Royal Ascot tips (1430): Happy ending for Bedtime Story in Chesham Stakes opener

14:30 Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes (7 furlongs)

• Race details: 7 furlongs, Listed, 2-year-olds only
• 2023 winner: Snellen (12/1) – Gary Carroll (J), Gavin Patrick Cromwell (T)
• Recent Trends: 18/21 winners finished in the first three in their previous race, 17/21 winners were making their second career start

Planet Sport Bet Royal Ascot Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if the favourite (inc. joint/co) wins, get a £5 Free Bet!

There’s not much form to call upon with these lightly-raced two-year-olds, but the manner of Bedtime Story’s win on his debut outing at Leopardstown 16 days ago suggests that Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore could be about to notch up another Royal Ascot success with this classy filly.

She stayed on under hands and heels to win with over a length to spare, with the promise of plenty more to come, and another win here could open up all kinds of doors, both this season and next.

The clear danger is Godolphin’s Age Of Gold, who also hit the ground running to win his only start to date at Yarmouth a month ago, and he is clearly an exciting prospect for the Charlie Appleby/William Buick partnership

Suggested best bet:  Bedtime Story in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

If the race develops into a two-horse race as expected, then the remaining 14 starters will be fighting for each-way scraps, with Pentle Bay looking the best bet to give the market leaders something to think about.

George Boughey’s colt is the only other runner to match the principals’ one-from-one success rate, having edged his nose just in front of three more experienced rivals in a 14-runner maiden over six furlongs at Leicester 18 days ago.

He was made to work hard in the final stages there, standing him in good stead for this step up in distance, and it’s not surprising that he was in high demand at Monday’s sales, where he changed hands for £400K without changing stables. 

Best each-way bet: Pentle Bay each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

Anyone less enamoured by the short prices of those two picks might prefer the each-way value offered by any of the others, all of whom are available at double-digit odds at the time of writing.

Catching the eye of Tipstrr’s each-way punters is the Charlie Johnston-trained Expensive Rose, who has shaped up nicely in her two progressive outings so far.

She had to give second best to Regal Gem when making her bow at Pontefract in May, when, despite running green two furlongs out, she rallied strongly to put all but one of her 14 rivals behind her.

She put in a more polished performance on her second and most recent appearance at Carlisle just 12 days ago, easing clear two out and winning cosily by 1½ lengths to land the odds in some style.

This is a bigger challenge of course, but her chances are enhanced by the fact that her third different jockey in three outings is the in-form Oisin Murphy, who has landed three winners already this week and whose booking seems a significant bonus in a race of this nature

Outsider punt: Expensive Rose each-way in the 14:30 at Royal Ascot

READ MORE: Royal Ascot Saturday tips: Best bets for ITV action on Day 5, June 22