Royal Ascot

A large-field cavalry charge down Ascot’s one-mile straight course is always a thrilling spectacle, and even better if the horse you're cheering on is contesting in the final stages.

17:00 Sandringham Stakes (Listed Handicap) (1 mile)

Despite the vast number of runners that the Sandringham Stakes usually attracts, market leaders tend to perform well in this competitive handicap, including last year's 7/2 favourite Heredia.

She was the fourth winning favourite in the last ten runnings, although the 2019 and 2020 editions bucked that trend with both won by 33/1 outsiders.

At the time of writing only two horses, Jackie Oh (under Ryan Moore) and Coppice (Frankie Dettori) are meriting single-digit prices at around 5/1.

While they both obviously have serious claims, they do not hold much value in an event such as this at those prices, especially in light of results at this festival so far.

Picking the best bets from the remaining runners is no easy matter, of course, but the each-way aficionados at Tipstrr, who landed us winners at 18/1 (Desert Hero) and 13/2 (Warm Heart) on Thursday, have helped narrow the field for us.

Planet Sport Bet: Money Back if 2nd to SP Favourite in all Royal Ascot Races

Novus, Unless and Clounmacon have every chance, but of those bubbling just below the market leaders, Marksman Queen has garnered plenty of support, both on Tipstrr and in the betting market.

The Gosden yard has already produced three winners this week, not least when teaming up with Frankie Dettori to land the Gold Cup with Courage Mon Ami on Thursday.

The Ascot track is said to suit those with all-weather success, and Marksman Queen has chalked up two wins either side of her winter break, and gave another good account of herself when runner-up behind Tamarama at Kempton 16 days ago.

This is her turf debut, but Ascot's straight mile on good-to-firm ground should suit, and at a well-treated weight under Hollie Doyle, this filly must enter calculations.

Lower down the market there appears to have been increasing support for Choisya, who enjoyed a promising start to 2023 by backing up a win in January with runner-up spots in February and March, all on various all-weather tracks.

She clearly needed the run when last of seven runners at Southwell following a ten-week break, but that pipe-opener serves her well on her switch to turf. Second by a nose on her turf debut at Goodwood, she switched that around to win by a short head at Haydock 13 days ago.

Both successes came over a mile on similar good-to-firm ground to Ascot's, and with a potentially favourable high draw and the promising Harry Burns benefiting from a three-pound claim, Choisya could well be among the each-way money, especially with as many as eight places available.

Each-way punt: Choisya each-way in the 17:00 at Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot racing tip: Marksman Queen has Sandringham Stakes in her sights