Royal Ascot is one of the most popular sporting events on the calendar, and it is an historic and iconic event which perfectly combines fashion and racing.
The event is held at the Berkshire track, and tends to take place in mid-late June, often resulting in clement weather conditions.
It is Britain’s most valuable race meeting, and the prize money tends to be increased year-on-year. In 2016, the total prize money was announced as £6,580,000. The five-day festival also attracts competitors from overseas with trainers often travelling over from Australian, Japan and the US in order to try and get their hands on a share of the spoils. Over 450 horses will compete across thirty different races, and there is always something to keep punters entertained.
The event gets underway with the royal procession, with Queen Elizabeth II officially opening proceedings ahead of the opening race.
This world-famous event has a strict dress code which must adhered to at all times, and there are a number of restaurants serving high-quality cuisine throughout the five days. It is officially Britain’s most attended race meeting with over 300,000 visitors flocking to the track each year.
On the turf, there are 18 group races being held at the meeting, with eight group 1s staged at the Berkshire track during this period. It is a chance for some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds to test themselves over a variety of distances. The Commonwealth Cup was the latest Group 1 to be added to the schedule back in 2015, replacing the Buckingham Palace Stakes.
Standout group races include: The Queen Anne Stakes, The Kings Stand Stakes, The St.James’ Palace Stakes, The Gold Cup, The Duke of Cambridge Stakes, and The Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The latter is the final group races to take place, and is staged on the Saturday, just ahead of the Wokingham.
The longest race across the five days is the Queen Alexandra Stakes, which is held on the final day, and is competed over 2 miles 5 furlongs and 159 yards.
The meeting is very popular with bettors, and many ante-post punters place wagers on their selections months in advance. It is also very popular with viewers, and it’s broadcast in over 200 different countries.
Royal Ascot is part of a packed summer racing for UK racing fans, but this meeting is often the priority for owners and trainers. With huge prizes on offer, it is an incredibly enticing prospect for connections. Trainers such as Charlie Appleby, William Haggas, Richard Fahey, Sir Michael Stoute and Tim Easterby are regularly seen at the track. The aforementioned Sir Michael Stoute set a new record back in 2018 when Poets Word was victorious in the Prince of Wales Stakes. It was his 76th winner at the festival, beating a record set by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
Aidan O’Brien is another trainer who regularly fires in winners at the track, and the County Tipperary-based handler managed to pick up a 1-2-3 in the Queens Vase in 2018.
The five days are packed full of drama, excitement, and there are always plenty of stories on and off the track.
When and Where?
Royal Ascot is held at Ascot racecourse which is located in Berkshire. It is always held in mid-summer, typically mid-late June.
Why is Royal Ascot so Popular?
Royal Ascot is incredibly popular as it is a summertime staple for racing fans. With a limited amount of group races in the UK, Royal Ascot provides a chance to witness some of the country’s finest thoroughbreds on display.
It is also popular with overseas fans as trainers such as Wesley Ward will send a string of competitors over from the US. Horses from France and Japan also regularly compete at the track during the five days.
It is incredibly popular with punters as it provides numerous opportunities to wager on top class racing events. With every single race at the festival being packed full of quality, it is an extremely busy time for those who enjoy having a punt.
There is also a certain amount of prestige which comes with Royal Ascot, and it is a cornerstone of the British sporting calendar. For attendees, it is the perfect opportunity to showcase some sartorial elegance, and get suitably dressed for the occasion.
What Betting Opportunities Are Available?
Loads! Royal Ascot is one of the biggest betting events of the summer, and there are many ways to place wagers on the festival.
Bookmakers will price up the group races months in advance, with top class competitors marking their intentions to race at Royal Ascot by competing in high quality events earlier in the season.
There are a number of betting markets which span the festival as a whole.
Key Betting Markets
To Win a Race – This is the simplest market available at Royal Ascot, and punters are able to predict which horse will win any of the races on the card. Your chosen horse must finish ahead of the remainder of the field in order to receive a pay-out.
To Win a Race (Ante-Post) – It is the same as above, but these bets can be placed months in advance. Markets will be formed during the latter part of the calendar year, and it is possible to pick a winner around eight-ten months ahead of the event.
Each Way Bet – Royal Ascot attracts some HUGE fields, and some races can command up to 30 runners. This enables punters to get stuck into some big each-way prices. Betting each-way will allow bettors to select a runner at bigger odds. Depending on the number of entrants, you will be paid out (at 1/5 of the odds) if your horse finishes in the top four positions. If your horse wins, you will be paid out for the each-way part of your bet as well as its outright success.
Match Bet – This is a very popular way of betting at Royal Ascot. Many bookmakers will pitch two of the market prinicples together in a betting market, and ask punters to predict which of the pair will finish in front. These are very popular as they eliminate the need to pick a race winner. If Horse A finishes in front of Horse B, you will still win regardless of whether they came 16th and 18th.
Top Trainer at the Festival – Those who fancy a festival-long bet can enjoy many different markets including ‘Top Trainer’. This will enable punters to predict which of the key trainers will fire in the most winners during the course of the five days. This requires looks through the card, and deciding which trainer has the strongest hand.
Top Jockey at the Festival – Same as above, but this is simply a case of predicting which rider will be on board the highest number of winners throughout Royal Ascot. Again, this requires plenty of research.
International Winners – There are a number of different markets priced up which relate to overseas winner. These can include ‘1 or more US trained winners at the festival’, or ‘At least 1 French-trained horse to win a Group race’ etc.
Trainer Totals – Some bookmakers will also provide additional markets which relate to trainer performance. For example – ‘Will Sir Michael Stoute train 3 or more winners at Royal Ascot 2019?’. These are usually released on the eve of the festival getting underway, and can often be found in the specials section.
Accumulator Bets – Royal Ascot accumulators are very popular with punters in the UK. These allow bettors to put together a number of winners from across the five days. All of the selections must prevail in order for the accumulator to cash-in.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for Royal Ascot
Trainer Form Usually Stands Up at Royal Ascot – Some trainers simply have access to the best two-year olds, whilst others have the knack of simply training three-year olds for these races. Surprises will occur at the festival, but generally, it’s advised to follow the trainer stats at the track. If a trainer has a great record with newcomers in a particular race, it is likely that they will have another potential winner up their sleeve in this year’s contest.
The Draw Should Not be Ignored – The draw is usually fairly important, particular in group contests. This can sometimes be attributed to big fields, and it can something be difficult to forge a way through from a tricky position. Have a look at the draw bias (which can be found online) at the track, and it is advised to work out which horse is most handily-drawn.
Certain races will have a draw bias, with some key races posting stats such as 4 of the 5 winners coming from a low-numbered draw.
Overseas Trainers haven’t Just Come to Make Up the Numbers – Once the declarations have been made, it is advised to check out the list of overseas competitors and work out which horses have the greatest chances of succeeding. Nothing is guaranteed, but trainers do not send their horses half-way across the world to run 15th. If a thoroughbred has been selected to run at the prestigious festival, it must be showing plenty at home, and it’s advised to avoid writing it off until you’ve fully done your research.
ITV1 and ITV4 will be showing ALL of the racing from Royal Ascot in 2019, and there will be additional coverage online.
