Who wins the opener? Four experts give their verdict on the Buckingham Palace

1.15 Royal Ascot
Buckingham Palace Handicap (Class 2) | 7f | 3yo+ | SKY

Get off to a flyer with Glen Shiel

As it is the first race of the week, I will take a chance on the draw. High is best more often than not, but Glen Shiel in stall ten is the one I fancy. He improved for the drop to this trip over the winter and shaped pretty well over 6f at Newcastle on his return the other week. He remains unexposed as a 7f horse and Ascot should be right up his street.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Kaeso should be spot-on

It’s the toughest race Kaeso has ever contested and he’ll have to overcome a career-high mark, but Nigel Tinkler’s thoroughly likeable six-year-old would have won a similarly valuable prize over the course last July if his challenge had been delivered later – he idles in front – and his encouraging Newcastle reappearance (first run on sand) should put him spot-on. The booking of champion jockey Oisin Murphy takes the eye.
Richard Birch, tipster

Keyser Soze: the mount of Ryan Moore in the Royal Ascot openerCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Keyser Soze can strike at decent price

A tough one to start but I like Keyser Soze, who looks capable of landing one of these big handicaps. He looked destined for Group company last season when racking up a treble on the all-weather but never quite fired after that. He showed his old spark when second last time and a fast-run 7f should be ideal. Ryan Moore's booking is a major boost and he can go well at a big price.
James Stevens, reporter

Mutamaasik looks well-treated

I think you want to be drawn middle to high and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum seems to hold all the aces. It's unsurprising that Daarik heads the market but he might be better on the all-weather, so I fancy Roger Varian's improving Mutamaasik. He showed sharp improvement for the switch to the grass last year, stays this trip well and appears to be chucked in off a mark of 100.
Tom Collins, The Punt

What they say

John Gosden, trainer of Daarik
He won well on his reappearance at Newcastle and is a thoroughly genuine horse who goes on any ground. It's interesting that Sheikh Hamdan's retained jockey [Jim Crowley] rides Motakhayyel in the race but Frankie [Dettori] is not a bad stand-in.

Roger Varian, trainer of Mutamaasik
It's a good trip to start him at, one he was successful at last year, and it's a lovely track for him over a stiff seven furlongs. Hopefully the rain will stay away as he appreciates better ground. He's in good form and ought to run a nice race.

Roger Varian: expecting a good run from MutamaasikCredit: Edward Whitaker

Henry Candy, trainer of Greenside
His previous owner justifiably got fed up with the vet’s bills. He’d not been the soundest all along and he’s still pretty fragile. I just hope it doesn’t dry up too much. Having said that, the old boy is in good form. Goodness knows what the 23 draw will be, either very good or very bad.

Nigel Tinkler, trainer of Kaeso
It's great the meeting is taking place and the horse is very well. He's come on from his run but he'll need to as the favourite [Daarik] won very impressively that day and looks like he could be a Group horse. He loves the course and Oisin Murphy is a more than able deputy, with Hollie Doyle riding for Archie Watson. We'll look to do our best but it looks a tall order to turn the tables.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Straight Right
He's a tricky horse but does like seven furlongs on a straight track with a generous pace. I think he's an outsider with a little bit of a squeak and is pretty good on a going day.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Motakhayyel, War Glory and Brian Epstein
Motakhayyel's an extremely smart colt who has plenty of ability and I don’t think we’ve reached the ceiling with him just yet. We’re going back down to seven furlongs but there's bound to be loads of pace, which will really suit, and the quicker the ground the better. He arrives here in fantastic form and I’m hopeful of a bold show. You could argue War Glory's better on the all-weather but he’s talented on turf and, while this is extremely competitive and he’ll need plenty of luck in running, I can see him running a big race. Brian Epstein will hopefully get a run here because I really fancy his chances and he ran very well last week at Haydock, which will have put him spot on for this. He should be more than capable of making his presence felt wherever he goes.

Kevin Frost, trainer of Documenting
We've been wanting to give him a go on the turf and he seems in good order. He's been a better all-weather horse but I don't think there's any reason for that, so we thought it's worth a crack at a big handicap. As long as the rain stays away, he goes there in fantastic form. He missed two years of his life and, although he's no spring chicken, he hasn't got too many miles on the clock. He seems to be getting better all the time and we're excited for it.

David O'Meara, trainer of Shelir, Firmament and So Beloved
Firmament probably got to the front too soon at Newcastle. He likes to be produced late and has some good course form. Shelir probably pulled a little hard on his debut for us, so the drop to seven should suit and he should improve fitness-wise for the run. So Beloved isn't getting any younger but ran okay in the Hunt Cup last year for a long way and ran okay on his comeback at Newcastle.

William Muir, trainer of Jack's Point
He's in great form. He won well last time and I think he's improved from the run. In these big handicaps there's lots of good horses in the race but he's decent and ready to go. The trip and track is fine, we don't know about the draw, but I'm happy enough.

Phil Cunningham, founder of Rebel Racing, owners of Keyser Soze
We're really excited to run him. In my opinion, he's always looked like he'd win a big pot one day but hasn't done so. He deserves to, more than any horse I've had before. I saw him on Sunday and he looks fantastic, Richard [Spencer] has done a great job and we've got the right man [Ryan Moore] on board. He's been crying out for a race like this and we go there full of optimism.

Read more:

Graham Dench's superb race-by-race guide to the opening day of the royal meeting

View from the trading floor as 11 bookmakers give their Royal Ascot fancies

Diamond in the rough: how a Royal Ascot hotpot was unearthed for just £2,800

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