Royal Ascot gamble: Harry Eustace runner backed into 7/1 from 22/1 on Day 1

The punters are wasting no time and are getting started right away at Royal Ascot. Tuesday marks Day 1 of the five-day meeting and there’s already a gamble underway. Harry Eustace’s runner in the Ascot Stakes was as big as 22/1 on Monday but sustained market support has caused its price to capitulate.

You can get 7/1 at time of writing so we’ve assessed the horse’s chances. Check out our market movers which are updated daily and our free tips page for content across the whole of Royal Ascot.

5.05 Ascot

Divine Comedy is the horse in question and she arrives here off the back of an impressive victory over two miles at Haydock. She was always up with the pace and had a clear lead with four furlongs to go. The result was never in doubt and she won by five-and-a-half lengths whilst being eased in the closing stages.

That was just her second start over two miles and she goes significantly up in trip here. There’s some stamina in her pedigree and the mare wasn’t stopping at the end of two miles last time. It’s fair to say that the performance wasn’t missed by the handicapper however and life will be harder on a 9lb higher mark. Another career best is required but it would be unwise to rule that out.

Kaiya Fraser has ridden the six-year-old 10 times and the pair have failed to finish outside of the first three when combining. Five of Divine Comedy’s six career victories have come with Fraser on board so it’s a big plus that the partnership is maintained here.

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Royal Ascot Day 1 Nap

Henry Longfellow

The St James’s Palace Stakes is always one of the highlights and Aidan O’Brien is fancied to win it again with Henry Longfellow. This son of Dubawi and the yard’s excellent mare Minding was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile. He announced himself as a serious prospect when winning the Group 1 National Stakes by five lengths. Plenty of improvement is expected from his seasonal debut in the French Guineas and he can bounce right back to form.

If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards now.