Three Group 1 races will be run and won on Day 1 at Royal Ascot, and the St James’s Palace Stakes is easily the most open of them.
Thirteen milers have accepted into the field and at publish, we’re faced with around $5 the field in St James’s Palace Stakes betting, with Poetic Flare occupying the top line.
Check out my 2021 St James’s Palace Stakes Tips below.
St James’s Palace Stakes – Winner
No. 8 Mostahdaf – Bet Now
Mostahdaf puts an unbeaten record on the line in the St James’s Place Stakes and I am confident that he can keep it alive.
The Frankel colt stamped himself as a runner to follow with an impressive win on debut in Newcastle in March and he has won comfortably at Kempton and Sandown in the wake.
This is a decent step up in class, but it has been the target since his debut effort and he has options from the rails draw.
St James’s Palace Stakes – 2nd
No. 4 Highland Avenue – Bet Now
He’ll need some luck after drawing the potentially sticky barrier 12, but Highland Avenue really doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and he can fight out the finish of the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Charlie Appleby-trained colt has had five starts for three wins and two second placings, and he enters this race off the back of a credible effort behind Mostahdaf at Sandown.
With the right run, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again either.
St James’s Palace Stakes – 3rd
No. 11 Poetic Flare – Bet Now
Poetic Flare has returned some eye-catching efforts recently and he is rock-hard fit for his run in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Dawn Approach colt has made seven trips to the races and has won four times, including the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Leopardstown in April.
He finished midfield in France two starts back, but responded with a nice effort to finish second behind Mac Swiney in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas last time.
He clearly has the ability, and he wouldn’t look out of place in the winner’s stall again.
St James’s Palace Stakes – 4th
No. 7 Maximal – Bet Now
I’m going to inject a bit of value into my St James’s Palace Stakes first four and Maximal rates an an each-way chance at around the $26 mark.
Maximal has had two starts back from a spell this time, and chased home Hurricane Lane at Newbury when fresh before returning a similar effort behind El Dreama at his latest.
Breeding suggests he’ll relish the Ascot mile and I’m happy to have something on.
Suggested Bets
- 2 Units E/W #8 Mostahdaf
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below