Matt fancies Map Of Stars (17:35) to benefit from a drop back to 1¼ miles.
Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot Day 1 tips
14:30 – Notable Speech
15:05 – Confucius
15:40 – Monteille (Each Way)
16:20 – Bow Echo
17:00 – Puturhandstogether
17:35 – Map Of Stars
18:10 – Valiancy
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Royal Ascot 2026 is here with every race live on ITV, and we start in top company with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes for older horses over 1m. I’ve changed my mind on this race many times, and though my eventual selection, NOTABLE SPEECH, didn’t finish off strongly last year in a race run at a slow pace, there are real reasons to back him here.
This time, Godolphin can use First Conquest and Opera Ballo to help guarantee a decent pace, and that should make all the difference. Opera Ballo of course is a player, but Godolphin have basically done a Coolmore and can control the speed.
Off a strong gallop, I suspect Notable Speech is the one with the most talent – he was sensational in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the best late kick. Charlie Appleby trains with William Buick on top. The pace of this race is key.
Next comes the Group 2 Coventry Stakes for juvenile colts over 6f, and CONFUCIUS is expected to take all the beating for the Irish lads. Aidan O’Brien’s son of No Nay Never cost 1,700,000gns, and was beaten in heavy ground on his debut, but he showed what he could do in a pretty decent time when given a good surface at Naas.
He’s not as impressive as Albert Einstein was this time last year, but he’s clearly very useful. Ryan Moore takes the mount over Great Barrier Reef.
15:40 – Monteille (Each Way)
We return to top company for the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over 5f, and find ourselves with something of a lottery over the draw. Overpass can clearly win for Australia, but it’s very hard to tip up a horse when you don’t know how they have acclimatised, even if they have the best form.
So I’m going to throw a few quid each way on the mare MONTEILLE, who is handled by Mario Baratti and ridden by Cristian Demuro. The angle into this horse is fast ground; she’s spent most of her life on soft, but was a fine eighth in the last year on good to firm at 150/1.
She was keeping on well, and two runs at Meydan in February and March suggested all the talent was still there, but they were both over 6f and she didn’t quite see it out. Monteille will subsequently be priced at huge odds here, and while it’s a stretch to think she can win, she might steal a place if right on her ‘A game’. Stall 13 gives options.
The Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes for three-year-old colts over 1m. This might be more tactical than the 2000 Guineas, but I have no doubt BOW ECHO has the ability to settle and win if the pace is slow rather than strong. Trainer George Boughey won’t hear of defeat, and jockey Billy Loughnane is full of confidence, and at the end of the day, the Newmarket hero is unbeaten and blitzed his rivals – including Gstaad – in his Classic victory.
We are presented with handicap company here in the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f. PUTURHANDSTOGETHER was sent off favourite for the Chester Cup, but had a hopeless start when he stumbled as the stalls opened. He was always on the backfoot after that, and it was an exercise in futility when he tried to get going, as he got hampered over 2f out.
To his credit, however, he stayed on well enough up to the final furlong, even though the race was lost. The handicapper has elected to ignore that run, duly keeping him on the same mark. Puturhandstogether also gets the first time cheekpieces for this one, and while I’m not totally sure he needs much further than 2m, he should be a player from a good draw. Dylan Browne McMonagle rides for Joseph O’Brien.
The Listed Wolferton Stakes for older horses over 1m2f. James McDonald is one of my favourite jockeys, and he’s an interesting booking for MAP OF STARS. The selection is handled by Francis-Henri Graffard, who gets the first time cheekpieces.
Last year, my selection ended up fourth here – behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes – and he’s basically been disappointing since then. However, most of his recent efforts have suggested this drop back to a mile and a quarter might well bring about some improvement, and I reckon McDonald can ride him with no pressure for a quickening kick. He’s previously run very well in the Ganay over a mile and a quarter.
We end Day 1 with the Copper Horse Stakes over 1m6f. VALIANCY will be a strong fancy for many here, after a Haydock romp at the end of last season, and a return success at Hamilton in a big field.
He’s gone up from 83 to 90, and now stands at 98 for those successes, but there is every chance he’s a Group horse in a handicap, having been lightly raced. William Haggas is a master with this type, and James Doyle is class on top. Overall, Valiancy is a strong stayer, and only the high draw is a little off-putting.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Royal Ascot Day 1 tips
14:30 – Notable Speech
15:05 – Confucius
15:40 – Monteille (Each Way)
16:20 – Bow Echo
17:00 – Puturhandstogether
17:35 – Map Of Stars
18:10 – Valiancy
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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