Royal Ascot 2024 preview: Our best bets for all five days

Enda McElhinney

Spotlight

Charlie Appleby will have high hopes of Guineas winner Notable Speech on day one

- The Racing Post bumper Royal Ascot preview is here
- Key talking points for each day of the meeting
- Best bets of the week including:
- Notable Speech to win the St James's Palace Stakes
- Rouhiya to win the Coronation Stakes

The eyes of the racing world will be fixed firmly on Royal Ascot this week, with five days of high-octane action from Europe's biggest and best Flat racing festival.

A staple of the British summer, Royal Ascot remains an occasion unmatched both for the superb racing and the ceremony, pomp and high fashion stakes that accompany it.

Here is our look at some of the key stories that might unfold across the five days, as well as a best bet for each day and a big-priced Royal Ascot accumulator.

Day 1: Tuesday June 18

Key talking point – Notable form-boost for Guineas hero

A high-quality St James's Palace Stakes is amongst the treats on day one, with Newmarket Guineas winner Notable Speech set to renew acquaintances with Rosallion and Haatem, the Richard Hannon pair that chased him home on the Rowley Mile last month before fighting out the finish in the Irish version at the Curragh.

Notable Speech looked a cut above at Headquarters last time and Charlie Appleby's unbeaten colt should take some stopping in this Group 1 mile for the three-year-olds.

Tuesday's best bet: Notable Speech to win the St James's Palace Stakes (16:25) @ 5/4

Notable Speech was much the best in the Guineas at Newmarket and with his vanquished rivals fighting it out since at the Curragh in the Irish version, the Godolphin inmate is well placed to follow up.

Day 2: Wednesday June 19

Key talking point – White Birch bids for big scalp

Seemingly the stage is set for another showdown between Auguste Rodin and White Birch in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes on day two.

The former tasted Derby glory at Epsom and the Curragh last summer, with White Birch twice beaten, but it was a different story last month in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh as John Murphy's charge earned a decisive verdict. On that evidence, he may be the one to beat, but Aidan O'Brien knows how to orchestrate a bounce-back.

Wednesday's best bet: White Birch in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes (16:25) @ 5/2

White Birch was in the shadow of Auguste Rodin last summer but it was a different story in Ireland when they met last month and he can rubberstamp that new-found superiority now.

Day 3: Thursday June 20

Key talking point – Kyprios seeks to hold off Mullins challenger

Course-winner Vauban could give Willie Mullins a first win in the Ascot Gold Cup

The middle afternoon is of course Gold Cup Day at Royal Ascot and the 2022 winner Kyprios will be aiming to regain his crown after missing the race 12 months ago. Aidan O'Brien's star is 2-2 this season and seemingly on course to give the Ballydoyle handler a record-extending ninth win.

Willie Mullins, now champion jumps trainer in Britain and Ireland, bids to win this famous race for the first time with Vauban, so impressive in a handicap here last June.

Thursday's best bet: Vauban to win the Ascot Gold Cup (16:25) @ 7/1

Kyprios is 2-2 this season, but perhaps not quite yet at the level he was in the summer of 2022. Vauban was very impressive at this meeting last June and he could give his trainer yet another highlight for his CV.

Day 4: Friday June 21

Key talking point – Coronation crown up for grabs

The Coronation Stakes looks to be building towards a fascinating clash. So often it brings the strands of form together from the English, Irish and French 1000 Guineas and that could be true again, with Elmalka, Fallen Angel and Rouhiya in the mix.

Francis Henri Graffard will be excited about the prospects of Longchamp winner Rouhiya, given the manner in which she burst between rivals to narrowly win that Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She's a contender in what promises to be a stellar renewal.

Friday's best bet: Rouhiya to win the Coronation Stakes (15:45) @ 12/1

The Coronation Stakes could be one of the best races of the week, with three Guineas winners potentially lining up. At double-figure odds, Longchamp winner Rouhiya is worth a chance, given how she surged through to hit the front late on in that race.

Day 5: Saturday June 22

Key talking point – Sprint title on the line

Khaadem was a shock winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes last summer and, this year, the concluding Group 1 at the meeting appears wide open. Kinross heads the betting but is getting on in years at seven, while contenders like Mill Stream and Mitbaahy have more to do to land this prize.

The winner of the Sprint Cup at Haydock in September, Regional reappeared with a pleasing second behind Mitbaahy in Ireland last month and Ed Bethell's charge could come on plenty for that Curragh spin.