Royal Ascot News Round-Up no3 2015

Can you believe we’re only two days away from the start of Royal Ascot 2015?  If you plan to bet on the races, hopefully you have been watching the news closely to learn all you can about the contenders in the various stakes.  Just in case you’ve fallen behind, here is an update on this week’s Royal Ascot headlines.

• American Horse of the Year California Chrome will be racing in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes on day two of the event.  This four-year-old emerged on top in the 2014 US Triple Crown by two legs, as well as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.  In the Belmont Stakes, he came in fourth.  California Chrome’s swift rise from obscurity has inspired fans around the world, including apparently Her Majesty herself.

• Solow and Able Friend are set to compete in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.  Both of these horses are incredibly good, and their trainers are quite confident about their chances.  Solow’s trainer Freddy Head is particularly confident, saying that Able Friend from Hong Kong “hasn’t run on this side of the world and the straight mile at Ascot is a stiff mile and maybe that will be new to him.”  On the other hand, Head admits Solow hasn’t really had to contend with any very tough competitors, so only Tuesday will tell how good he truly is.

• Meanwhile, Territories will no longer be able to participate in the St. James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday owing to a stone bruise.  While the condition is minor and should heal without a problem, it was decided it would be unwise to let him compete while he is injured.

• Pleascach, the three-year-old filly who beat Found in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, is now set to compete in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.  The 1,000 Guineas race was a mile long.  Previously, she has competed at 10 furlongs in the Blue Wind Stakes (which she also won).  The Ribblesdale Stakes will be her first 12-furlong run.  With three of her five career starts as winners, she is definitely a filly to keep a close eye on.

• Third favourite Brown Panther will not be racing in the Gold Cup.  According to Michael Owen, Brown Panther’s owner, the horse has injured his near foreleg.  Unfortunately the injury sounds like it may be potentially quite serious.  This is a vital piece of news, since the Gold Cup is the central event of Royal Ascot every year.

Be sure to keep checking for news tomorrow so that you will be ready start betting on Tuesday on all the Royal Ascot races!  The more comprehensive your knowledge is, the better positioned you will be to place a strong wager in a horse racing betting site and come out the winner.  Also read up on our various Stakes guides so that you know more about the races themselves.  Good luck, and enjoy betting on Royal Ascot in person or online!