Horse Racing Tips: Paddy Power’s epic Royal Ascot Cheat Sheet for Day 1

INSPIRAL was breathtaking at the meeting last year and I can’t see past her.

I have gone for a bit of value with CHINDIT. Jockey Pat Dobbs felt he was in front too soon at Newbury last time so this straight mile is perfect for him.

He may look the second string on jockey bookings, but do not underestimate how much talent NATIVE TRAIL has. This is his second start after a wind operation and the straight stiff mile will suit his galloping nature.

I’ve been thinking of taking on MODERN GAMES but the more I look at this race the more I think he’s very hard to beat.

INSPIRAL showed her capability when fresh with a scintillating display in the Coronation Stakes on her 2022 reappearance and will take some stopping if returning in similar form.

I’m happy to take on the market leaders given the nature of the race. ARMY ETHOS and HAATEM are my two value picks against the field.

Connections will hope that ARMY ETHOS can repeat Bradsell’s win last year. He was a very good winner at Ayr last time and he’s no back number. 

The three-time raced HAATEM never got a chance to show what he could really do at Epsom as he blew the start. He’s under the radar at a massive price. Irish raider BUYIN BUYING was not too far behind Givemethebeatboys and warrants plenty of respect, coming from a very capable outfit.

I’m all over RIVER TIBER here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The son of Wootton Bassett cost nearly half a million pounds and has looked well worth the money at Navan and Naas.

ASADNA produced an outstanding timefigure when winning a Ripon novice by 12 lengths on debut last month so is preferred to River Tiber, who looks an exciting prospect himself having won both his starts in Ireland.

DRAMATISED looks to be going places. She won the Queen Mary at last year’s Royal meeting and comes here after a Haydock win in May. She should be ready to go.

COOLANGATTA has the services of Royal Ascot regular James McDonald, which is a plus and the Aussie sprinters are normally a fair bit ahead of the home team. 

MANACCAN keeps improving and loves to hear his hoofs rattle, so hopefully the rain stays away. This could be the first flying Frankie Dettori-dismount of his final Royal Ascot.

COOLANGATTA is a pretty solid Group 1 Australian sprinter as the simple truth is most of the home team are well below this standard with the exception of Highfield Princess.

HIGHFIELD PRINCESS ran a race full of promise under a penalty in the Duke of York on her reappearance and is taken to gain the fourth Group 1 success of an extraordinary career which began in ordinary handicaps.

PADDINGTON has prospered as a three-year-old. I was impressed with him at the Curragh in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and I’m with him again. 

Irish 2,000 Guineas winner PADDINGTON  quickened up very smartly to win at the Curragh. The St James’ Palace Stales is run on the round course and the best horse doesn’t always win. However, Paddington has plenty of speed which will will stand him in good stead. 

PADDINGTON looks nowhere near his ceiling from both a physical and ratings perspective and looked at his strongest right on top of the line when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas. 

The draw has worked massively in the favour of CHALDEAN who is taken to follow up his Newmarket 2,000 Guineas win. He won a ‘messy’ Classic but was very much the best horse in the race. 

CHALDEAN might have been seen to good advantage in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but that is still the best form on offer and his straightforwardness is likely to prove a huge asset once again.

BRING ON THE NIGHT picked up an injury a couple of weeks after Ascot last year and a few little things went against him but he’s back here in what could be perfect placement by Willie Mullins. Fellow Irish raider WESTON sees Colin Keane aboard for Gordon Elliott and has each-way claims. 

Billy ‘The Kid’ Loughnane rides CALLING THE WIND who is at the foot of the weights and conditions are perfect for him.

The form of PLEASANT MAN’S third at Musselburgh has worked out really well and he looks a huge each-way player for the UK’s Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls.

I’m happy to have a few quid each-way on CALLING THE WIND and exciting young apprentice Billy Loughnane who takes off a useful 3lb. Stays well and loves the course. 

BRING ON THE NIGHT hasn’t been seen out since posting a fine second in this event 12 months ago and this unexposed sort from the powerful Willie Mullins yard (holds an excellent record in this event) is taken to go one better with Ryan Moore again in the saddle.

KING OF CONQUEST is on a five-timer but doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He has a decent draw in stall 15 for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. 

BUCKAROO got beaten in a Derby Trial last year at Leopardstown. He was only beaten and neck in a Group One in France recently and that form is good enough to win this Listed contest.

CHECKANDCHALLENGE has been hitting a flat spot in his races and then powering home so the step up in trip will suit. He needs to be ridden very cold from his wide-starting position in box 14 now.

Former hot Derby favourite BOLSHOI BALLET has claims here each-way for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. This drop in trip might be right up his street. 

There is a bigger performance in POKER FACE and a well-run race over this trip could be just what the doctor ordered. He’s taken to land another cracking-looking renewal of what is usually one of the strongest listed races of the season.

Willie Mullins two lice chances in VAUBAN and Absurde but the former will win. Vauban is my NAP of the day.

VAUBAN has run some good races at the top level over hurdles, including when winning the Triumph Hurdle. This 1m 6f Flat race looks to be the perfect fit for him.

VAUBAN is a former Triumph Hurdle winner and on his jumps rating of 160 looks thrown in from a perch of just 101 on the Flat in the finale. 

Vauban might hack up but I can’t back him at short odds. BERKSHIRE ROCCO is a right character and is not reliable – but he stays well.  A mark of 99 is very workable considering he was rated 116 when scoring here in 2020. 

VAUBAN looks on a very handy mark returning to this sphere judged on his high-class hurdles form, so his claims are crystal clear. His stablemate Absurde is a bit more exposed but warrants respect on the pick of his French form.