MEGAN NICHOLLS ROYAL ASCOT DAY 1 PREVIEW & TIPS

Royal Ascot 2024 is upon us and our ambassador Megan Nicholls has been through the seven-race opening day in her exclusive BetMGM blog.

With three Group Ones, the Royal Meeting gets off to a flying start on Tuesday. Here are Megan’s best bets for the action on day one..

Tuesday Racing Tips

Royal Ascot 2.30 – Queen Anne Stakes

This is a tricky race to call and I think the ground will play a big part.

Several in the line-up like to go forward so there is loads of pace and while I really like ** Charyn** (11/4 fav), I’m not sure the ground will play to his strengths.

With that in mind, I’m going to go for Facteur Cheval (3/1). He has form on slower ground but has shown he can handle a quicker surface as well. He won at Meydan last time, is very consistent and this race should set up well for him.

At an each way price, Maljoom (11/1) could run well. He was a bit fresh on his reappearance and the guaranteed strong pace here will help him settle better. He was very unlucky in the St James’s Palace two years ago and is a horse with plenty of ability.

Megan’s Tip: Facteur Cheval WIN, Maljoom E/W

Royal Ascot 3.05 – Coventry Stakes

Cowardofthecounty looks a worthy favourite here with his form really stacking up. He was very impressive on his debut at the Curragh and the form has been boosted a couple of times since.

He could prove hard to beat, but my each way play in the race is Catalyse for Richard Fahey. I was pretty taken with his win on debut at Catterick and given the money he cost at the Breeze Ups, you’d expect him to be pretty smart.

I’ve seen him in the flesh and he’s a gorgeous horse, so I expect him to take another step forward here.

Megan’s Tip: Cowardofthecounty WIN, Catalyse E/W

Royal Ascot 3.45 - King Charles III Stakes

This is another really tricky puzzle to solve with plenty in here holding solid claims.

Big Evs (7/2 fav) won nicely on his first start of the season and while it wasn’t the strongest of races, he got the job done and that should set him up really well for this.

Being a three-year-old, he gets weight from his main market rivals and I think that might just be enough to sway it in his favour.

If you want one at a nice price, keep an eye on Valiant Force (14/1). He returns to Adrian Murray’s after a spell in America and this race should be right up his street. He won the Norfolk last year, loves fast ground and is one of the quickest horses around, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran well here.

Megan’s Tip: Big Evs WIN, Valiant Force E/W

Royal Ascot 4.25 - St James’s Palace Stakes

Notable Speech (5/4 fav) is my best of the day and I expect him to take all the beating. He comes here fresh after that victory in the 2000 Guineas and if anything I think around a bend, he’ll be more effective.

Rosallion (10/3) was obviously behind him at Newmarket and won the Irish Guineas last time, so has to be respected but I don’t see any reason why he’ll reverse the placings.

Megan’s Tip: Notable Speech WIN

Royal Ascot 5.05 - Ascot Stakes

Pied Piper (11/2) seems to have been around forever, but he’s only a six-year-old. He loves these big-field handicaps and ran a massive race in the Cesarewitch when finishing second.

He was third in the BetMGM County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen and that form in a Flat context looks solid with the winner, Absurde, last year’s Ebor winner.

For my each way selection, I’m going to put up Tritonic (12/1). He ran very well in this race last year and has been prepped with a couple of spins on the all-weather.

He’s five pounds lower than 12 months ago and I can see him running really well again.

Megan’s Tip: Pied Piper WIN, Tritonic E/W

Royal Ascot 5.40 - Wolferton Stakes

The one I came down on in the Wolferton was Torito, (7/2) who I still think there is more to come from having run well in the Hampton Court in 2023.

He ran nicely on his return at Newmarket and he’s still pretty lightly-raced so there could be more improvement in the son of Kingman. I think gelding him has really helped and I can see him giving the Gosdens a winner on the opening day.

Bold Discovery (14/1) would be the one at a bigger price. He won nicely on his return with the gelding operation looking to have the desired effect. He likes quick ground and Jessica Harrington often does well at the Royal Meeting.

Megan’s Tip: Torito WIN, Bold Discover E/W

Royal Ascot 6.15 - Copper Horse Handicap

I was pretty impressed with Fox Journey (4/1) at Newmarket and he’s the one for me in the finale. He’s gone up nine pounds for the win, but he bolted up that day and there should be more to come.

He ran well in the Melrose last year among other solid performances as a three-year-old and he might just be a horse that has taken a bit longer to come to hand.

He’s a risky proposition but if Tyson Fury (20/1) is on a going day then he could outrun his odds. This 1m6f trip should be his optimum and providing they go a nice gallop and he can settle, I could see him going quite well at a decent price.

Megan’s Tip: Fox Journey WIN, Tyson Fury E/W

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation