The opening act of Thursday’s card at Royal Ascot 2020 is the Golden Gates Handicap. This is a Class2 contest that starts the day, and there are 18 runners declared for the trip.
The distance is at 1m 1f 212y and it is open to 3-year-olds only.
Golden Gates Handicap Odds
Acquitted 7/2
Hypothetical 9/2
Global Storm 11/2
Maori Knight 8/1
Tritonic 9/1
Grand Rock 10/1
Ya Hayati 11/1
Bronze River 12/1
Highland Chief 12/1
Cepheus 14/1
Yoshimi 14/1
Gallaside 16/1
Hms President 18/1
Mafia Power 18/1
Laser Show 22/1
Tom Collins 25/1
Dogged 25/1
* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Unibet
Table of Contents
Acquitted heading the field
The current 7/2 favourite for the Golden Gates Handicap is ACQUITTED* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020). After a good debut season, Acquitted returned to action at Newcastle recently for his handicap debut.
He put up a great run in that one as well, finishing behind the highly-impressive Palace Pier. That was a 1m trip and he should be really game in this one. The 3-year-old has won two of his four starts so far and that recent run after a 225-day break was impressive.
MAORI KNIGHT
MAORI KNIGHT looks to be trending towards something big. He broke his maiden in late February, which happened in the all-weather at Chelmsford City. He has had the one trip since then.
That was a 10F effort on June 7th at Haydock in which he was pipped to the post by a head by Midnights Legacy. That was a good run that he had there at Kempton on stepping up to the trip.
It was a fantastic primer and the colt, trained by Richard Hughes, has to be in the frame for this one. Maori Knight has big claims from 8/1* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020).
HYPOTHETICAL
The unexposed HYPOTHETICAL cracked off a win on his debut. That was a win in a novice effort on the all-weather at Chelmsford City in December. His latest run saw him take on the Classic Trial at Kempton at 10F.
He really ran smoothly in that latest run, which was in early June. With a stiffer track underfoot for this Ascot run, there could be a lot more to come from him.
He has the trip in him easily and warrants some respect from 9/2* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020).
GLOBAL STORM
The form is there from GLOBAL STORM. There has been a good progression from him. He scored at the distance at Newmarket in November under handicap terms, which sets him up well for this contest.
In his last run, which was back at Newmarket, he scored a great Handicap win in taking out Arthurian Fable by a short head. It has been a highly impressive upswing from him.
He has been slapped with a 6lb penalty for those recent wins, but he has the trip in him and he looks good enough to handle that rise. Global Storm is currently an 11/2 option* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020).
HIGHLAND CHIEF
At top weight is HIGHLAND CHIEF who is going to wear cheekpieces for the first time. He will enjoy coming back up in trip in what will be his return to action. Highland Chief did have an impressive effort at Ascot in the Chesham Stakes last year when he took third. May well enjoy a trip back at the course.
Other Contenders
GRAND ROCK won a couple of slower, tough minor events last year. He will be taking on his handicap debut in this one and from what we saw of him last term it is likely that he will enjoy this extended trip.
Last summer GALLASIDE was in cracking form, winning three times up to a distance of 8.3f. After he was pushed a little further to take on a 10f trip he couldn’t find enough and finished near the back of the field. Comes back from a 253-day break.
TRITONIC had a couple of wins behind him last season which were both at distances up to 1m. He has been fairly well treated in the weights for this one, however, but this is some tough company which he finds himself in.
Predictions & Tips
We can’t look past the threat of MAORI KNIGHT in this one. He really enjoyed himself over this same distance on his return at Haydock recently.
The conditions underfoot should help his case even further and he looks to be a great option for what looks to be a really tough handicap. Maori Knight is a big threat at 8/1* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 04:56 GMT on Wednesday, 16th June 2020).
Others that we will look at as well is the existing youngster HYPOTHETICAL who looks as if he is just going to get better and better. He really showed up well in the Kempton Classic Trial and he has a lot more to come.
With the way that the ACQUITTED took on the challenge of trying to tackle Palace Pier in his last run, he also has to be on the shortlist. He should really thrive in conditions like this and isn’t likely to be far from scoring.
Unibet Royal Ascot Free Bet Offer
Across all days at Royal Ascot 2020 Unibet have a special horse racing promotion running. So for all 36 races from the meeting, a free bet for backing winners on every ITV race with their 15 To Go promotion.
Bet on any ITV race between Tuesday 16th June – Saturday 20th June, in the 15 minutes before the scheduled start time and if you back the winner we will match your stake with a free bet up to £20!
You will receive your free bet within 2 hours of the weigh-in, it will be available for 7 days after being credited, and it will match your first qualifying bet (min odds evens) on a win single or win part (only) of an each-way bet.
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18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs
Key Terms & Conditions
This promotion is available on live ITV races between Tuesday 16th June and Saturday 20th June, and opt-in is required in the betslip. In order to qualify select the “15 to Go” box that appears on the betslip after entering stake
Customers who place a win only, or each-way single, with minimum stake of £5, within 15 minutes of the advertised starting time of the eligible race, will receive a free bet match of the win part of their stake, up to a maximum of £20 if their horse finishes first.
Qualifying bets must be placed at minimum odds of EVS (2.00) in order to be eligible for the promotion. Bets must be placed with cash only – bets placed with free bets, Uniboost applied to them, or other bonus funds are not valid for the promotion.
Free bet will be credited within 2 hours of the weigh-in, and is only valid on horse racing win and e/w singles. Free bets expire seven days after being credited. In the eventuality of dead heat then standard settlement rules apply to bonus. Winning horse will be determined on www.racingpost.com
