The big feature race of Saturday’s Ascot card is the St James’ Palace Stakes. This is the Group 1 Class 1 highlight of the day which is open to 3-year-olds only.
The going is due to be soft for the trip which is 7f 213y and there are 7 declared for the contest, which we will break down in this St James’ Palace Stakes preview.
Last year’s winner was Circus Maximus who scored a win from an SP of 10/1, making him the longest-priced winner of the race in the last decade. Jockey Frankie Dettori has won two of the last four renewals of the race.
Trainers A P O’Brien and John Gosden have both scored two wins in the last six renewals of this top-class race.
St James’ Palace Stakes Odds
Pinatubo 13/8
Wichita 2/1
Palace Pier 4/1
Threat 17/2
Arizona 14/1
Positive 12/1
Royal Dornoch 33/1
* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 05:00 GMT on Friday, 18th June 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Unibet
Table of Contents
Can Pinatubo win the star-studded St James’ Palace?
Heading up the market is PINATUBO. He actually just tasted defeat for the first time after his stunning juvenile season.
He won all six starts in 2009 including wins over Arizona and Positive during that spell. But after the 238-day break, there was a shock in store.
Pinatubo went up in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month and was beaten into third place, a length and a quarter back of winner Kameko. The champion 2-year-old will still take a lot of backing.
But that run raised a few questions. One of those being whether or not he can live up to the stellar juvenile campaign that he had.
It may just be a matter of sharpness, that run at the Guineas being the first time he had competed fresh.
Pinatubo, trained by Charlie Appleby, goes as the 13/8 market leader currently* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 05:00 GMT on Friday, 18th June 2020)
WICHITA
WICHITA was also running in the 2000 Guineas and he took second place over Pinatubo. This is another top-drawer youngster who looked back sharp and on form when he claimed second of 15 on his return from the winter break in that 2000 Guineas run. Wichita was only beaten by a neck in that.
He did suffer a reverse against Pinatubo at Newmarket in October last year, but the conditions weren’t in his favour in that one.
He is a big threat and one to write off at your peril. Wichita is a 2/1 option* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 05:00 GMT on Friday, 18th June 2020).
PALACE PIER
The progressive youngster PALACE PIER has a lot of hype surrounding him already and it’s justifiable. He won both of his races as a two-year-old and banked a win on his first trip as a 3-year-old as well.
That latest win saw him secure a Newcastle handicap a couple of weeks ago. This is a much higher level for him, but this is a very good horse and he has Franke Dettori booked for the ride.
Exciting, smart and bold Palace Pier is 4/1 to land this huge prize* (betting odds taken from Unibet at 05:00 GMT on Friday, 18th June 2020).
THREAT
THREAT didn’t quite show up to top form on his last run. That was in the Middle Park Stakes at the end of September. He took fifth of eight only in that, looking short of his usual best.
Threat was on a hattrick going into that contest as well. He hasn’t been out on a 1m trip before, so this is a big ask of him as he returns from his winter break. Perhaps a run in between somewhere would have bumped him a bit, but claims are there.
Rest of the runners
ARIZONA scored a win at last year’s Royal Ascot claiming the Coventry Stakes. Will he have a good return as he heads back there? He was up in the 2000 Guineas on his return, but it was a poor run. Arizona was also shown up by Pinatubo late into his juvenile season.
POSITIVE won a Group 3 contest at Sandown as a 2-year-old. That’s a standout result for him. He was against some of the big players in the St James’ Palace Stakes field in the Dewhurst on his last run and fell short against the likes of Pinatubo and Wichita.
The outsider in this field is ROYAL DORNOCH who pretty much made it here after causing a shock at Newmarket last September. That was when the colt beat the highly-rated Kameko out of the blue. He was in the recent 2000 Guineas and was well down the field.
Predictions & Tips
When you have PINATUBO, WICHITA and PALACE PIER in the same breath, how do you pick between them? That is going to be a tough ask for this year’s St James’ Palace.
They all have some serious claims. We are going to go with WITCHITA after taking down Pinatubo in the 2000 Guineas. That’s the best indicator that we can take.
Also, we are waiting with bated breath to see if PINATUBO is going to be as good as his juvenile campaign promised. So for us, Wichita gets the nod in this big contest.
Not to be written off is PALACE PIER who has looked so impressive. He easily beat some reputable handicap opposition on his return and the son of Kingman won’t be out of place in this kind of action.
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.
Win or lose on the last, get Free Spins with Final Race Free Spins
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
