Held each year in the third week of June, Royal Ascot is much more than your average race meeting, it is a national institution. From the hats to the horses, there is something for everyone at Royal Ascot, and Ascot betting attracts one-off and frequent punters alike. As a result it is one of the busiest weeks of the year for bookmakers all over the country, and with live television and internet coverage of the event, it has never been easier to keep fully informed and up-to-date on proceedings.
Over the five days, there are 30 races to be enjoyed, all of high quality. Whilst all 30 races attract many bets, the most popular amongst seasoned race fans and amateurs are the larger handicap events, such as the Wokingham stake and the Royal Hunt Cup, and the Group One events, such as the Gold Cup and the St James' Palace stakes. The large handicap races' popularity is down to the large fields and the good Ascot odds available, whilst the Group One events are popular due to the fantastic array of competition.
The Royal Hunt Cup is one of the most coveted events of the week. In recent years it has been won by many famous jockeys including Frankie Detorri and Jimmy Fortune. The combination of the short course and large number of runners, up to 30, make for a riveting spectacle. Most years, this race goes all the way to the wire, with several horses closing down on the finish line.
This year's favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup is Green Destiny at 8/1. The four year-old is in good hands having been trained by a former winning trainer and finds itself favourite ahead of many joint second favourites coming in at 14/1, but any keen punter will tell you that traditionally, favourites do not always fare well in this race.
Aside from being the highlight of Ladies Day, many consider the Gold Cup to be the main feature of the entire week. This Group One race is run over a mighty two miles four furlongs and is a huge test of stamina for both horse and jockey. The event had been dominated by Aiden O'Briens' Yeats in recent years, until Rite of Passage claimed top spot last year.
This time out the favourite to claim the £250,000 prize is Fame and Glory. The horse has triumphed in nine of its 13 career races and is priced at 4/1, but is expected to face stiff competition from Rite of Passage's quest to retain the title; she'll be running at 5/1. Among the other runners considered contenders are Sans Frontiers who has put together a sequence of back-to-back wins, and Duncan, who has been in great form all year, winning the Yorkshire Cup in early May, both runners are at 7/1.
In Group One races like the Gold Cup, there is always a thrill when backing an outsider, in the hope that they will cut through the pack and result in a nice little pay out. The best outside tip for the Gold Cup is Gentoo. The odds vary a lot on this one, with outside prices of 20/1 and short contender prices of 10/1. Interest in the horse has been on and off and recently there has been speculation as to whether the horse will run at all come June 16th.