Who To Follow Day One Of Royal Ascot 2023

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Mon 19 Jun 2023 12.21

Ascot 14:05

17(6)

River Tiber

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-3

OR: N/A

Days: 30

The Group Two Coventry Stakes over 6f looks a cracking event on Tuesday and we can't look past the favourite River Tiber who looks another superstar to come out of Ballydoyle.

Seen twice to date making his debut at Navan on soft ground over 5.5f, he went on to bolt up by 10 lengths really catching the eye as a sprinter to follow for the season.

Given one more run before Tuesday, he dropped to 5f at Naas and giving away 3lb to the field easily landed a decent event.

He has shown versatility having form on good ground and soft ground and now stepping up to 6f should be the making of him.The one to beat.

Form: 11View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
30/09/23	NMK	6	GF	9-2	3
20/08/23	DEA	6	VSft	9-0	3
20/06/23	ASC	6	Gd	9-3	1
21/05/23	NAA	5	Gd	9-8	1
22/04/23	NAV	6	Sft	9-7	1

You would not expect to see Willie Mullins as the trainer to follow on the opening day of Royal Ascot but he has two exceptional chances across the day that make him the man to watch.

His first and arguably best chance of the day comes in the Ascot Stakes with last years second Bring On The Night being seen for the first time since running in this race. Off only 4lbs higher he looks a threat.

Mullins other runners come in the final event of the afternoon with Grade One winning hurdler Vauban looking to show his mark of 101 is lenient and also in the race Absurde could turn out to be very good.

Mullins heads into the 2023 Royal Ascot festival running at a 53% strike rate for the last two weeks, managing to land eight winners from his last 15 rides.

Frankie Dettori is taking part in what will be his last ever Royal Ascot and on the first day of this years meeting he holds some leading chances.

In the opening event of the day Inspiral is the joint favourite to bounce back to form and land the Group One Queen Anne Stakes.

Dettori then teams up with Jessica Harrington to ride Givemethebeatboys who has been well backed already ahead of the Coventry Stakes.

In the Group One King's Stands Stakes Manaccan is the 5/1 third favourite for the race and Dettori has been given the leg up on him.

One of the races of the day is set to be the Group One St James's Palace Stakes and 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean is looking to give Dettori another win in this race.

Dettori finishes the afternoon by riding the King's horse Saga in the Listed Wolferton Stakes and then in the finale he teams up with Willie Mullins on Absurde.