2024 Royal Ascot Handicaps: How to bet Thursday’s Britannia Stakes

Gold Cup Day at Royal Ascot features three competitive handicaps. All three look to offer great opportunities for players, but perhaps the most open is the Brittania Stakes, for three-year-olds over the straight mile.

The 30-horse field is sufficiently even that early odds in Britain have no runner shorter than 10-1, and no runner longer than 50-1. The only sure bet is that there’s likely to be great value Thursday for anyone who gets the race right.

Royal Ascot Race 5, 12:05 p.m. ET: Britannia Stakes, 1 mile, heritage handicap, 3-year-olds 

Selections

• #21 Volterra
• #23 Mickley
• #19 Qirat
• #18 Dashing Darcey

Wagers

• $10 win/$20 show: #21 Volterra
• $1 trifecta: 21, 23 with 19, 21, 23 with 18, 19, 21, 23, 25

Ralph Beckett comes into the race with a very solid chance in the form of #19 Qirat. He won one of his three juvenile starts and came back in style with a nice victory over seven furlongs at Goodwood May 25. He finished that race strongly and looked as though a mile should suit him well.

Qirat may start as the favorite, but there are numerous chances. #25 Native Warrior arrives after a nice Nottingham maiden victory, while Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore have a useful chance with #22 Air Commander, who will appreciate a drop in weight from Ireland.

#18 Dashing Darcey comes into the race well-seasoned, with four runs behind him, the most recent a decisive victory at Haydock. He has the benefit of the in-form Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle.

However, it’s two relatively raw three-year-olds that have taken my eye most. #21 Volterra won once from three starts as a juvenile, and on his return to racing, showed a very nice turn of foot to win at Newmarket May 3. This field is much stronger, but he looked like he still had a bit to learn and should be improved by the effort.

Much the same can be said of #23 Mickley. Placed twice at two, his three-year-old campaign has produced a maiden triumph at Southwell and a nice last-to-first effort in a Doncaster handicap May 31. He also looked like there was improvement to come from his Doncaster performance.

It’s a tough race, but I have been most impressed by Volterra and he looks a nice chance to deliver.