Having only been with us since 2015, this Group 1, 6f event is the new kid on the block when it comes to Royal Ascot contests. Unique for a Group 1 affair in allowing geldings to compete, this really does establish the pecking order as to who is the fastest three year old around. In Muhaarar and Quiet Reflection we have had a pair of excellent winners in the first two editions of the race, but who will follow in their footsteps this time around? Here we provide our betting tips for the contest and take a look at the best odds currently on offer in our live odds comparison.
Looking at the odds comparison below, we can see that the current hot favourite for the race, at best betting odds of 5/4 with Sportingbet, is the Aidan O’Brien trained flying machine, Caravaggio. A perfect five from five in his career to date, the son of Scat Daddy has already demonstrated a liking for this course and distance when hacking up in the Coventry Stakes at this meeting last year. Versatile regarding ground conditions, many rate him as a solid ante post investment at this stage and we can’t argue against that.
If there is one to lower the favourite’s colours, it may well be the Clive Cox runner, Harry Angel. This one was brutally impressive last time out at Haydock where he simply left the field for dead in the Sandy Lane Stakes, smashing the course record in the process. The best betting odds of 7/2 with Bet365 will look pretty good if the speedster is able to put up a similar performance here.
Also towards the head of the market is the Godolphin runner, Blue Point. This one actually beat Harry Angel last time out over this very course and distance. That liking for the track is a big factor in his favour and whilst he will be 4lbs worse off at the weights with Harry Angel here, he shouldn’t be dismissed lightly. Dream Castle is another Godolphin runner with bags of speed and looks interesting at double figure odds.
All in all this looks set to be a thriller and a real clash of emerging sprinting stars. We couldn’t put you off any of the first three in the market but were really impressed with Harry Angel last time and make him our betting tip. Whoever you side with, be sure to consult our odds comparison table to obtain the best odds on all of your bets. Bigger odds mean bigger profits!
The Commonwealth Cup will be run for the first time at this year’s Royal Ascot and will take place on Friday 19th June 2023. Yet another Ascot Group One contest, the Commonwealth Cup will be run over six furlongs and is open to horses aged three years and up. Read on as we offer up our predictions for the inaugural running of this fascinating sprint, and we’ll also bring you some great betting tips and the best available odds via our live odds comparison service.
The ante post favourite is Limato, priced at odds of 5/2 with Bet365 and other bookmakers. This Irish three-year-old is the obvious starting point given he has five wins from his five runs to date, including a good win at this course at the end of April. That success in the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes, a Group Three contest, maintained his 100% record and with all of those wins coming over six furlongs and, largely in good style, he will take some stopping.
He is yet to race against any of his likely challengers however, and there is every chance that Hootenanny (priced at odds of 9/2) or Tiggy Wiggy (6/1) will provide a stiffer test than the gelding has yet faced.
Of that pair, our marginal preference is for Richard Hannon’s Irish three-year-old Tiggy Wiggy. She lost by a neck at this course in 2014 and her record of six wins from 10 runs (and four other places) would be better were it not for two defeats in the last month or so over a slightly longer trip. Back down at six furlongs we predict she can run a big race and if this filly gets a little rain she will look fantastic value at the current odds.
Limato may well continue to improve and have what it takes to seal Ascot glory in the Commonwealth Cup but at more than double the odds our number one betting tip here is Tiggy Wiggy.