Royal Ascot / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 15 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

Two of the country's leading horseracing and betting experts, BBC's Gary Wiltshire and ATR's John McCririck, lock horns over the course of Royal Ascot in a bid to win the Battle Of The Heavyweights. Here's what they make of day one's racing...

Gary Wiltshire says: All of my three best bets on the opening day of Royal Ascot are win only. Backing each-way is like waking up on Christmas day and kissing your sister!

2.30

In the opening race, I like the look of Main Aim at [5.7] on Betfair - he is more of a 7-2 chance, than one edging towards 5-1. He is progressive and is undoubtedly the value against those at the top end of the market, all of which have some question marks against them.

5.30

It's the getting out stakes and I think I have the winner, in the shape of my old friend Frankie Dettori's mount The Hermitage, currently available at [9.6] on Betfair.

He was terribly drawn in the Hilary Needler but I reckon he could be ideally situated in stall 20 here, as Ascot often favours those drawn high.

3.45

The best bet of the day has to be Mastercraftsman in St James's Palace Stakes. He is trading at around [1.91] on Betfair - and I reckon he has the potential to go off far shorter.

He looks a class part on form and I reckon the big Irish punters will come out to play, just like they did in the Derby - I think he will win, and on the BBC I expect to be saying that he has started at 8-11 or shorter.

Lay Of The Day:

It has to be Canford Cliffs in the Coventry Stakes. Yes, he was very impressive in winning by 7 lengths on his debut and is meant to be a flying machine - but we have seen that and heard that all before, only for them to be beaten.

He is trading at under 2-1 on Betfair and he has to be taken on against so many unexposed horses in this 14-runner race.

If you are a layer for the first time, enjoy your baptism of fire!

Fancy Gary's selections? Click here to do Gary's treble.

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John McCririck says:

"The first day of Royal Ascot sees some fascinating match-ups in the Group 1 races. I can see the in-running players looking primed to do brisk business in the fast and furious King's Stand, the layers happily accomodating the Mastercraftsman odds-on backers in the St James's Palace Stakes, and Frankie being a winning underdog for once in the Ascot opener."

3.05

I saw Scenic Blast work the other day at Newmarket - the poor old hacks were woken up, bleary-eyed, at 5am on Thursday morning - and I was very taken by him, and he looks a decent price at around 7-2. But this could be a fascinating race for Betfair punters, as the horse comes from far back in all of his races, and needs luck in running.

So it will be very interesting to see what price the Betfair layers push him out to in-running or whether they have done their homework studying the Australian videos and don't over-react.

Mark my words though, this horse has electric speed near the finish, and that could prove decisive.

2.30

I really like the look of Alexandros to win and place in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Gladiatorus may be the stable's number one string and favourite for the race after his Dubai victories, but their number one jockey Frankie Dettori is on Alexandros and I reckon he will love to prove them all wrong.

And Alexandros definitely has the form to go close, after his cracking, though unfortunate, nose second to Virtual in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time.

3.45

I'm in a bit of a dilemma here as, in truth, I reckon Mastercraftsman is probably short enough at [1.91]. But I reckon the layers could be out to get him, and there may be bigger prices available about him at one stage.

What I really like about his chances are the vibes from Ballydoyle; a lot of its form has been on soft ground but Aidan O'Brien seems very confident that he is better on good ground, and that spells trouble for his rivals. He looks a proper Group 1 animal.

As for his rivals, does Delegator really get a mile? My main betting alternative to the favourite would probably be Evasive win and place, and not the Guineas runner-up.

Lay of The Day

It has to be Canford Cliffs at under 2-1 in the Coventry. I don't know what it is or what the stats are, but I have never been taken by the form of Newbury maidens (though the track is very fair) and this is plenty short enough with such opposition as No Hubris up against it.

Fancy John's selections? Click here to do John's treble.

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