Day Five Races Betting Odds - Royal Ascot 2023 Racecards - 18/06/2023

After four pulsating days of flat horse racing, the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting finally comes to an end, although not before Day Five takes place which represents a final opportunity for racing fans to back a few winners before the meeting draws to a close.

The Saturday at Royal Ascot is sure to be exciting and dramatic, especially with races such as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes taking centre stage.

Will Pinatubo and Wichita Clash in the St James’s Palace Stakes?

Although multiple entries are a definite hindrance to knowing exactly which horses are running in various races at the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting, there is the mouth-watering possibility of PINATUBO and WICHITA clashing in the St James’s Palace Stakes on the Saturday of the meeting.

It’s not uncommon for sprinters to run on the Tuesday of Royal Ascot and then return to line up on the Saturday in this race, with Pinatubo a favourite of many racegoers who will be toying with the idea of backing the horse at odds of 7/4.

Pinatubo was an unbeaten horse until the 2,000 Guineas when the Charlie Appleby-trained charge had his colours lowered by Kameko at Newmarket despite being sent off as odds-on favourite.

Some punters might forgive the horse after a long lay-off and it’s worth bearing in mind that the runner was brilliant when winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, with further wins coming at Goodwood and The Curragh before that brilliant run in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

Even so, Kameko wasn’t the only horse to beat Pinatubo in the Guineas, with WICHITA separating the pair and it’s noticeable that there has been money for the horse to now win the Ascot showdown.

Wichita was third in the Dewhurst Stakes last year and the second place in the 2,000 Guineas suggests we are looking at a classy operator, with Frankie Dettori once again likely to be on board for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Not that this is a two-horse race, with PALACE PIER also among the entrants and trading as short as 4/1 for this encounter, with John Gosden bringing an unbeaten and largely untested three-year-old to the party.

Palace Pier opened up with a quickfire double at Sandown last year and was seen more recently winning a handicap race on the all-weather surface at Newcastle, although another step up in class is now required.

THREAT is the fourth horse in the field with serious credentials and Richard Hannon has a big potential champion in the form of a horse that came desperately close to winning the Coventry Stakes last year at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Second place to Arizona is a pretty good form guide, with Threat having finishing fifth in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes.

While many a horse racing festival stops at three or four days, Royal Ascot just keeps on giving with Saturday’s Day 5 finale. The Diamond Jubilee takes centre stage, but as ever the six races on offer are top quality from start to finish. Here we highlight our three best betting tips of the day.

Hardwicke Stakes: Masar to win at 4/1 with betfair

Group 2 contests don’t come much hotter than this, with the market currently being headed by five time Group 1 winner Highland Reel. He would have every chance if lining up, but could only manage second to Dartmouth last year, and may run in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes instead.

One who does look set to go in this is Frontiersman. By Dubawi out of Ouija Board, there can’t be many better bred horses in training. Following flashes of talent in his career to date, he now looks ready to deliver on his potential. Connections tested the Group 1 waters last time out in the Coronation Cup, and were rewarded with an excellent performance as he stayed on powerfully to go down by just under two lengths lengths. Seemingly still on an upwards curve, he’s the one to be on.

Diamond Jubilee Stakes: Invincible Army to win at 7/2 with Bet365

Six from eight over this six furlong trip, two from three on good to firm ground and two from three in the month of June, Henry Candy’s Limato may well prove very tough to stop. A dual Group 1 winner, having taken both the July Cup and Prix de la Foret last season, we also know that he is up to this level.

We are happy to forgive his flop in Dubai last time out, as that run came on ground much too slow for his liking. That outing will at least have sharpened him up for this and at 9/2 with Bet365 in our odds comparison table, he makes plenty of appeal.

Wokingham Stakes: Danzeno to win at 12/1 with Ladbrokes

It’s currently 10/1 the field in this extremely competitive affair, with a decent case to be made for at least half a dozen of these runners. The sensible course of action seems to be an each way bet, and the one to catch our eye is the David O’Meara runner, Edward Lewis.

This son of Kyllachy has made rapid strides since joining his current yard rated 89 in April. So much so that he is now on a mark of 101. That’s just 1lb higher than when finishing like a train over 5f at Epsom last time out, in a race in which he strongly hinted that a step up to six furlongs may be in order.