Royal Ascot: how solid are the five hottest favourites?

began with a 33/1 winner last year and ended with an 80/1 chance taking the feature on the final day. And in between there was plenty more of the same. 

The 2023 meeting was a bookies’ benefit with only seven of the 35 races won by clear favourites. 

Al Asifah (5/6), (10/11), Free Wind (6/4) (13/8), (7/4), (7/4) and (2/1) were among those to fluff their lines at a meeting where a dozen winners were returned at 18/1 or bigger. 

(8/13), (Evens), (Evens), (11/10) (11/8) did their best to keep favourite backers afloat but it was a meeting that left plenty of punters scratching their heads. 

So, what’s in store next week? Here’s an early look at five of the shortest-priced market leaders. 

Race: St James Palace Stakes (Tuesday) Odds: 6/4 

Made it four wins from as many starts with his scintillating triumph in the 2000 Guineas. His jockey, William Buick, has ridden plenty of good ones over the years and there was no making the enthusiasm the two-time champion jockey had for him afterwards. 

The form isn’t working out badly either, is it? The pair who chased him home, and Haatem, went on to dominate the Irish 2000 Guineas, while the sixth home, Inisherin, has subsequently won a Group Two. And City Of Troy, who was ninth, has since won the Derby. 

Rosallion is likely to have another crack at him and this time a bend must be negotiated. But Notable Speech’s first three wins came at Kempton Park, so that box is ticked. 

One unknown would be ground featuring the word “firm” in it, but I think we are into straw-clutching territory for those considering taking him on. 

Verdict: Looks one of the week’s bankers. 

Race: Norfolk Stakes (Thursday) Odds: 7/4 

His sire, No Nay Never, was unbeaten as a two-year-old and won the Norfolk Stakes in 2013. As a stallion, he himself gets plenty of speedy juveniles, with Little Big Bear and being recent examples. 

confirmed the promise of his debut (over 6f on heavy ground) when blitzing four rivals in a Listed contest over the minimum trip at The a month ago. That form got quite a boost when the runner-up, Arizona Blaze, subsequently beat the odds-on Camille Pissarro, who is seemingly O’Brien’s main hope for the Coventry, in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes. 

Whistlejacket should not have an issue with better ground to judge by his pedigree and the 500,000gns yearling purchase clearly has bundles of pace. O’Brien has landed the Norfolk Stakes on three previous occasions, with Sioux Nation (2017) being his most recent winner. 

Verdict: Won with great authority last time and he’s had time to catch his breath. 

Race: Gold Cup (Thursday) Odds: 10/11 

The dominant stayer of 2022, when his exploits including winning this race, had well-documented issues last term but has returned this campaign with successive wins at and Leopardstown. 

has been up against inferior opposition – reflected by the fact he’s gone off 2/13 and then 1/12 - and it would have been disappointing had he not delivered. He was no more than workmanlike last time in the Saval Beg, having only a length to spare. Two years ago, he had romped home by 14 lengths in the same race. 

He seems a horse who does the bare minimum these days, so perhaps it would be dangerous to take the form literally. However, he does look capable of beating himself these days – such as on Champions Day last year when he threw things away – and increasingly shapes as if he may benefit from some kind of headgear. 

Gregory and Vauban both impressed when winning at the Royal Meeting last year, while Coltrane is rock solid. If Kyprios is not on his A Game, they will be among those ready to take advantage. 

Verdict: He’s head and shoulders above these on his best form but is he the horse he was? Price leaves little margin for error. 

Race: Coronation Stakes (Friday) Odds: 5/2 

Last season’s outstanding two-year-old filly had to miss the 1000 Guineas after a setback and was probably short of her peak when third in the Irish equivalent on her belated return. 

Aidan O’Brien said afterwards he was delighted with that run on the prevailing soft ground and suggested the daughter of Justify was open to “massive improvement”. 

A fitter on better ground (it was fast when she won her Group One in France in the autumn) could be a different proposition, although she does have the best part of five lengths to find with Fallen Angel, who won with authority at The Curragh, and then there is such as Elmalka, the 1000 Guineas winner, and Ramatuelle, who was third at Newmarket, to consider. 

Verdict: Much hinges on just how much she has progressed for her return. 

Race: Albany Stakes (Friday) Odds: 9/4 

This daughter of Night The Thunder was all the rage for her debut at Naas in April but she looked a little raw and had to settle for second behind . 

It was a different story when they met in a Group Three contest at the same track last time, with Fairy Godmother (again well backed) turning the tables and edging home by a neck. She did well to get up that day after having to switch around rivals and Timeform observed afterwards that “she will take plenty of beating in the Albany”. 

If money talks, then Fairy Godmother has clearly created a bit of a buzz at Ballydoyle and the way she snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last time perhaps gave us a flash of what she might be capable of. We will have a clearer idea of her prospects once we know who she is up against. 

Verdict: She’s made a highly promising start and there could be plenty more to come.