After a thrilling opening day, Royal Ascot returns on Wednesday, June 17, with another seven-race card headed by the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes. If you're looking for Royal Ascot day two tips, I've gone through the form and picked out my strongest selections for you.
My guts will be jumping again on Wednesday – I'm going for it in six races – while my nap of the day comes in the 5:35. I’ve put up my Royal Ascot best bets, race-by-race analysis, and a Lucky 63 for day two at the royal meeting.
After scouring the pedigrees and the form, I’m listing my Royal Ascot predictions, best bets, and Lucky 63 selections for Wednesday's card.
Royal Ascot Day 2 Best Bets – At a Glance
| Bet Type | Horse/Race | Odds | Bookie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Alobayyah (5:35) | 7/2 | 10bet |
| Next Best | Wild Blossom (2:30) | 6/1 | 10bet |
| Strong Bet | Blue Bolt (3:40) | 11/4 | Betfred |
| Strong Bet | Ombudsman (4:20) | 11/8 | William Hill |
| Value Bet | Wareeth (3:05) | 12/1 | William Hill |
| Value Bet | Fifth Column (5:00) | 12/1 | Betfred |
Odds correct at 15:45 BST on 16/06/26. Odds subject to change.
So, it’s a busy one. We all have to show some steel here and take it to the bookmakers. You can back my Ascot tips today with 10bet, Betfred, and William Hill, undoubtedly some of the best horse racing bookmakers for Ascot.
No Expiry Date
My Royal Ascot Best Bet
Alobayyah – 5:35 (Kensington Palace Stakes)
This race is similar to the Hunt Cup, which we’ll touch on shortly, but for the fillies and mares only. I’m strong on William Haggas’ Alobayyah here, and I think she’s extremely well off at the weights.
A daughter of the ultra-classy and mega-tough Ghaiyyath, the four-year-old filly needed the run first time up at Ascot in May, but it was a lovely dress rehearsal. She was dropped out, eased into the race, and came home very well. She is at least 10lbs better than her handicap mark, I would suggest, and that makes her one of my Royal Ascot best bets.
Why I’m Backing Alobayyah
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Very well handicapped, improving
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Handles Ascot, a mile, and fast ground
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Trained and ridden by top-class connections
My Next Best Bet at Royal Ascot
Wild Blossom – 2:30 (Queen Mary Stakes)
Senorita Bonita could prove to be a bad favourite in this five-furlong juvenile fillies’ race. With that, Royal Ascot betting has been opened up here, and that’s what we like to see.
Wild Blossom, trained by Karl Burke for Wathnan Racing, was a £300,000 breeze-up buy, and she was so impressive on her debut at Carlisle in a race the trainer uses well before this meeting.
There’s pace right across the track, and jockey James Doyle can get a nice tow into the event before challenging up the middle. He should have plenty of filly left under him at the business end of the race. Wild Blossom is one of the stronger Royal Ascot predictions for Wednesday.
Why I’m Backing Wild Blossom
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Outstanding debut at Carlisle on ground softer than ideal
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Karl Burke has followed this route before
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Race situation should be ideal for jockey James Doyle
A Strong Bet for Royal Ascot
Blue Bolt – 3:40 (Duke of Cambridge Stakes)
Having proved herself last year as a three-year-old with a lovely performance when second in a Group 1, it was great to see Blue Bolt start this season with a win. As an end-to-end performance, it wasn’t overly impressive, but she was reportedly only 90% fit, and didn’t have the race run to suit.
No doubt Andrew Balding has her in tip-top form now, and for me, she’s the standout in this one-mile Group 2 race against a bunch of fillies and mares who are broadly of a similar standard.
There are Group 1 targets for her later in the year, and you can back her now with Betfred, one of the top horse racing betting apps.
Why I’m Backing Blue Bolt
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Proven at Group 1 level already
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Will love Wednesday’s track conditions
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Trained by one of the best in the business
Another Strong Royal Ascot Bet
Ombudsman – 4:20 (Prince of Wales’s Stakes)
The favourites have flip-flopped here. Since the entries came in, French challenger and outstanding Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz has been market leader, but last year’s winner Ombudsman has now usurped him.
Whenever Daryz has been impressive in his career, which is for most of it, he has run times anywhere between 6.31 and 9.89 seconds slower than standard for the track. For the most part, that’s been at Longchamp. I think he can handle faster ground, but he needs to trundle along slowly in true French racing style, before unleashing his turn of foot late on. He won’t be afforded that luxury here.
Godolphin and John Gosden, owner and trainer of Ombudsman, have entered Devil’s Advocate to play the part of pacemaker, and he will bounce out and ensure there’s an end-to-end gallop and a proper test. That also happened in last year’s Juddmonte International, in which Daryz was very disappointing behind today’s selection.
Why I’m Backing Ombudsman
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The class horse in the race in these conditions
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Won this race last year, and was second-highest rated in the world
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Fit and well after a great prep at Sandown Park
Understanding the Prince of Wales’s Stakes
As a Group 1 race, this is at the top level. Worth £1 million, this event is among the most prestigious and important horse races in the world, adding extra importance to any Prince of Wales’s Stakes prediction.
My First Value Bet for Royal Ascot
Wareeth – 3:05 (Queen’s Vase)
Favourite Galiyan has moved from 6/1 into 9/4 before the meeting, after sustained support in this one-mile, six-furlong test. He’s good, but I’m taking him on.
It’s noteworthy that when Morshdi won the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket in April for Sheikh Ahmed, he was handed a rating of 111 and was aimed at the Derby. He wore the second colours of the owner that day however, with the main honour handed to Wareeth, which shows you what they think of him at home.
Trained by Archie Watson, this son of Sea The Stars was outstanding on debut at Newcastle and backed that up with an easy prep win last time at Salisbury. He’s a proper quality stayer of the future, and will very much appreciate this big step up in trip.
Why I’m Backing Wareeth
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Hasn’t had to hit top gear yet – nowhere near his ceiling
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Will improve plenty for this step up in distance
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Beautifully bred (sire and grandsire both Derby winners)
My Value Bet in the Royal Hunt Cup
Fifth Column – 5:00 (Royal Hunt Cup)
Royal Hunt Cup tips are always tricky, but I’m sweet on Godolphin’s Fifth Column (John & Thady Gosden). There are 30 runners in this heritage handicap, charging down the straight mile, and I expect the nearside (high numbers) to be in the right place.
The majority of known pace in the race is on the nearside anyway, so that meant I could narrow the field down. With draw bias and a need for handling fast ground taken into account, I got this right down to a shortlist of seven horses.
Of those seven, Fifth Column was the one who stood out to me. There’s plenty of evidence, when you dig deep into his form, to suggest that he can run to at least 110, some 8lbs more than his handicap mark. William Buick will need to make sure he joins the nearside group from stall 14, and that gives him an outstanding chance.
Why I’m Backing Fifth Column
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First of the far side group in last year’s Britannia Stakes (3yo equivalent of this race)
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Well treated at the weights and in the right hands
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Handles Ascot, the ground, and big field handicaps
Royal Ascot Day 2 Lucky 63
| Race | Selection |
|---|---|
| 2:30 | Wild Blossom |
| 3:05 | Wareeth |
| 3:40 | Blue Bolt |
| 4:20 | Ombudsman |
| 5:00 | Fifth Column |
| 5:35 | Alobayyah |
As you can see below, there is big potential in a Lucky 63 bet, and it keeps us going throughout the afternoon. With Betfred, you can back your six selections in a Lucky 63, and if only one horse wins, you are paid out at 5x the odds.
