Rachael Blackmore's ride cut to 11-4 favourite after big move for Mullins runner

Your one-stop shop for Royal Ascot news on Tuesday

Market movers

Rachael Blackmore was the star name at Cheltenham and Aintree and punters are expecting her to hit the headlines at Royal Ascot, with her only ride of the meeting the most significant mover on Tuesday.

She rides Cape Gentleman, who has been cut to 11-4 clear favourite (from 5-1), in the Ascot Stakes (5.00). The Emmet Mullins-trained runner was a Grade 2 winner in Britain over hurdles earlier this season but has shown a good level of form on the Flat, including with victory in the Irish Cesarewitch.

Richard Hannon trained Barney Roy to land the St James's Palace Stakes in 2017 and his representative Chindit is the one attracting the most support in the betting for Tuesday's big race (4.20).

The mount of Pat Dobbs won the Greenham Stakes, as did Barney Roy, at the start of the season before finishing fifth in the 2,000 Guineas behind the reopposing Poetic Flare. Chindit, who is now 11-2 (from 8), has been kept fresh for this target since but his rival, the general 4-1 favourite, has raced twice since.

Punters are also siding with Battaash to defend the King's Stand Stakes (3.40) with the favourite shortening to 13-8 (from 2) this morning. King's Lynn is also a noteworthy mover, he is now 14-1 (from 16).

Berkshire Shadow has been well backed earlier this morning but attention in the Coventry Stakes (3.05) is firmly on Gisburn who has been clipped to 5-1 (from 13-2). That support has come with Kaufymaker drifting significantly to 7-1.

3.05
Gisburn 5-1 (from 13-2)

3.40
Battaash 13-8 (from 2-1)

4.20
Chindit 11-2 (from 8)

5.00
Cape Gentleman 3-1 (from 5)

6.10
Throne Hall 15-2 (from 10)

Updated at 11.10am

Going update

The going was changed to good to firm, good in places early on Tuesday morning following a dry night in Berkshire.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels told the Racing Post yesterday he expected to make the change from good, good to firm in places, following a warm and sunny weekend.

That glorious summer weather is forecast to continue for Tuesday and Wednesday before cooler temperatures and rain arrive for Ladies' Day on Thursday.

The GoingStick on the straight track suggests the best ground is marginally on the stands side, with a reading of 8.6 compared to 8.3 on the far side and 8.2 in the centre. The round course reading is 7.9

Stickels said on Tuesday morning: "It's good to firm, good in places and that was changed after another dry night. We're expecting it to continue drying throughout the day, I expect it'll be good to firm all over by the middle of the afternoon. We'll have highs of 24C today and 27C tomorrow.

"It looks like thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday night through Thursday and Friday now looks quite a wet day to be honest. It'll be brighter again on Saturday."

Updated at 9.50am

Non-runners

Stormy Antarctic, will not go to post on the first day of Royal Ascot. He was taken out of the Wolferton Handicap (5.35) due to the going, while Trumpet Man is a non-runner in the Ascot Stakes (5.00).

On Wednesday, Queen's Vase outsider Zinc White will also not run.

5.00
Trumpet Man (lame)

5.35
Stormy Antarctic (going)

Updated at 11.10am

Top stories

If you are wondering who will be suited by the quick ground, Sam Hendry has picked out five horses who could be worth looking out for. You can also get ahead of the game by watching In The Know, with Tom Segal and Paul Kealy sharing their selections.

Yesterday, the UK government confirmed the proposed 'freedom day' in England would be pushed back four weeks until July 19 due to the rise of the Delta variant of Covid-19. For racing in England, this means crowd restrictions will last for big racedays including the Coral-Eclipse and three-day July meeting.

Jim Bolger, who will saddle St James's Palace Stakes favourite Poetic Flare at Ascot this afternoon, has said he believes there will be a "Lance Armstrong in Irish racing". The IHRB responded to his comments on Monday, with a statement which suggests drug testing had increased while adding there was "no room for complacency" from Ireland's regulatory body.

Updated at 8am

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Tuesday's Royal Ascot previews:

2.30 Royal Ascot: 'Palace Pier looks like the best miler for a long time but Ascot suits us'

3.05 Royal Ascot: US filly Kaufymaker bids to become first female Coventry winner for 105 years

3.40 Royal Ascot: can Battaash make it six out of six first time out? Graeme Rodway gives his view

4.20 Royal Ascot: 'I think he has a big chance' – will Guineas hero Poetic Flare strike at Ascot?

5.00 Royal Ascot: Rachael Blackmore bids for more big-race glory – but this time she's on the Flat

5.35 Royal Ascot: 'I can't believe his price' – find out who's bullish before the Wolferton

6.10 Royal Ascot: can Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore strike with ante-post punt Saldier?

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