ross O’Sullivan
Jockey: W J Lee
Won back-to-back races over in Ireland off marks of 81 and 91, but up to 100 in a much better race is likely to make things tough for him.
Spirit of Light
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: James Doyle
Both wins in the UAE and not done much so far at Ascot including in this race last year. He does on paper have a good draw though and apart from a poor run at Newmarket he has been in good form so far this year including when staying on 4th at York over 6f last time. One for the shortlist.
Documenting
Trainer: Kevin Frost
Jockey: William Pyle
10 years old now and whilst it was a good effort at York last time it is hard to see him being involved in the finish.
Silent Film
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Jockey: Was sold for £120k last month and has his first start for Ian Williams. Was a good 2nd in a C&D handicap in September and ran well when last seen in Mayden in February. Couldn’t rule him out totally.
Biggles
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Won 5 7f handicaps in the last two years and right up to his best when 2nd in the Victoria Cup last time. Might need a bit more again though off this mark and drawn in 3 might not be ideal.
Croupier
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: William Buick
Has a superb record on good or quicker ground and the AW in 7f and 1m handicaps. Won a good race at York a month ago over a mile and hasn’t run over 7f for a while, but I suspect 7f here will be right up his street. If the ground has dried out enough then he looks like a leading contender.
Toimy Son
Trainer: David Menuisier
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
3 wins in France the last of which was a 7f Listed Race, but struggled since then and first-time blinkers need to help big time.
Unforgotten
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Shown some good form on the AW, but hadn’t backed that up on turf until finishing 3rd at Newbury last time. Stays a mile so a stiff 7f should be ideal and could easily have more to come for a top team.
Lir Speciale
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Looks progressive having won 3 of his last 4 races across last season and this season when winning on his return at Kempton. Will have to improve again up another 7lbs in a much better race, but that couldn’t be ruled out. Does have a low draw.
Baradar
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Best on soft and heavy ground and was 28th in this race last year on quick ground. Decent runs in the Lincoln and Victoria Cup this year, but struggle to see him winning this on the ground.
Percy’s Lad
Trainer: Daniel & Claire Kuber
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Running fairly well in two starts this season, but this looks a bit too tough.
Northern Express
Trainer: Michael Dods
Jockey: Paul Miulrennan
Fast finishing 3rd to Croupier at York last time which came on the back of winning the Thirsk Hunt Cup. Both those runs were over a mile though and whilst he was 4th over C&D last July he does look like he is better over a mile.
Great Max
Trainer: Alice Haynes
Jockey: David Egan
3rd in the Chesham here as a 2yo, but was poor last year and was last at Newmarket last time.
Ropey Guest
Trainer: George Margarson
Jockey: Tom Queally
Rarely gets his head in front at this level, but has a fantastic record of managing to hit the frame as he did when 2nd in this last year. Did manage to win well at Goodwood last time when dropped in grade as well, but that means he’s gone back up 7lbs and whilst he might hit the frame again I just can’t see him winning.
Spangled Mac
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Looks handicapped up to the hilt and this is likely to be too competitive for him on his first start since February.
Tylos
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Won a bad race on desperate ground at Leicester in April and was stuffed in the Victoria Cup last time. An unlikely winner.
The Gatekeeper
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Did win at Newmarket in May, but not so good back there 3 weeks later. Will probably be of more interest at Glorious Goodwood given the trainer.
Spanish Star
Trainer: Patrick Chamings
Jockey: David Probert
Amazingly seems to be hitting his peak at the age of 8 as he did really well to win at Epsom 3 weeks ago. Up to another career-high mark of 94 and you couldn’t rule him out totally, but I just wonder if he wants a stiff 7f.
Rhoscolyn
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
Doesn’t look in great form at all at the moment, but was 3rd in this race last year so you couldn’t rule him out running well again. Was well fancied at Epsom last time, but only beat one home.
Redarna
Trainer: Dianne Sayer
Jockey: Neil Callan
Not been seen since October and has little chance.
Buckingham Palace Stakes Betting Tips
At the time of writing it is 10/1 the field which sums up how tough it is. I’m going to focus on those drawn high given that had tended to be where you have needed to be drawn historically. I have narrowed it down to 4. Rhythm Master we know runs well over this C&D and could be capable of a big run. Totally Charming looks like he’s running himself into peak form and has the superb Billy Loughnane claiming 3 lbs to help him.
Spirit of Light looks like he wants to go back up to 7f and bar one blip has been in good form all year. Finally, Croupier looks set to get his ideal conditions and a strongly run 7f looks set to suit. I’m going to just side with him to win but will be backing all 4 e/w to small money.
1st Croupier e/w @ 12/1 with Bet365 bonus code
2nd Totally Charming e/w @ 14/1 with William Hill promo code
3rd Spirit of Light e/w @ 20/1 with Bet365
4th Rhythm Master e/w @ 16/1 with BetVictor promo code
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
