Will heavily-backed Royal Ascot pair lead to a bookie bashing?

We could be in for a hiding on day two of Royal Ascot this Wednesday, with the victory for two of the day’s favourites representing the worst possible result.

In the Queen Mary Stakes, it’s Wesley Ward’s Chelsea Cloisters leading the betting at 15/8. The well-backed two-year-old won her debut race at Keeneland in April.

Next up is Aidan O’Brien’s So Perfect at 5/1, with Just Wonderful, Shades of Blue and Fairyland all priced up at 6/1 apiece.

In the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, there’s an even firmer favourite. Following heavy backing, Cracksman has shortened into 8/13 for victory.

Frankie Dettori has guided the four-year-old to victory in each of the last five races, and the odds suggest a sixth could be just around the corner.

Poet’s Word is next-best at 9/2, while another O’Brien charge – Hydrangea – is third in the betting at 8/1.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “It is an open week overall but day Two could be a bloodbath with both Cracksman and Chelsea Cloisters showing up in the book as the two worst results of the five-day meeting. Both have been strongly backed ante-post and no price seems too short as far as Cracksman is concerned.”

Queen Mary Stakes

15/8 Chelsea Cloisters, 5/1 So Perfect, 6/1 Just Wonderful, 6/1 Shades Of Blue, 6/1 Fairyland, 16/1 bar

Prince Of Wales’s Stakes

8/13 Cracksman, 9/2 Poet’s Word, 8/1 Hydrangea, 10 bar

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing