Royal Ascot 2018 day one tipping guide: all roads lead to Romanised

There is a lot to be said for latching on to a star horse before every other punter has spotted his talent but an excess of faith can be expensive, a lesson which possibly awaits those who have made Without Parole favourite for the St James’s Palace Stakes. The highlight race on day one of Royal Ascot generally features a clash between Classic winners but this colt is stepping straight up from Listed company and, while he might be able to manage it with John Gosden’s help, odds of 11-4 make no appeal.

A more orthodox favourite would be Romanised (4.20), winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and beaten by only Masar, the Derby winner, when he last came to Britain in September. I don’t think there was any fluke about his Curragh win last month, when he produced a really strong finish to reel in U S Navy Flag.

On a fast surface here that rival could pinch a handy lead off the home turn but Romanised is the way to bet at 5-1. Tip Two Win can go well again but might lack the necessary finishing kick.

2.30 Queen Anne Stakes Few trainers would be more grateful for a big win at this Royal Ascot than Saeed bin Suroor, who has made a quiet start to the European flat‑racing season, while Godolphin’s other Newmarket yard produced the goods in the Derby. Bin Suroor fields Benbatl, whose Dubai Turf success in March is just about the best form on offer. But horses who have a busy Dubai campaign early in the year cannot always be relied on in midsummer, so a better option might be the progressive French raider Recoletos. From an in-form yard he delivered a career‑best performance to win the Ispahan last month and he travelled well for a long way behind Cracksman in the Champion Stakes before failing to stay. Rhododendron had everything fall right for her in the Lockinge.

3.05 Coventry Stakes Calyx is the sexy one but his killer pace might not play so well in a strongly run race. Sergei Prokofiev is a short price for a horse stepping up in distance, so the suggestion is the imposing Cosmic Law, who showed a lot of improvement to land the Woodcote.

3.40 King’s Stand Stakes Possibly continuing a good day for French raiders, Finsbury Square could outrun big odds. He produced a career best on his first run since joining Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, who won this race 10 years ago with Equiano. Whether Finsbury Square can repeat that effort to score at Chantilly a fortnight ago is one question that must be answered but he was beaten only three lengths in the Diamond Jubilee last year and any improvement would make him very dangerous.

Royal Ascot 2.30 Recoletos (nap) 3.05 Cosmic Law 3.40 Finsbury Square 4.20 Romanised (nb) 5.00 Coeur De Lion 5.35 Sharja Bridge

Thirsk 1.40 Prairie Spy 2.10 Deira Surprise 2.45 Kingstreet Lady 3.20 Beauty Filly 3.55 Madrinho 4.35 Bayshore Freeway 5.10 Mutawaary 5.45 Fyrecracker

Stratford 1.50 Stylish Dancer 2.20 Conistone 2.55 Cernunnos 3.30 Wells De Lune 4.05 Just A Feeling 4.45 Hatcher 5.20 Iniesta

Brighton 5.40 Born To Finish 6.10 Spirit Kingdom 6.40 Kachumba 7.10 Mr Tyrrell 7.40 Seinesational 8.10 Sharp Operator 8.40 Deer Song

Beverley 6.30 Pesci 7.00 Sea Youmzain 7.30 El Astronaute 8.00 Rampant Lion 8.30 Roddy 9.00 Bollin Ted

Tips by Chris Cook.

5.00 Ascot Handicap Place prize money has been Coeur De Lion’s speciality in marathon Flat handicaps but he was a shade unlucky when a rival got first run on him at Chester last time and the cheekpieces fitted that day can help him again.

5.35 Wolferton Stakes Beaten just half a length in a strong handicap last month, Sharja Bridge was well clear of the third and is ready for this step up into Listed company.