Royal Ascot: Blue Point backed for King's Stand as punters pile in on day one

Blue Point has been supported into 5-2 (from 3-1) for the King's Stand Stakes, with the defending champion looking to confirm Ascot form with last year's runner-up Battaash.

The Charlie Hills-trained Battaash is still favourite for the Group 1 sprint, but Godolphin's Blue Point continues to be trimmed in the market for the 5f Group 1.

Too Darn Hot is disputing favouritism with his Irish 2,000 Guineas conqueror Phoenix Of Spain, with last year's champion two-year-old now the outright favourite with the majority of bookmakers for the St James's Palace Stakes.

Most firms have installed Too Darn Hot the 2-1 favourite as he bids to go one better than his runs this season in the Dante at York and in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

In the opening race on the card, the Queen Anne Stakes, King Power Racing's Beat The Bank, sixth in the race a year ago, has been trimmed into 25-1 (from 33). Lockinge fifth Le Brivido has also been cut into 5-1 (from 6), although he was available at shorter prices last week.

The Coventry Stakes is the first two-year-old race of the five-day meeting and Monoski is one receiving some early morning support. The Pontefract winner has been backed into 8-1 (from 10) with Unibet, while bet365 and William Hill have gone 9-1 from the same overnight price.

Aidan O'Brien has won the Coventry eight times and Arizona is among his chances this year, with the wide-margin Curragh winner now the 5-2 favourite (from 11-4).

The Ian Williams-trained The Grand Visir has been cut into 14-1 (from 20) by William Hill, while Gunnery is a general 12-1 shot having been 14-1 overnight.

In the day one finale, Latrobe has been cut for the Wolferton by most bookmakers from a general overnight price of 8-1 into 7-1, although Sky Bet are shorter at 6-1.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Irish Derby winner is the only Group 1 scorer in Listed contest.

Willie John (9-1 from 10) and First Nation (12-1 from 16) are others being supporting among a competitive 16-runner field.

Royal Ascot market movers

2.30 - Le Brivido 5-1 (from 6), Beat The Bank 25-1 (from 33)
3.05 - Arizona 5-2 (from 11-4), Monoski 8-1 (from 10)
3.40 - Blue Point 5-2 (from 3)
4.20 - Too Darn Hot 2-1 (from 9-4)
5.00 - Gunnery 12-1 (from 14), The Grand Visir 14-1 (from 20)
5.35 - Latrobe 7-1 (from 8), Willie John 9-1 (from 10), First Nation 12-1 (from 16)

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