Royal Ascot opens on Tuesday 16th June with a day of fine racing! Here we’ll give you the tips for each and every race from opening day.

Race 1 2:30 Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) 1m

We get underway with the Queen Anne Stakes, which is a top class race full of top class horses. Gladiatorus, of Godolphin, has never run in the UK or Ireland, so we don’t have any stats on that one, however, of the rest, we expect Main Aim, Dream Eater and Paco Boy to lead them home. We have these three slightly proud of the field based on Systemlays ratings, so we’d advise a small each-way on the three, plus a combination Tote Exacta for small stakes if you like that bet.

Aqlaam looks like the horse to lay in this race.

Race 2 3:05 King´s Stand Stakes (Group 1) 5f

What a sprint this race is – the highest class! World class sprinters are competing in the King’s Stand, as always. The speed shown by AMOUR PROPRE (NAP) in each of the last four wins has been something special. Of the rest, we expect Borderlescott will be the closest to this at the finish line. A solid each-way bet on Amour Propre is advised, should the price allow a small profit for the places.

Captain Gerrard looks out of his depth and would have to show significant improvement which has not been indicated by any run to land this event.

Race 3 3:45 St James´s Palace Stakes (Group 1) 1m BBC2

Mastercraftsman is set to start this race slightly odds-onn with most bookmakers, however, while we like this horse’s recent best rating, we think that Delegator, if replicating his last best, should be able to get his head in front. A reverse forecast on those two is therefore advised – we cannot back the favourite to win at such a low price, and Delegator looks like starting at under 4/1 too – if longer, take Delegator each-way.

Set Sail looks to be there to set the pace and nothing more – a big lay for us.

Race 4 4:20 Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 6f BBC2

The Coventry is another top class sprint, which we think will be taken by Air Chief Marshall, who set the field alight when winning at Gowran Park on his penultimate start. This is a juvenile event, though, and improvement should be expected from any of these. It is in our selection’s favour that he has three solid performances on the board too, as racecourse experience counts for a lot in these big field sprint events. Alrasm, Treadwell, and Red Jazz are closely bunched on their recent performances, and it would be no surprise if one of those three were to lift this race. While we don’t often bet in 2 year old races as a matter of course, if you must bet, we’d recommend a small each-way on Air Chief Marshall at around 8-1 is a worthwhile option.

Moran Gra‘s performances to date suggest this is the horse to lay in the Coventry 2009.

Race 5 4:55 Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 2m4f BBC2

We have three horses which we expect to go well over the two and a half miles Ascot Stakes, under the handicap conditions: Ermine Sea, Kayf Aramis and Sesanta have indicated they should be near to the front come the finish line on the Systemlays ratings.

Layers are advised that Baddam may struggle at these weights.

Race 6 Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) 5f

The final race of the first Royal Ascot day is another sprint over the minimum distance. Again we select our top three in the ratings for this huge 22 runner field, those three being: Dancing Freddy, Stand and Fight and Star Rover. A small each-way bet on each and some combination forecast / tricasts for TINY stakes might see a good return. Otherwise, as with many of these sprints, a watching brief may be the better bet.

We think The Hermitage offers a value lay at around 7/1 under Frankie Dettori, though the in form Mark Johnston stable is rarely one to take on at Royal Ascot, that’s just what we’re going to do in this final race: we don’t like the times this horse has put down, and sprinting is all about the clock.

Whatever you choose to do on Royal Ascot day one, be sure to enjoy the sport over anything else. Also be sure to check out the free bets available at the right and left hand side of this (and any) page, if you are planning to bet from home, in front of the TV, then why not get a free one – the free bet banner below will give new Bet365 online customers placing a first bet of up to £50 a free bet of the same amount – followed by up to £150 of additional free bets!