The 2026 Royal Ascot festival gets underway today, kicking off five magnificent days of world-class flat racing with a spectacular opening card featuring three Group 1 contests.
All eyes are on the St James’s Palace Stakes for a rematch between Bow Echo and Gstaad, while Godolphin stablemates Notable Speech and Opera Ballo clash in the Queen Anne Stakes. Have a look at our betting tips for the races, as well as the best new customer offers available from UK betting sites.
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Tuesday’s Royal Ascot Betting tips
Our expert has a pair of selections for the coverage, the first of which comes in the eagerly anticipated Queen Anne Stakes (3.30pm).
3.30 Royal Ascot – Notable Speech
Backing Notable Speech to win the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes is the standout play on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
The five-time Group 1-winning Godolphin star, trained by Charlie Appleby, arrives in exceptional form following a dominant two-length victory in last month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, where he once again showcased his unmatched turn of foot.
While some may point to his previous unlucky runs over the Ascot straight as a concern, the expected fast ground today will play perfectly to his explosive acceleration. With his trusted stable jockey William Buick in the saddle and his proven ability to quicken away from elite milers, Notable Speech possesses the raw brilliance needed to conquer his course hoodoo and set the tone for the festival.
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4.40 Royal Ascot – Asfoora
The second fancy at Ascot is for Asfoora to bounce back and reclaim her crown in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes, offering an intriguing each-way price on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
The Henry Dwyer-trained Australian mare famously conquered this exact five-furlong test in 2024, but arrives at this year’s festival with something to prove following two unplaced efforts in the Palace House and Temple Stakes.
However, her trainer has been quick to cite genuine excuses, noting that the choppy, rain-affected ground did not suit her in either prep run. Now returning to her preferred stiff five furlongs on firmer, faster ground, and crucially having the blinkers reapplied to sharpen her focus, the seven-year-old is poised to peak third-up.
If she can rediscover the explosive speed that saw her dominate the Ascot straight two years ago, she is heavily overpriced to upstage the likes of fellow Australian raider Overpass.
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