It’s been a rollercoaster this week, I won’t lie. This is such a competitive race meeting, but it’s what keeps me going. This is real punting and we carry on win, lose, or draw. On Saturday, my Royal Ascot nap of the day comes in the Hardwicke Stakes, as Andrew Balding unleashes his best filly. There are three more selections to back her up, as my Royal Ascot day five tips go live.
The best bet of the day is a filly firmly heading for the mile-and-a-half King George back at this track next month, but otherwise, it’s a day for the speedier types. I’m taking on the bookies one last time at the greatest meeting of all with four Royal Ascot Saturday tips.
Royal Ascot Day 5 Betting Preview – My Bets at a Glance
| Bet Type | Horse/Race | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Kalpana (3:05 | 9/4 | William Hill |
| Next Best | Binhareer (5:00) | 4/1 | Betfred |
| Value Bet | Catullus (4:20) | 10/1 | William Hill |
| Value Each-Way Bet | Almeraq (3:40) | 22/1 | 10bet |
Odds correct at 10:00 BST on 19/06/26. Odds subject to change.
In the case of Almeraq, 10bet, one of the best horse racing bookmakers, are offering an extra place. I’m backing him each-way at four places in the Jubilee. I’m punting Catullus, another of my Royal Ascot best bets, on the nose with William Hill, but if you fancy him each-way, they are also offering an extra place in the Jersey Stakes.
My Royal Ascot Best Bet
Kalpana – 3:05 (Hardwicke Stakes)
It’s reaching the point that I think the Hardwicke really should be upgraded to Group 1 status. It’s a Group 2 right now, but the best trainers still send their top-level competitors to this event, and that’s true of Andrew Balding and his stunning five-year-old mare Kalpana.
She was a close second over course and distance last year in the King George to none other than Calandagan, the highest rated horse in the world, and she’s on course for a repeat bid in that race. She was at her very best last time at Newbury too, and if she runs to that sort of level once more, they should not lay a glove on her.
You can find some good Royal Ascot offers before backing the Juddmonte mare, and she is my nap of the day.
Why I’m Backing Kalpana
-
Very high-class filly who loves this course and distance
-
Handles fast ground and gets a handy weight allowance
-
Andrew Balding seems confident of a big performance
My Next Best Bet at Royal Ascot
Binhareer – 5:00 (Wokingham Stakes)
You can get on Binhareer with Betfred, who have one of the best horse racing betting apps. He’s favourite for this popular six-furlong handicap sprint, after sustained support since his runner-up effort at York during the Dante Festival.
William Haggas’ lovely grey made a slow start in 2024, racing often on softer ground. When conditions dried a bit, he improved, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
In two good ground races at York in October and May, his form reached new levels. He’s by Dark Angel and, contrary to popular belief in racing circles, his progeny do best on top of the ground. Dark Angel’s offspring have a 13% strike-rate on heavy going and 19% on soft, but that jumps to 31% on a good to firm surface. I can see Binhareer skipping over the Ascot turf beautifully from his ideal high draw.
Keeping things simple then – Binhareer reached a mark of 90 racing mostly on rain-softened ground. Since heading to York on a better surface, he’s gone up to a rating of 104 now and there’s clearly more to come. The Salhia Stud landed their first Royal Ascot winner with one of our winning tips the other day, Alobayyah, and they may quickly bag a second.
Why I’m Backing Binhareer
-
Shown real improvement on drying ground – this looks ideal
-
High draw and perfect race/pace scenario
-
Top trainer is in great form and prepares them well for big handicaps
A Royal Ascot Value Bet
Catullus – 4:20 (Jersey Stakes)
Catullus was a 13/2 winning tip over on my Saturday horse racing tips page recently, and I have more there for the action away from Ascot this week. Trained by Charlie Appleby, he plodded along last year as a juvenile, but I felt there was always a good horse in there somewhere. Having been gelded and received a breathing operation, he is reaching his potential now.
When I handicapped this race, a had two standouts in Catullus and The Prettiest Star. On my own figures, I get them both running to marks of 110 last time out, given that the filly was on the wrong side of the track in the 1000 Guineas, and Catullus won easily at Goodwood.
The Prettiest Star gets a 3lb allowance here, but we know what she can do now as she’s a little exposed, while Catullus is only just hitting his stride. There’s clearly more to come and he deserves to be one of my four Royal Ascot betting tips today.
Why I’m Backing Catullus
-
Only just finding his feet as a three-year-old
-
Appreciates fast conditions and seven furlongs
-
Had plenty left in the tank when winning at Goodwood
Tip – Make Good Use of Best Odds Guaranteed
You can Back Catullus with William Hill now, or simply join, receive your bonus, and wait until 8:00am to back him using best odds guaranteed. Odds fluctuate plenty at Ascot, drifting as much as they shrink. Using BOG, you can take the price, and if your horse wins at a bigger SP, you are paid out at the better odds.
No Expiry Date
My Royal Ascot Value Each-Way
Almeraq – 3:40 (Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes)
There will be lots of conflicting Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee tips going around for Royal Ascot. This is a Group 1 sprint over six furlongs, with some confusing form lines involving runners from Australia, Japan, England, Ireland, France, and Denmark.
Plenty of the classy runners are drawn on the far side, which further muddies the waters, but as long as there’s enough pace up the stands rail, it should still be the right place to be drawn. Satono Reve could be tough to beat if he puts it all together, but with four places offered, I’m going each-way on Almeraq.
The Shadwell sprinter, trained by William Haggas, was on his way up the racing ladder last year, but suffered a freak fall at York which badly injured jockey Jim Crowley. Almeraq made it back before his rider, and landed a cheeky win at Salisbury recently to show his wellbeing.
He can go close now that he’s had a prep, and at these prices, I’m taking some insurance. This could also be the right sort of race to find offers on the exchanges.
Why I’m Backing Almeraq
-
Travelling easily and heavy favourite when falling at York last year
-
Back fit and well, won nicely last time
-
Grossly overpriced and drawn on the right side of the track
Royal Ascot Day 5 Lucky 15
| Race | Selection |
|---|---|
| 3:05 | Kalpana |
| 3:40 | Almeraq |
| 4:20 | Catullus |
| 5:00 | Binhareer |
I’m not adding to my selections for the multiple, so a Royal Ascot Lucky 15 it is. Kalpana will be tough to beat, while Binhareer should go close, and Catullus and Almeraq are just way overpriced. If either one of those wins, our potential payout value stays quite high.
That’s it for Royal Ascot 2026; it’s been a blast. I’ll have information coming up for all the major festivals and race days, including next week’s Northumberland Plate, the July Festival, Glorious Goodwood and more.
