545/1 Double for Royal Ascot

by Dan Stanton

Royal Ascot is without doubt one of the biggest and most prestigious meetings in world racing. First founded by Queen Anne back in 1711, the meeting has grown into five days of elite flat racing, attracting the very best horses, jockeys and trainers from around the globe. From Group 1 mile races to staying contests and top-class sprints, Royal Ascot is where reputations are made and legends are born.

Every year we see horses improve massively from their early season runs into Royal Ascot, and anti-post betting can often be where the real value lies before the markets fully catch on. This year’s meeting runs from Tuesday, June 16th through to Saturday, June 20th, 2026, and over the next few weeks I’ll be putting up three anti-post selections that I think have strong chances of landing some of the biggest races of the week.

Queen Anne Stakes – Ante-Post Tip

I was really impressed with the William Haggas-trained LAKE FOREST on May 9th over at Haydock in the Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Listed Race. The Tony Bloom-owned horse was gelded during his 182-day break and came back absolutely flying.

He travelled fluently throughout, made headway 2f out, was produced to lead approaching the final furlong and then drew clear in really impressive fashion, winning by 5 lengths going away. Visually, it looked the performance of a horse that has improved massively from 3 to 4.

LAKE FOREST finished 5th in last year’s Queen Anne, won by DOCKLANDS, and was only beaten half a length by this year’s short-priced favourite NOTABLE SPEECH. Looking at that form now, combined with the improvement shown at Haydock, I think he could be massively overpriced in the anti-post market and looks a serious contender if turning up in the same form.

Now, it’s not 100% certain where Tony Bloom and the team want to send the horse. In a recent interview, Bloom’s racing manager Sean Graham stated:

“We were thinking of running in the seven-furlong race that has been transferred to Epsom but then it is just over two weeks until Royal Ascot, so we could give that a miss and keep him fresh for Ascot.”
Sean Graham

King Charles III Stakes – Ante-Post Tip

The one at a big price I’m interested in here is AMERICAN AFFAIR, trained by Jim Goldie. Jim Goldie’s horses are currently flying and this is a horse I’ve had my eye on for the King Charles III Stakes for a while now.

AMERICAN AFFAIR absolutely loves Ascot, it suits him down to the ground. He won this race last year and had some great runs throughout the season, including wins in the Lindum York Handicap at York and the Sprint Cup at Musselburgh. His whole campaign this year seems to be building towards another crack at this race.

He didn’t run great last time out in the Minster Stakes at York, but he had been off the track for 11 months with a fetlock injury and I think he would have 100% needed that run.

Goldie himself still sounds very upbeat about the horse and recently said:

“I had a feeling it was our destiny last year, but whether we can do it again is another story. He’s not lost any of his enthusiasm, that’s for sure, and it might be that he’s actually better than he showed at Ascot. I think he’s still good enough and that’s the main thing.”

He’s entered tomorrow at Haydock in the 15:30 William Hill Temple Stakes and I think this will be a big indicator as to whether he has retained the ability from last year. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth taking the 20/1 with Bet365 right now — if he turns up tomorrow and runs a big race, I could easily see that price being slashed in half.

My Bets

  • LAKE FOREST – Queen Anne Stakes – 20/1 Each-Way
  • AMERICAN AFFAIR – King Charles III Stakes – 20/1 Each-Way

 

Combined Double: 545/1  – Looking for a NEW UK Bookie??? Click HERE