Top tipster Simon Rowlands has four picks plus analysis for the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Royal Ascot 2022 promises to be as good and as international as ever, kicking off with a bang on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30), with officially “The best horse in the world” in Baaeed.

Baaeed’s status, however, is under threat after a weekend in which Jack Christopher and Flightline defended unbeaten records in spectacular fashion and Jackie’s Warrior easily won a Grade Two by five lengths, all at Belmont Park in the United States. United.

It also faces competition this week from Nature Strip, Bay Bridge, Coroebus and Golden Pal, all of which are already hot on its heels in the official rankings.

So there may be a little more than just a win at stake as Baaeed enters the stalls, live Sky Sports Racingagainst six rivals and an already very long odds.

Victory should come – not that you’ll find me backing him at such prohibitive odds – but a win with enough authority to keep him the top dog on the world stage is a grander order.

He must beat the horses he has already beaten in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury – Real World, Chindit and Sir Busker – by even wider margins than the lengths of three and a quarter, five and six and a quarter he has managed. that day, plus the others of course.

A heavily run race could make that possible, with Ascot’s steep straight course adding to the sorting of the wheat from the chaff, but such a scenario seems unlikely. Expect Baaeed to win, but for it to be perhaps a bit more professional than what happened at Belmont. It should be a fascinating watch, though.

Take the first two to King’s Stand

The Queen Anne is one of three Group 1 races on the map, the others being the King’s Stand Stakes (3.40) and the St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20).

The first features the brilliantly fast American raider Golden Pal and the slightly more measured, but equally capable Australian challenger Nature Strip, as well as riders from Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Others may struggle to make a place against these two nominees, but we’ve already seen how sprints on this course can fall into the laps of horses playing turtles against the hares of the frontrunners.

Last year’s King’s Stand brought a quickening tempo which did for Battaash and rewarded the more patiently ridden Oxted, while Golden Pal himself capitulated at Nunthorpe in York last year, won by Winter Power , after going through the first stages.

It might be worth taking a chance with Mooneistfor whom a solid run of five furlongs may be ideal, and who comes here after an encouraging six furlong second at the Curragh last time out, a run she looked to win until her effort wore out late.

There is doubt about his ability to handle the ground at Ascot if it proves really fast, so a win rather than a one-sided bet is advised. But Mooneista has what looks like a good draw at pit 14 of 18 (Golden Pal is at 13 and Nature Strip at 10) and the cool Colin Keane in the lead.

It should be quite a show. Flashing is not recommended!

Lusail imagined if he was clear of traffic problems

The St James’s Palace Stakes revolves around what you think of Coroebus, winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He looked good on the day, sealing the deal with a fine kick, but it’s debatable whether he’s really worth betting in a 13-man squad that includes accomplished and highly promising rivals. .

Moreover, I would be quite confident that Lusail would have finished closer than sixth that day had he not missed the start slightly and encountered traffic while attempting to pass. He had also trained well when he had never been so close to Perfect Power in the Greenham at Newbury.

Far from being a dodgy stayer, Lusail may need a mile now, and the hold-up tactics employed on him should be easier to execute on this course, with its steep finish.

The pair formed by William Haggas, Maljoom (strong late run to win the German 2000 Guineas last time out) and My Prospero are promising but seem to be taking too much market share.

The Coventry Stakes (3.05) is a simple group two, but has produced some very good two-year-olds over the years (although less often recently).

The pair formed by Aidan O’Brien of Blackbeard and Age of Kings have already shown useful form and are understandably popular in betting, but I would have Persian strength in front of them and others.

He was an impressive Brocklesby winner at Doncaster in March when Sections showed he was worth an extra length or two over his four-and-three-quarter margin, and he did the job well against just two rivals at Newbury on last month.

Importantly, Persian Force have already shown tactical versatility, from close quarters at Doncaster and then Newbury, and that seems an advantage in a race in which some of the others have so far looked at ‘point and shoot’ types. .

The two handicaps that remain behind on the map – the Ascot Stakes (5.00) and Copper Horse Stakes (6.10) – looks tricky (Rock Eagle and Stowell can be fine), but the Wolferton Stakes (5.35) tickles my fancy.

Aristia is in as good form as any but receives weight over her 15 rivals due to being a filly and not winning a Listed/Group Three recently.

She might have been a little flattered to beat an Alpine Star that didn’t stay in York last year, but she duly ran the smart Lilac Road half a length in a group two on the same course during her reappeared last month.

Aristia may not be as successful in a field of this size, but it is very useful and yet largely ignored in the market. A small bet seems worth it.

Simon Rowland’s selections…

3.05 Royal Ascot – Persian strength (1pt winner)

3.40 Royal Ascot – Mooneist (gain of 0.5pt)

4.20 Royal Ascot – Lusail (0.5pt each way)

5.35 Royal Ascot – Aristia (gain of 0.5pt)