Royal Ascot Tips: Outsiders to watch

Royal Ascot is just around the corner and the excitement is beginning to build ahead of Flat racing's summer extravaganza. 

The Royal meeting takes place from Tuesday 18th June to Saturday 24th June and there are no fewer than eight Grade 1 races to look forward to. There's also plenty of Group 2, Group 3 and handicap action and it should be an enthralling five days of racing.

We've picked out some interesting outsiders at huge prices that warrant a second look and may have better chances than their odds suggest.

Royal Ascot outsiders to watch 

Cairo (Queen Anne Stakes)
Odds: 66/1

The Queen Anne is arguably a very open race this year and no horse has managed to fully establish themselves so far this season. With that in mind it could be a good idea to look outside of the market principles and it wouldn't be a massive shock if we have another winner at big odds.

Whilst the point is noted that ex-Ballydoyle inmates don't tend to thrive after leaving Aidan O'Brien's yard, Alice Haynes' Cairo could be an exception to the rule. 

The son of Quality Road's best effort to date was undoubtedly his two-length second behind awesome stablemate Paddington in the Irish 2000 Guineas last term. Charyn was back in fourth that day and he's currently 4/1 second favourite for this race. 

It's therefore difficult not to be tempted by these monstrous odds and he was unlucky not to win in Doha on his penultimate start for O'Brien. There are obviously risks attached and he doesn't win very often but he has the ability to run into a place here.

Royal Rhyme (Prince of Wales's Stakes)
Odds: 25/1

The 2023 English/Irish Derby winner Auguste Rodin is the ante-post favourite for this race but he looks very easy to oppose on the evidence of his two starts so far this term. White Birch easily got the better of him at the Curragh last time out and he had no excuses.

The weather could have a massive impact on the results this year and soft ground would play right into the hands of Karl Burke's Royal Rhyme.

This horse bolted up in a couple of soft ground handicaps last term and hasn't looked back since. He made a victorious start to the season when winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes and he's lightly-raced enough to suggest that there could be loads more to come this year. 

It has to be said that soft ground is very important to him and his participation would be under serious threat if it's good or faster but it's likely that conditions will be plenty juicy enough.

Queenstown (Gold Cup)
Odds: 33/1

Aidan O'Brien trains Kyprios who is by far the most likely winner of the Gold Cup but his other potential runner Queenstown could be the one that gets closest to him. The son of Galileo was an eye-catching second to Kyprios at Leopardstown last time and he was doing his best work at the finish.

It's entirely plausible that the new trip will suit and he's definitely worth giving a go at this price. His sole success came in a maiden on heavy ground over 1m4f but he's clearly taken a huge step forward this year and could be one to watch over marathon distances.

O'Brien has won the Ascot Gold Cup eight times with five different horses, so he knows exactly what's required and it would be no surprise if Queenstown goes close to adding to that tally.

Pandora's Gift (Commonwealth Cup)
Odds: 33/1

The Commonwealth Cup is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Group 1 events of the week and there are several horses with massive chances ahead of the race. Amongst those are the likes of Inisherin and Vandeek. 

Pandora's Gift is available at substantial odds of 33/1 and it's very easy to make the case that she can outrun that price. Stuart Williams' filly has to be one of the most progressive horses around and the daughter of Churchill is still lightly-raced. 

She bolted up in a handicap at Lingfield in March, before taking a huge step forward to win a Listed race at Chelmsford in impressive style. Williams' filly will need to improve again and prove herself on turf but she could be anything and is worth chancing at these odds.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.