Who are the trainers to follow at Royal Ascot?

The best week of racing on the flat, Royal Ascot 2021 is just around the corner. There are twenty-six races to look forward to next week, with eight of them being Group 1 contests. We’ll have horse racing tips for every day of Royal Ascot, including accumulator and Lucky 15 tips.

The meeting attracts the best of the best and although shocks do happen, cream tends to rise to the top at the royal meeting. All the best trainers will descend on the venue, including those from across the Channel and the Atlantic. Wondering who you should be following at Royal Ascot? Look no further, as we discuss four trainers who could be profitable to follow next week.

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Wesley Ward

As always, Wesley Ward will unleash a super squad on Royal Ascot. It was back in 2009 when Ward announced himself on the British scene, with Strike The Tiger and Jealous Again storming home to victories on back to back days. Campanelle provided him with a winner twelve months ago and there’s reason to be excited by his recruits this year.

Kaufymaker is the one who has been the centre of attention. She was a runaway winner of a maiden special weight at Keeneland back in April and Ward has been bullish about this daughter of Jimmy Creed in the lead up. Speaking about Kaufymaker to Racing Post, Ward said: “I don’t like singling out any of my horses as they’re all here on merit and hopefully have a chance, but judged on the way she works I’m very excited about this filly.”

He’ll also saddle last year’s Queen Mary winner Campanelle in the Commonwealth Cup alongside Illegal Smile, with popular globetrotter Bound For Nowhere and Group 3 winner Maven also entered.

Aidan O’Brien

It can be little surprise that Aidan O’Brien is on the list. The master of Ballydoyle claimed his tenth top trainer accolade in 2019, his fifth in succession. That run was only stopped by John Gosden at last year’s meeting and in any top trainer market, he’s likely to be at the top.

Although it’s perhaps not as flashy as previous years, O’Brien can boast of an outstanding team of horses. The shortest price of his team is Love, who was unbeaten in three Group 1 races last summer.

Her return would be one of the main headlines of the meeting and speaking to Racing Post, O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with her and she’s done very well over the winter. She’s ready to run. It’s very possible she will go to Ascot, but if she doesn’t she will go to the Pretty Polly.”

O’Brien has plenty of other attractions entered, which includes Armory, Order Of Australia, Battleground, Santiago and Mother Earth.

George Boughey

Granted, he’s yet to win at Royal Ascot, but George Boughey is having a remarkable season. Based out of Newmarket, he was a 27% strike-rate in 2021, including an enormous 42% strike-rate with his two-year-old runners on the turf. He’s caught everyone’s attention and his runners need very close attention at Royal Ascot.

The stable has several good chances on paper, including Lostwithiel in the Ascot Stakes. He won his opening two starts in novice company, finishing second in a pair of subsequent starts in handicaps. He bumped into some useful rivals on both occasions, however, and promises to be well suited by the step up to the 2m 4f distance. Hollie Doyle is booked and he looks to be his best chance of the week.

Roger Varian

The form horse heading into Royal Ascot is Roger Varian. He can boast of a 25% strike-rate from 218 runners this year and also has enjoyed recent success at the meeting. He had three winners in 2019 in the form of Daahyeh, Defoe and Cape Byron. 2020 was also fruitful, with Mountain Angel and Molatham taking his total to seven at Royal Ascot.

In the last two weeks he has a 24% strike-rate and that bodes well for all his runners next week. His biggest chance is perhaps Eshaada in the Ribblesdale, an unbeaten daughter of Muhaarar. She created a strong impression in a Listed race at Newbury last time over ten furlongs, seriously hinting she’d improve exponentially for twelve furlongs.

She’ll get that in the Ribblesdale and speaking to Racing Post about his filly, Varian said: “She won a Listed race at Newbury most recently and looks super at the moment. Her two wins have been on softer going, but if she proves adaptable on the fast ground I think she’ll run a lovely race.”

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