The excitement is starting to build amongst fans of flat racing. The month kicks off with the Derby Festival at Epsom, which includes the Coronation Cup, the Oaks and of course the Derby itself, followed by Royal Ascot, which will run at the Berkshire-based course between 15-19 June.
The good news is that spectators are already being welcomed back to racecourses across the country and organisers of Royal Ascot are planning to accommodate 10,000 racegoers a day. The return of spectators will certainly add to the excitement of the five-day meeting, which boasts more than 10 Group 1 races.
Day two’s feature race is the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, and there’s no doubt that punters will already be scouring sites like Smarkets for the best odds and studying the form guides in aid of helping them pick a winner. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the early favourites for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
Lord North – 9/4
Defending champion Lord North is the 9/4 market leader to retain his Prince Of Wales’s Stakes crown this year. The five-year-old was the 5/1 third-favourite when he beat Addeybb over the line by almost four lengths last year. However, the John Gosden-trained horse left a lot to be desired for the remainder of the season, failing to win in three outings, including slumping home in last in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. He’s got back on track this season with victory in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan and jockey Frankie Dettori and trainer Gosden will be hoping for more of the same at Ascot.
Love – 3/1
Having won the 1000 Guineas Stakes, the Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks last year, Love is heading into this season on the crest of a wave and trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore will be hoping that she can add the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes to her already impressive CV. Having not raced since last August, the four-year-old could head to Epsom for the Coronation Cup on 4 June, where she is an 8/1 shot, before making her way to Royal Ascot. The Queen Anne Stakes, day one’s showpiece, is another option for Love’s connections. However, given that she is as far out as 9/1 for that one, this race looks to be the likeliest choice.
Armory – 7/1
Third favourite Armory is another entry from O’Brien’s renowned stables. The four-year-old had a fairly decent maiden season in 2019, winning three times in seven races. However, he left a lot to be desired last year when he won just once in five outings. With Moore back in the saddle for the first time since October 2019, Armory scooped a victory at Chester in May, but with the Irishman set to take the reins of Love, it’ll be interesting to see how the four-year-old fares at Ascot with a different jockey back in the saddle.
Addeybb – 10/1
Addeybb could make for an interesting each-way bet at 10/1. The William Haggas-trained horse’s stock has risen since Tom Marquand took the reins at the start of last season. In fact, the pair have won five of their seven outings together, including the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, and if they can replicate that good form this season, they’ll definitely be in contention and possibly even be able to go one better than second in this race last year.
