Royal Ascot - St James's Palace Stakes Tips

3.45 St James's Palace Stakes (Class 1) (Group 1) (Entire Colts) 1 Mile Round.

Named after the Tudor Royal residence, the inaugural running of the St James’s Palace Stakes in 1834 was a walkover for the Derby winner Plenipotentiary. The race features the best milers from the Classic generation, often attracting horses that have run in the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas, with a succession of famous winners.

Since 1996, only one 2,000 gns hero has gone on to add the St James’s Palace Stakes to his roll of honour – Rock of Gibraltar in 2002. Since 1996, Saeed Bin Suroor (7 sins) and Sir Michael Stoute (3 wins) have dominated this race. Only Andre Fabre and Aiden O’Brien (1 win apiece) have disturbed their supremacy. HENRYTHENAVIGATOR (not worth backing; too odds on) is 4/7on to maintain his unbeaten 3 year old record but will have to be on top form to maintain his supremacy over FALCO and TWICE OVER. FALCO is second favourite after his impressive 3 length victory at Longchamp last month. RIO DE LA PLATA was 2nd behind FALCO at Longchamp (said to be one of the meeting’s e/w banker bets by some) tore a shoe off coming out of the stalls in the Derby and was footsore on the return home. RAVENS PASS, Irish 2000gns winner but blocked in at Newmarket when 4½L behind HENRYTHENAVIGATOR runs to redeem matters today.

Main bet HENTRTHENAVIGATOR 4/7on (don’t back) but will quite probably win. 2 e/w bets for a place: FALCO 11/2 each way or RIO DE LA PLATA 14/1 each way.

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