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Tuesday, June 16 | Complete Race-by-Race Analysis
Royal Ascot opens with one of the strongest race cards of the entire European racing season. The Queen Anne Stakes, Coventry Stakes, King Charles III Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes and Wolferton Stakes headline a world-class program featuring elite Group racing, emerging two-year-old stars, proven international performers, and deep handicaps loaded with betting opportunities. Below you’ll find Terry’s Selections, Tom’s Tips, and Rich’s Ranks for every race on Tuesday’s Royal Ascot card, complete with commentary, value plays, best bets, longshots, and alternate contenders.
Race 1: Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
Terry’s Picks
3 – Docklands: Finished in the money in the last 7 races out of the last 8 starts at Ascot, winning 3 races; Jockey Zahra returns again in the irons.
6 – Notable Speech: Did well in the USA and then returned to Europe and won first race back.
5 – More Thunder: Having a good career finishing in the money in 83% of the starts, winning 42% of the races; Regular Jockey Marquand returns.
9 – Zeus Olympios: Always in the hunt with 4 wins and 2 thirds.
Alternate:
2 – Paddy’s Gift
7 – Damysus
Tom’s Tips
3 – Docklands – won this race last year. He’s been on the world tour, has run well, and won last time at Doncaster. This race is the target.
9 – Zeus Olympios – two thirds in his two races this season after going undefeated in 2025. He ran a little quick early last time but finished strongly. Another good effort today.
7 – Opera Ballo – won nicely last time by three lengths over a decent horse. He’s run well in all but one race.
6 – Notable Speech – two awful efforts at Ascot make me place in fourth at best.
Alternatives:
2 – Damysus
8 – Ten Bob Tony
Rich’s Ranks
7 – Opera Ballo – wins on the lead – on the lead lone E
5 – More Thunder – closer that won last pair of second up starts
9 – Zeus Olympios – sits right off the lead and tries to go by late
6 – Notable Speech – BC winner, smoked many of these last out but Ascot 0-2
ALT:
3 – Docklands
1 – Cicero’s Gift
Race 2: Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
Terry’s Picks
5 – Confucius: A nose from being undefeated in his short career; Trained by O’Brien Aidan; Strong jockey stats.
1 – Adaay of Scarlett: Perfect record at Ascot; Appears to love the turf.
10 – Great Barrier Reef: Undefeated in career; Likes the distance.
15 – Night in Vegas: Won 2 races out of 2 career starts at today’s distance.
Alternate:
16 – Royal Heritage
14 – Mrair
Tom’s Tips
15 – Night In Vegas – undefeated off two races, one at Ascot and the other at Goodwood. The last race was a three horse field but his final time was good. He will continue to be undefeated.
1 – Adaay Of Scarlett – a winner at Ascot in his second start after winning at Newmarket in his first start. Ran a good second last time and didn’t miss winning by much.
20 – Confucius – a runner of Aiden O’Brien who’s run twice and improved in his last start, winning by over three lengths at Naas. He ran second at the Curragh in his first start, but track conditions may have been against him.
10 – Great Barrier Reef – won his first two starts, and both have been impressive. Maybe better than his stablemate?
Alternatives:
9 – God Given Talent
16 – Royal Heritage
Rich’s Ranks
10 – Great Barrier Reef – on paper, it sets up perfectly for him
9 – God Given Talent – 2nd race upside – love the “ran on strongly” comment
5 – Confucius – Ryan Moore had his choice – he picked here and rides for the first time.
15 – Night in Vegas – versatile EP types with a win over the track in debut
ALT:
18 – Siouxperb
17 – Ruler’s Pride
Race 3: King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
Terry’s Picks
8 – Night Raider: Won the last 2 races in a row going for a hat trick; Strong jockey stats James Doyle again in the irons.
26 – Mission Central: Won 5 races out of 8 career starts; Great Trainer Jockey combination.
9 – Overpass: In from Australia; Cutback in distance may help.
2 – American Affair: Ran 2nd in last race; Won 33% of his turf starts; Can handle the distance, finishing in the money in 60% of the races, winning 20% of the starts.
Alternate:
21 – Rayevka
22 – Rosy Affair
Tom’s Tips
26 – Mission Central – a very interesting entry in this race by Aiden O’Brien. A three-year-old versus a stacked field of talented runners. He wins or does nothing. His last two races have been very good, and he won last year at Ascot in his final start.
9 – Overpass – Australia horse that has run at Ascot with good efforts, but this is not the same Ascot. Ran fourth in his last start in a Group One at Randwick. He drops back to five furlongs for the first time in a long time. Interesting move.
8 – Night Raider – won his last two races at five furlongs. The last two races were on the turf, and it was his first win on the turf. He has not had much success at Ascot, but this time he is in better form than before.
18 – Mgheera – lightly raced with only five races, last was decent, running fifth in his first start. Good odds, watch.
Alternatives:
12 – Starlust
15 – First Instinct
16 – Frost At Dawn
Rich’s Ranks
22 – Rosy Affair (LS) – won last 3rd up – 9 Quality Races in last 10 starts
26 – Mission Central – all or nothing 8/5-0-0 – a little concerned last was slower
9 – Overpass – won a ton or money – first up record iffy
2 – American Affair – much improved in last and won 2025 King Charles in lone Ascot run
ALT:
21 – Rayevka
13 – Asfoora
Race 4: St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
Terry’s Picks
5 – Puerto Rico: Has won 2 G1 events, Likes the turf finishing in the money in 67% of the races, winning 33% of the starts.
1 – Bow Echo: Four for four, winning all very easily; Perfection at today’s distance.
2 – Gstaad: Very competitive horse, winning four races and finishing 2nd in his 8 race career.
6 – Talk of New York: Won 3 races out of 4 career starts.
Alternate:
4 – Power Blue
3 – Lord Britain
Tom’s Tips
6 – Talk Of New York – undefeated after three races, and the best was the last one at Sandown, winning margin was over five lengths in his first run at one mile on the turf. Appleby/Buick.
1 – Bow Echo – undefeated and one to beat. Excellent effort in 2000 Guineas.
2 – Gstaad – second to Bow Echo and went on to win the Irish Guineas.
Alternative:
5 – Puerto Rico
Rich’s Ranks
1 – Bow Echo – easy work in four races and beaten a few next out winners including Gstaad
6 – Talk of New York – dominates when he wins – last comment “ran on strongly”
2 – Gstaad – clearly a class horse as a BC winner – 3rd up
ALT:
5 – Puerto Rico
4 – Power Blue
3 – Lord Britain
Race 5: Ascot Stakes
Terry’s Picks
11 – Bahadur: Won 4 races out of the last 6 starts, including winning the last race.
19 – Tim Toe: Won 5 races out of the last 6 career starts, including winning the last race.
4 – Reaching High: Has an excellent jockey, showed in the last race he can go the distance. last race.
1 – Beylerbeyi: Has done well in his career finishing in the money in 49% of the starts, winning 20% of the races, Regular rider in the irons.
Alternate:
6 – Mordor
7 – Galileo Dame
Tom’s Tips
5 – Lavender Hill Mob – he may not be in form on paper, but he wins on all surfaces and long races over hurdles. Big longshot and very interesting placement.
4 – Reaching High – should be the favorite and gets Ryan Moore. The owners are the King and Queen. First start of the year.
19 – Tim Toe – won last time out at one mile. He’s run distance before without good success, but is in really good form in his races this season. Getting a good trip will be the key to success.
15 – Glenroyal – one run this season was not good. He came off last season’s runs with three wins and two other placings. Steps up, but this is also a very interesting placing for Joseph O’Brien.
Alternatives:
8 – Comfort Zone
2 – Bunting
Rich’s Ranks
17 – All in You – forget last, was moving and “hampered badly” – big plus if it’s good
8 – Comfort Zone – terrible races in last two – he just missed in this race last year
11 – Bahadur – strong run last out – more distance helps
4 – Reaching High – 2-1 ML – next is 8-1 – always well bet – we’ll see
ALT:
19 – Tim Toe
6 – Mordor
Race 6: Wolferton Stakes
Terry’s Picks
3 – Arabian Light: Finished in the money in 7 races out of 9 starts, winning 4 races; Trained by Charlie Appleby.
6 – Galen: Returning after a long break to a distance he likes; Career earnings over one million dollars.
8 – Ghostwriter: Finished 3rd vs last race a G2 event; Finished in the money in both starts at Ascot, winning 1 of the starts.
12 – Nahraan: Won 3 races out of 4 career starts; Can handle the distance.
Alternate:
16 – Survie
13 – Persica
Tom’s Tips
12 – Nahraan – undefeated horse returning to the races, winning by a nose last time in July 2025. He can come off the pace or near the pace. Gosden trained with Oisin Murphy.
15 – Wimbledon Hawkeye – drops to this level after a win at Kentucky Downs, a run in the Breeders’ Cup. His first start of the season was a quick race for him, and he needed the start. Better effort today.
2 – Ancient Wisdom – returns to the races after good efforts at the end of the season. He hasn’t won in a while, but has won five times and been in the money five times from fourteen starts.
10 – King’s Gambit – toss the Chester race, he lost it at the start. Better run in his first start, running second. He runs well at times and then goes, “-Ugh,” other times. Return for a better effort today.
Alternatives:
11 – Map Of Stars
1 – Adelaide River
Rich’s Ranks
9 – Haatem (BB) loves this meet – defending champ and won the Jersey Stakes the year before
8 – Ghostwriter – ran competitively versus some very good horses – nothing like that here
11 – Map of Stars – if he is going to win – it’s this distance 7/4-0-1 – 1 in 5 at any other
12 – Nahraan – been off since September and maybe didn’t care for soft in lone miss
ALT:
15 – Wimbledon Hawkeye
6 – Galen
Race 7: Copper Horse Stakes
Terry’s Picks
10 – Valiancy: Loves to win, winning the last 2 starts, Finished in the money in 3 out of 3 starts at today’s distance, winning 1 race.
14 – Sing Us A Song: Has won 1 race out of 1 starts at today’s distance, finishing 2nd in the last start.
8 – Gamrai: Finished in the money in 5 races out of 6 career starts, winning 2 races.
4 – Daiquiri Bay: Won his last start and shows he can go the 1-3/4 mile; Strong jockey stats.
Alternate:
15 – Ernst Blofeld
6 – Real Dream
Tom’s Tips
8 – Gamrai – big runs last two times, one on the all-weather with a win and a second at Newmarket. He’s run only six times with two wins.
1 – Ascending – terrible run for his first start of the year, but ran against some very good distance horses, including the winner, Sweet William. He’s won at Ascot going long in his only start.
4 – Daiquiri Bay – impressive win over my top choice at Newmarket in his first start of the season. This was his second win, but he has run well in all nine of his races.
10 – Valiancy – won his first start of the season in a fast race. He’s won three out of his seven starts and ran in the money three times.
Alternatives:
14 – Sing Us A Song
19 – Dancing In Paris (Reserve)
Rich’s Ranks
10 – Valiancy – six straight quality races and very likely to make it seven in second up
8 – Gamrai – ITM 5/6 races and fires 1st up – on the pace – needs the right numbers
4 – Daiquiri Bay – can win from the front or back – but not at Ascot 2/0-0-0
14 – Sing Us A Song – some versatility – can pilot or co pilot – cutting a ¼ mile helps
ALT:
1 – Ascending
17 – Too Soon
Best Bets & Longshots
Terry
Best Bet: Race 2 – #5 Confucius
Longshot: Race 4 – #5 Puerto Rico
Tom
Best Bet: Race 2 – #15 Night In Vegas
Longshot: Race 4 – #6 Talk Of New York
Rich
Best Bet: Race 6 – #9 Haatem
Longshot: Race 3 – #22 Rosy Affair
