Moore and O’Brien lead top jockey and trainer betting for Royal Ascot
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The World Cup isn’t the only reason to get excited next week. It’s also the start of Royal Ascot!
Five days of magnificent flat racing action will begin on Tuesday 19th June as upwards of 300,000 people descend on the Berkshire racecourse.
There’s plenty to look forward to ahead of the Festival. And we’ve taken a look at the top jockey and top trainer betting to get you in the mood…
Royal Ascot – Top Trainer
Aidan O’Brien has walked away with the top trainer title in each of the last three years at Royal Ascot. He has another game set of chances this time around.
Sioux Nation, Order of St George, Hydrangea and Rhododendron are just four of his major hopes next week. Add in names like Murillo, Clemmie and Washington DC, and you get some idea of Ballydoyle’s strength.
O’Brien is odds-on at 1/2 to land the top trainer crown once again.
John Gosden has been chalked up as his main opposition at 7/2. Even without star filly Enable, the trainer still has a hand of lively chances. Cracksman, Without Parole, Lah Ti Dar and Stradivarius are his main quartet.
The in-form Charlie Appleby (9/1) will do battle with Blue Point, Hawkbill and Wild Illusion amongst others. While Sir Michael Stoute (14/1) will be hoping for a hat-trick of wins with Crystal Ocean, Poet’s Word and Sun Maiden, who is entered for the Ribblesdale Stakes.
American Wesley Ward isn’t likely to trouble the top-trainer title but will be hoping to build on his two winners from last year’s Festival. He’s 5/4 to have one winner, 5/2 for two, 8/1 for three and 33/1 to have four winners or more. Lady Aurelia is his main hope in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Royal Ascot – Top Jockey
Ryan Moore is the 4/9 favourite to finish as Top Jockey thanks to his connection with O’Brien.
The 34-year-old will team up with the Irish trainer on a number of big-name rides. They’ve had plenty of success together in the past and that looks set to continue at Ascot.
And you can expect Moore to pick up a number of other plum rides from Wesley Ward.
Ladbrokes’ very own Frankie Dettori is next best at 4/1. The Italian famously went through the card at Ascot in 1996. His record at the Royal meeting isn’t too shabby either.
He’ll need to do it the hard way to land the top jockey title after losing the ride of star sprinter Lady Aurelia to American jockey John Velazquez.
James Doyle is next best at 7/1 ahead of William Buick at 10/1. 2016 Champion jockey Jim Crowley is available at 16/1.
Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Wesley Ward has already trained nine Royal Ascot winners, and that tally is expected to increase next week thanks to his leading hope Lady Aurelia.”
“John Gosden’s Royal Ascot team looks mightily impressive with the likes of Cracksman and Without Parole among his stars. With that in mind, we think he could pose a serious threat to Aidan O’Brien’s Top Trainer hopes.”
Royal Ascot – Top Trainer
Aidan O’Brien – 1/2
John Gosden – 7/2
Charlie Appleby – 8/1
Sir Michael Stoute – 11/1
Mark Johnston – 20/1
Roger Varian – 25/1
William Haggas – 25/1
Wesley Ward – 33/1
50/1 bar
Royal Ascot – Top Jockey
Ryan Moore – 4/9
Frankie Dettori – 4/1
James Doyle – 7/1
William Buick – 10/1
Jim Crowley – 16/1
25/1 bar
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
