Day One Royal Ascot tips: Dave Nevison likes a 28-1 chance
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Tue 16 Jun 2026
Top tipster Dave Nevison gives an update on his ante-post portfolio and shares his best bets for day one of Royal Ascot.
The biggest flat meeting in the world starts tomorrow and as ever is a veritable feast. I have had just three bets ante-post; they have all shortened up - though not dramatically - and I am still solid on all of them.
Reaching High in the Ascot Stakes is the first, Venetian Sun in the Commonwealth Cup on Friday bids to beat the colts in this Group One, and I think Binhareer would be a good thing in the Wokingham if there is a bit of rain around this week. I am not sure I would back him again at current odds if it were to quicken up.
FREE Racing TV Flat Season Gilet
5.00 Ascot: Reaching High
Dave Nevison
Finished: 20thSP: 13/8
Anyone who backed Reaching High in this race last year will probably only now be getting over the desperately unlucky run the King’s horse had. I was a sufferer and decided there and then that I would want to get my money back this year.
Reaching High simply could not get any sort of run being trapped on the inside from stall one pretty much from the start. He was eased heavily late in the day and still got beaten less than four lengths with Ryan Moore pretty much stood up in the irons.
He is off the same mark this time around and given I believe he may have won by three lengths with a clear run, the Mullins-trained gelding might even be a stone well in here.
A draw in stall eight gives Moore more options this time, and the best jockey in the world doesn’t often - if ever - make the same mistake twice.
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBetT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New members only, must opt in. Deposit & bet min. £10 within 30 days at min. 1/2 odds, excl. odds & profit boost. Free Bets: 3 x £10 tokens (odds & bet leg restrictions apply), non-withdrawable, issued on settlement, valid 30 days, stake not returned. T&Cs: www.ballycasino.co.uk/terms. Play Responsibly. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets with BetwayT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New customers only. Place a min £10 pre-event bet at min odds of 2.0. £40 worth of Free Bet Tokens awarded on bet settlement. 4 x £10 each with betting restrictions. 7 day expiry. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Bet The Responsible Way Full Terms apply. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets with 7betT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New GB customers only | First deposit £10+ with applicable bonus code | Bet £10+ to get 3 × £10 Bonus Bets | Credited in stages | Restrictions apply | Each Bonus Bet expires 7 days after crediting | Stake not returned | Full T&Cs apply| 18+ GambleAware
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with KwiffT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware
5.35 Ascot: Persica
Dave Nevison
Finished: 5thSP: 18/1
Persica lost his form completely after he won the Diomed at the Derby meeting last year, so it is to be hoped that he doesn’t go the same way this season after he was just touched off by a nose in the same race this time around. Persica was gelded over the winter and I am hoping that operation at least partly explains the apparent return to form and also means it will be sustained.
Persica is invariably campaigned in Group company and performed really well several times, but the last time he was dropped to Listed company he won well at Ayr (two subsequent Group Three wins) and this race looks an ideal target.
As long as the last run wasn’t a flash in the pan, he looks good enough for a place at least.
6.10 Ascot: Valiancy
Dave Nevison
Finished: 6thSP: 9/4
This staying handicap has been won by the favourite on three out of the six runnings; a 2-1 favourite has finished a close second, and a 4-1 second favourite has also scored, so it is difficult to look beyond the front of the market for me.
Valiancy will be a strong favourite and rightly so for me. He won a seriously strong handicap over this distance at Haydock on his final start last season and reappeared with a win over a slightly shorter trip at Hamilton in May. He looked very much as though he would improve further when stepped back up, and he will get a very strongly-run race here which will suit as well.
Read these next:
Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.
Related posts
Five horses to watch at Cheltenham this week
Dave Nevison's Wednesday tips at Kempton: "he looks very well in"
Saturday ante-post tips: brace of 20-1 chances among five bets
Philip Hobbs and Johnson White 2026-27 Jumps season stable tour
Rossa Ryan to partner Constitution Hill in Milan on Sunday
Todays top offer
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&C's apply. 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Claim Now
Featured offers
Get 50% back up to £50 with QuinnBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £50, valid for 7 days. 18+ GambleAware.
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with talkSPORT BET
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10+ on any horse racing markets within 7 days of sign up. Get 3 x £10 Free Bets for set horse racing markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ GambleAware
Bet £20 and Get £40 in Free Bets with Unibet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
18+. GambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £20 debit card or instant banking transfer deposit. Place a £20+ bet on Horse Racing at min odds 2/5 (1.4) each leg for 4x £10 Free Bets (can be used on Racing Bet Builder). Claim within 30 days. Valid for Horse Racing only. Geographical restrictions and Further T&C’s apply
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved