Xpressbet customers have spent the last three days enjoying the pageantry and quality racing of Royal Ascot and we’ve tuned in at 9:30AM ET to watch the world’s best horses compete in races named for kings and queens. 

If you’ve been playing along, you know exactly what we’re talking about.  There’s nothing like having money on a 20-plus horse cavalcade down the straight at Ascot.  Payouts have been strong and winning performances by horses like Crystal Ocean, Arizona and others are the types of efforts the racing world won’t soon forget.

If you haven’t played Royal Ascot yet, we’ve got good news for you – there are two more days to do so.  Friday and Saturday’s cards are loaded with group stakes races and recognizable horses like Bound for Nowhere, Ten Sovereigns, Blue Point, Japan, Masar and Southern France.

And at Xpressbet, we’ve got an offer going on that we’re pretty excited about.  We’re giving our customers a 10% Bonus on their Exacta winnings, up to $100 a day.  That means, if you play your cards right, you can earn up to $200 in cash over the next two days at Royal Ascot.  Not too shabby, right?  And the best part is all you have to do to play is Log In to your account and register for free for the promotion.

Here are four horses I’ll be betting over the next two days.  Who do you like?  Be sure to follow Xpressbet on Twitter for Royal Ascot updates every morning. 

Friday, June 21

If you’re looking for the ‘smart’ bets on Friday, look no further than the combination of trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, as they represent the favorites in Race 2 with Japan (6/5), Race 3 with Ten Sovereigns (6/5) and Race 4 with Hermosa (1/1).  All three horses stand a massive chance to win their respective races.  The only downside…value will be very difficult to find if those horses deliver. 

Here are a few other horses I’m focused on:

Race 1 (9:30AM ET) – Albany Stakes (Group 3) - #25 Silent Wave (20/1)

Wesley Ward was denied his Royal Ascot glory on Tuesday as Kimari was beaten a head in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes and, despite having two representatives here, I think his run of near misses will continue.  Ward sends out a pair of Keeneland maiden winners, Chili Petin (5/1) and Nayibeth (4/1) but both fillies are making their turf debuts and have been forced to acclimate to a new environment.  Godolphin’s Silent Wave (12/1) was well backed and impressive when she broke her maiden at Goodwood at short odds and she’s a daughter of one of the world’s premier stallions, War Front.   It’s always tough to handicap races with a bunch of inexperienced horses but you’ve got to trust Charlie Appleby and James Doyle…they know how to win events at racing’s highest level. 

Race 6 (12:35PM ET) – Duke of Edinburgh Stakes - #3 Baghdad (5/1)

There’s always value to be found in a 19-horse field, so I’m not ashamed to pick the favorite.  Baghdad won the King George V Stakes last summer at the Royal Ascot meet and is in strong form, entering off a victory at Newmarket last out.  Plus, he’s ridden by Ryan Moore – always a positive – and he has not lost a turf race in three tries dating back to October 2017. 

Saturday, June 22

The biggest storyline for Saturday’s Closing Day card is Blue Point’s attempt at a Royal Ascot Group 1 Double.  He won the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday and comes back in today’s Diamond Jubilee on just four days’ rest.  That’s a lot to ask, but he clearly likes Ascot and is in peak form. 

Race 4 (11:20AM ET) – Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) - #3 City Light (7/1)

As a racing fan, you’d love to see Blue Point win this race – but as a bettor, you have to stand against him.  I was going to bet Inns of Court in here but he was declared out. That lands me on City Light, who was beaten just 1/2-length by Inns of Court last out in France.  City Light came within a head of winning this race in 2018 and seems poised to get his revenge this time around.  US invader Bound for Nowhere was done no favors by the result of the King’s Stand, with Imprimis being a non-factor. 

Race 6 (12:35PM ET) – Queen Alexandra Stakes – #2 Corelli (5/1)

This has been an extraordinary meet for Frankie Dettori and his last chance for victory comes with Corelli in the Queen Alexandra.  He was beaten just 1/2-length by my Duke of Edinburgh choice Baghdad in his latest race at Newmarket and I guess I’m keying on that to be a key event.  Corelli, a son of Point of Entry, has won 3-of-6 career starts and should relish the extended trip.  And for as well as Frankie is riding, any choice against him would almost be a mistake.