| The Insider: Royal Ascot Gold Cup 2008 betting guide |
The Royal Ascot horse racing meeting starts on Tuesday 17th June 2008 and will continue for five days, with the much anticipated Gold Cup scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 15.45 BST. This prestigious horse racing event has some very distinguished guests, including the Queen and Prince Philip. Top Hats and tails are a must and the organisers plan to turn away under-dressed race goers this year, so be warned if you are going.For those that enjoy a punt, Royal Ascot provides some interesting options that are well worth a look at. This article will focus on the premier race of the Festival on Thursday; The Gold Cup. This race has been won two years running by the Aidan O'Brien trained Yeats, and he is back to go for that hat-rick, which will make the betting very interesting.
So where do we start if were going to pick a winner at this years Royal Ascot Gold Cup? The key factors to look at for this years gold cup are ground conditions, form and tips from other racing insiders. So let’s take a look at these key areas individually.
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Royal Ascot Gold Cup predicted ground conditions
According to the clerk or the course at Ascot, Chris Stickels, the conditions should be ideal for the opening of the festival on Tuesday. The ground is likely to be softened slightly by anticipated rainfall over the next few days. Gold Cup favourites Yeats, Coastal Path and Geordieland will prefer the softer ground, because it will test the stamina of the other racers.Royal Ascot Gold Cup form guide
All the talk building up to the 2008 Royal Ascot Gold Cup has been around Aidan O’Brien’s star performer Yeats. The seven-year-old proved will be defending his crown, with back to back wins in this race in 2006 and 2007 win was no fluke by following up with several more wins in the last twelve months. According to many insiders Yeats was born for this race and already 6/4 on, it is hard to look beyond him. However Yeats faces stiff competiton from last year’s runner up Geordieland and the young French sensation Coastal Path, who hasn’t lost in his last six outings. Both Geodieland and Coastal Path are in fine form and will be poised to pounce if Yeats puts one foot wrong.
Royal Ascot Gold Cup tips
Most tipsters for this years Royal Ascot gold cup are predicting that Yeats will do the treble. If you are going to put a single bet to win then you cant go far wrong with Yeats. The only real downside with this horse is that his odds are so short to present any real value. Greater value is presented in an each way bet on last year’s runner up Geordieland at 12/1, as he is likely to be placed and could spring a surprise this year.Racing Schedule for Royal Ascot 2008
| Tuesday 17th June 14:30, Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (Str) 15:05, King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) 15:45, St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) 16:20, Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 16:55, Ascot Stakes (Handicap) 17:30, Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) Wednesday 18th June 14:30, Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 15:05, Windsor Forest Stakes (Group 2) 15:45, Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) 16:20, Royal Hunt Cup Handicap (Str) 16:55, Queen Mary Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) 17:30, Sandringham Handicap (Listed) Thursday 19th June 14:30, Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 15:05, Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2) 15:45, Gold Cup (Group 1) 16:20, Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap 16:55, Hampton Court Stakes (Listed) 17:30, King George V Heritage Handicap Friday 20th June 14:30, Albany stakes (Fillies' Group 3) 15:05, King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) 15:45, Coronation Stakes (Fillies' Group 1) 16:20, Wolfreton Handicap (Listed) 16:55, Queen's Vase (Group 3) 17:30, Buckingham Palace Handicap Saturday 21st June 14:30, Chesham Stakes (Listed) (Class 1) 15:05, Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) 15:45, Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) 16:25, Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 17:00, Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 17:35, Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race) (Class 2) |
Royal Ascot Gold Cup previous winners
| 2007 : Gold Cup (group 1) Going : Good to Firm, 14 ran Pos Horse, Trainer, Jockey, SP 1 Yeats, A P O'Brien, M J Kinane, 8/13 2 Geordieland, J A Osborne, J P Spencer, 12/1 3 Le Miracle, W Baltromei, D Boeuf, 50/1 2006 : Gold Cup (group 1) Going : Good to Firm, 12 ran Pos Horse, Trainer, Jockey, SP 1 Yeats, A P O'Brien, K Fallon, 7/1 2 Reefscape, A Fabre, C Soumillon, 10/3 3 Distinction, Sir Michael Stoute, M J Kinane, 5/2 2005 : Gold Cup (Group 1) Going : Good to Firm 17 ran Pos Horse, Trainer, Jockey, SP 1 Westerner, E Lellouche, O Peslier, 7/4 2 Distinction, Sir Michael Stoute, J Murtagh, 33/1 3 Vinnie Roe, D K Weld, P J Smullen, 9/2 4 Wolfe Tone, A P O'Brien, K Fallon, 20/1 |
The opinions in this article are to be taken as a guide and not as the end result. If you are betting on the Royal Ascot Cold Cup 2008 then you should use your own judgements when placing bets.
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