Royal Ascot Day 1 Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Tuesday including 50/1 Coventry Stakes fancy

So much to savour on day one at Royal Ascot

The opening day of Royal Ascot is set to be a memorable one with quality horses across the card which features three Group One contests.

Notable Speech and Opera Ballo clash in a thrilling opener, with Bow Echo and Gstaad opposing once again later in the afternoon. Overpass brings international intrigue to the competitive sprint, which also features Asfoora and Rayevka, whilst the supporting races are also fascinating in their own right and hugely competitive.

It's a day to savour for racing fans and kicks off the Royal Meeting in style.

Queen Anne Stakes, 14:30, Royal Ascot - Back Zeus Olympios E/W @ 9/110.00

Flashy chestnut Zeus Olympios could represent value at the prices in this competitive Group One, despite losing his unbeaten tag this term when behind a few reopposing rivals including Godolphin pair Opera Ballo and Notable Speech. He'll need to step up and prove himself at this level as he attempts to reverse form, but there could be more to come from him.

The four-year-old colt is still unexposed in only his seventh career start, a second at the highest level, and he ran well for a long way in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when last seen. He was entitled to improve for his opening run of the season and fared better than a few talented rivals in his latest run, placing in his first try at the top table behind a more experienced Classic winner.

The son of Night Of Thunder won all of his first four starts including when convincingly beating Opera Ballo in a Newmarket Group Two. That form has been significantly franked and, although the Karl Burke-trained colt has failed to strike since, he has shown a great level of ability in the past and could be capable of further progression.

Coventry Stakes, 15:05, Royal Ascot - Back Great Barrier Reef @ 11/26.50

Unbeaten colt Great Barrier Reef has impressed in two outings to date, beating his rivals by a combined distance of seven-and-a-quarter-lengths. He hasn't done everything easily to date, being put to work in both of his successes, but has responded well to the urgings of Ryan Moore on both occasions to come out on top.

On debut, the son of No Nay Never showed a great turn of foot to pull clear of the rest of the field, finishing strongly in softer conditions, before claiming Group Three honours in a race previously won by a number of horses who went on to either perform well or win at Royal Ascot.

Many of Aidan O'Brien's winners of the Marble Hill Stakes have gone on to bigger things, notably 2016 Coventry winner Carvaggio. Ballydoyle were also represented by Power in 2011, who followed on his Curragh victory with Royal Ascot success.

Other winners such as Coach House, who chased home No Nay Never in the 2013 Norfolk Stakes, and Fairyland have run well for the yard in other races at the Royal Meeting, too.

In recent years, the likes of Givemethebeatboys in 2023 and Blackbeard a year prior in 2022 have made the frame in the Coventry, both finishing fourth in the race, whilst in 2024 Arizona Blaze placed third in the 5f juvenile contest.

Great Barrier Reef has proved himself at Stakes level and has appeared to be gaining valuable experience on the job as things haven't been completely straightforward for him. He has shown a good attitude and plenty of speed and, following in some notable footsteps, could make a successful step up to Group Two level in this contest.

Coventry Stakes, 15:05, Royal Ascot - Back Cilician E/W @ 50/151.00

Cilician could be an interesting contender in the race despite finishing only second in his sole start to date at Nottingham recently. He chased home The Ginger Kid that day to outrun odds of 25/126.00, beaten only half-a-length, but could take a significant step forward for his first outing for a yard that saddled 80/181.00 winner Rashabar to success in the 2024 renewal of the race, in the same colours.

This gelded son of Blackbeard fetched £90,000 as a yearling and shaped with some promise on debut. He's out of Serenely, a daughter to 6f winner Alstemeria, who finished fourth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and is related to the talented Johan Cruyff as well as dual Group One winner Spartacus, who won the Phoenix Stakes, and Orderofthegarter.

There's plenty to like about Cilician's profile and he could be capable of outrunning his odds for connections who have landed the prize in recent renewals. He warrants each-way consideration in an open race for the juveniles at a big price.

King Charles III Stakes, 15:40, Royal Ascot - Back Night Raider E/W @ 7/18.00

Night Raider has enjoyed a faultless season so far with two Stakes-level successes at Newmarket and Haydock respectively following a gelding operation. He appears a different horse this term and could be capable of going close in a race of this nature by improving plenty on his tenth-place effort when sent off at 10/111.00 in last year's renewal.

The Karl Burke-trained contender impressed to gain Group Three honours on reappearance following a 209-day break, and beat American Affair by a length to win the Temple Stakes recently.

There could be more to come from him as a five-year-old as he's gained valuable experience and seems to be in the best shape of his life currently. He has made a significant impression so far this year and should pose a threat under James Doyle.

King Charles III Stakes, 15:40, Royal Ascot - Back Rumstar E/W @ 14/115.00

Six-year-old gelding Rumstar chased home Night Raider on reappearance, finishing strongly to be beaten only half-a-length by the winner, who has since franked the form at a higher level when beating last year's winner of this race, American Affair, at Haydock. He's entitled to take a step forward for his first run of the season and could improve plenty on his below par effort in the race 12 months ago.

Since his previous appearance at Royal Ascot, the Jonathan Portman-trained sprinter has claimed Group Three honours as well as finishing fifth in the Nunthorpe. He was seen finishing strongly at York behind Asfoora, too, and, with a favourable trip, could be in the mix under Rob Hornby.

Ascot Stakes, 17:00, Royal Ascot - Back Puturhandstogether E/W @ 5/16.00

Equipped with first-time cheekpieces, this could be the time for Puturhandstogether to strike again in a valuable race following a luckless run when sent off as the 9/25.50 favourite in the Chester Cup.

The five-year-old won the Irish Cesarewitch from a 10lb lower mark last year, having previously won the juvenile handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, and could still be capable of showing further improvement with the ceiling of his ability still an unknown, particularly on the Flat.

His current rating appears workable and there's plenty to like about his chances for Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle in the colours of legendary owner JP McManus.

Ascot Stakes, 17:00, Royal Ascot - Back All In You E/W @ SP

Warren Greatrex-trained All In You could be worth considering too, at a likely bigger price. He's two from three on the Flat and remains unexposed with a preference for a sounder surface.

This could well suit the six-year-old who may be well treated from a rating of 91 and he warrants each-way consideration. It's possible he's still on an upward trajectory and he has shown a good level of form over hurdles already this year. 

His half-sister Against Rules won three Listed races over a mile-and-a-half and further, including over a trip just shy of two miles at Saint-Cloud, and he's also related to King George V Stakes winner Fantastic Love, as well as dual Listed winner Rabah.

There's plenty of black-type in his pedigree as well as some staying ability, and, whilst he has stamina to prove over this longer trip, he could be flying under the radar and be capable of a big run.

Wolferton Stakes, 17:35, Royal Ascot - Back Haatem E/W @ 6/17.00

Defending champion Haatem tasted success in this race 12 months ago in his first try at a mile-and-a-quarter, before going on to finish third to Never So Brave in a Group Two at the track over a mile the following month.

In his final start last year, the likeable son of Phoenix Of Spain failed to give his true running at Haydock and was subsequently absent for 286 days before his return last month. He could only manage seventh to Boiling Point on reappearance at Goodwood, but was far from disgraced and was always likely to come on plenty for the outing which should set him up nicely for his Royal Ascot assignment.

With proven form in the race in his favour, and with form at a higher level, Haatem could be worth keeping the faith in. He's a formidable horse on his day and has shown a great level of ability as well as plenty of class during his career, often defying the odds, including at Group One level in Classic company. 

Copper Horse Stakes, 18:10, Royal Ascot - Back Sing Us A Song E/W @ 7/18.00

Wathnan Racing are represented by many great horses on the opening day of this year's Royal Ascot meeting, and Sing Us A Song is another who could be capable of posing a threat. James Doyle rides favourite Valiancy, but James McDonald is a capable substitute in the saddle and could guide the Ralph Beckett-trained contender to victory with a favourable trip.

The four-year-old gelding has finished second and third respectively in two starts so far this term over a mile-and-a-half, beaten by the reopposing Klassleader at York when last seen. He had previously beaten Klassleader over an extra couple of furlongs at Haydock last term, giving 3lb to the runner-up who has franked the form and earned himself a rating of 98 as a result.

The son of Camelot was upped 4lb for that win and is a further 2lb higher now on rating of 97, but may still be ahead of his mark in only his tenth career start, his second over this trip.

Sing Us A Song is out of Galileo mare Quiritis, making him a brother to Sir Erec, who finished third to Stradivarius in the British Champions Long Distance Cup before winning a Grade One over hurdles. Their dam's brother, Mahler, won the Queen's Vase at this meeting in 2007 before going on to place third in the Melbourne Cup, further proving the strong staying prowess in the pedigree.

There should be more to come from Sing Us The Song and he appears as a horse to keep onside this season in these staying contests.

Copper Horse Stakes, 18:10, Royal Ascot - Back Real Dream E/W @ 28/129.00

Ian Williams-trained Real Dream hasn't been at his best in recent runs but is more than capable of holding his own in a race of this nature on a going day.

He was only narrowly denied in a Group Two Riyadh handicap earlier this year, following on from an excellent fifth-placed effort to a subsequent Breeders' Cup winner in Ethical Diamond in the Ebor, having also placed in a 13-runner Newmarket handicap last term as well as being narrowly denied in a Sandown Listed contest.

The seven-year-old finished a staying on eighth in this race last year when rated 2lb higher, no match to winner French Master but only a couple of lengths behind some of the placed runners. He can make his presence felt from a mark of 99 and shouldn't be discounted at a price, capable of making the frame with a favourable trip.

Katie Midwinter's Day 1 Royal Ascot double

Back Zeus Olympios (14.30 Royal Ascot) and Haatem (17.35 Royal Ascot) in an each-way double

Betfair is offering Bet £10 Get £10 on Multis, and the multi that makes the most appeal is an each-way double consisting of Zeus Olympios in the opener and Haatem later on the card.

Zeus Olympios represents some value in the current market considering he's still relatively unexposed and could be ready to peak for the season, whilst Haatem should improve plenty for his reappearance run when last seen and has proven form in this race having won it last year.

Now read the rest of our Royal Ascot tips here!