Two of the most closely fought races at this week will be for the prestigious top jockey and trainer honours.
The action starts in Berkshire on Tuesday with 35 races spread over five days of high octane thrills with the fashion stakes being another keenly contested affair.
All eyes will generally be on the racecourse though and Ryan Moore is tipped to celebrate riding the most winners at the end of the week.
He’s the 5/4 favourite in this market and it’s little surprise as he has finished Royal Ascot with the most winners nine times in the past.
That’s not the biggest of shocks as he jumps onto the saddle for outstanding trainers Aidan O’Brien and Sir Michael Stoute but his record nine victories in 2015 was still a remarkable achievement.
Frankie Dettori, who retires at the end of the year, can’t be discounted at 2/1 as he’ll be pulling out all the stops to finish in pride of place in his swansong season.
The Italian is in hot form this year, most recently registering a superb double at Epsom at the start of the month, scooting home on Emily Upjohn in the Coronation Cup before claiming the Oaks on Soul Sister.
Dettori was top jockey in 2019 and 2020 and is well capable of pulling another rabbit out of the hat.
However, punters seeking value for money should look no further than two of the jockeys who have been first past the post on the most occasions so far this year.
William Buick is 10/1 with William Hill and Oisin Murphy 20/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral with both holding credible claims.
Murphy, the leading jockey two years ago with five wins, gets the tentative nod.
So that brings us to the leading trainer and while O’Brien, Stoute and Charlie Appleby will be popular in this market the preference is for John and Thady Gosden, who will have a strong team for the occasion and are 5/2 with Sky Bet.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold is 4/1 with bet365 to follow up his goal Malta with another against North Macedonia in the European Championship qualifier at Old Trafford. We cashed at 6/1 when England won 4-0 and can do so again with a 3-0 home win at 5/1 with the same firm.
• Turkey are 5/6 with Ladbrokes to win at home to Wales, who just got walloped at home by Armenia. Put them in a treble with Kazakhstan +1 to beat Northern Ireland in Belfast and Armenia to win at home to Latvia.
