2010 Royal Ascot Opening Day Preview and Betting Tips

We're going to be offering up live coverage of the 2010 Royal Ascot opening day tomorrow so be sure to check out Betting Choice before everything kicks off on Tuesday afternoon.

There are three massive Group 1's happening to start the card off and then we get into some listed and conditions races as well as the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.

Goldikova (Anabaa) takes on a first-rate crowd in the 2010 Queen Anne Stakes and defending champ Paco Boy (Desert Style) is considered to be the second favourite. There are about three or four horses here who have a chance- but if Goldikova has things falling in her favour then she will be tough to beat. She's versatile and can win in a few different ways- you're hard-pressed finding a better miler anywhere on the planet.

Things are getting interesting in the market for the 2010 King's Stand Stakes and Nicconi (Bianconi) is considered the 11/4 favourite although he's under close competition from Sir Michael Stoute's Kingsgate Native (Mujadil) at 7/2. Borderlescott (Compton Place) is also woth taking a look at and his price is dropping to around 14/1. I think he's good value for the bottom end of a forecast ticket with the top pairing.

Irish 2000 Guineas winner Canford Cliffs (Tagula) is the headliner and he'll be under pressure from undefeated Makfi (Dubawi). Canford Cliffs is trading at around 9/4 with Makfi listed at a 5/2 price. I expect fairly heavy volume for this race and locking in the right price looks like the key here. I am think American invader Noble's Promise (Cuvee) could be an interesting selection at a 16/1 listing with William Hill.

The Group 2 Coventry Stakes pits 15 up-and-coming two year olds against each other in what could be a real boost to some fledgling careers. Darley-bred Amwell Point (Dubawi) is coming off a victory at Chester his first time out and will likely be worth a shout at the right price. AP O'Brien's Samuel Morse (Danehill Dancer) comes off the listed circuit with a 100% record in his first two races. Irish Field (Dubawi) steps up from working the Spanish ciruit at La Zarzuela and is a very interesting outside selection.

The Ascot Stakes is a tough-looking handicap and I'm favouring either Perfect Shot (High Chaparral) or Tyrrells Wood (Sinndar). There are several talented veterans here and it's not one for the exotic players. I think a lot of this comes down to positioning, but any horse that can get a clean trip gets an instant boost in this field.

The last race of the day is the Windsor Castle Stakes- a listed race where a stack of talented two year-olds are set to do battle. I've got my eye on American shipper Metropolitan Man (Hook and Ladder), a serious upstart who drops in from a maiden score over the polytrack at Keeneland back in April. Chilworth Lad (Diktat) and Boundless Spirit (Invincible Spirit) also look interesting.