ROYAL ASCOT gives British punters a chance to dip their toe into the World Pool.
It’s the international tote system that brings backers from across the planet into one giant pool with millions of pounds in play.
It’s spearheaded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and operated by the Tote in the UK.
Frankie Dettori’s exclusive Royal Ascot tips
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You can place your bets at tote.co.uk, via the Tote app or at the booths if you are at the track today.
If you fancy your usual win or each-way bet, you can have them in the World Pool and hopefully boost your returns due to the amount of cash flowing in from around the globe.
There’s also the chance to try ‘exotic’ bets that are popular in other countries and offer different ways of winning.
Some are pretty familiar – like the Quinella which is the same as a reverse forecast.But a good World Pool bet is the Swinger where you try to pick two of the first three horses home in any order.
Let’s try a couple of those on the hot contests at Royal Ascot today.
The King George V Stakes (3.05) may see hats off for a Royal winner thanks to GILDED WATER who is owned by the King and Queen.
He has a lot more to come and can hit the frame along with FRENCH DUKE who looks a nice prospect with a low weight for his handicap debut.
The Ascot Gold Cup (4.25) looks another good target with KYPRIOS seeming nailed-on to hit the first three.
GREGORY looks a solid chance to join him on the podium after a fair comeback at York last time out.
Templegate’s Tote Placepot picks
LEG 1 Whistlejacket
WHISTLEJACKET’s American sire No Nay Never won this in 2013 and the Aidan O’Brien flyer looked a chip off the old block when scorching home to win a Curragh Listed contest last month.
That impressive effort came on soft ground but his sire and dam both loved it fast so these quicker conditions should bring improvement.
LEG 2 Gilded Water, Going The Distance
GILDED WATER can give The King another win in this red-hot handicap.
His Desert Hero took this 12 months ago trained by William Haggas with Tom Marquand on board and this year’s hope looked a nice prospect when winning by almost eight lengths at Chepstow last time.
Despite that, the handicapper has been fair with an opening mark of 92 and the step up to this trip is another plus.
GOING THE DISTANCE was impressive when scoring on the sand at Kempton and has lots of staying power. He wouldn’t need a lot more to go close.
LEG 3 Diamond Rain, You Got To Me
DIAMOND RAIN looks supreme for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
She was supplemented for this after her blistering Listed victory at Newbury last month. She still looked inexperienced despite winning with plenty in hand. This longer distance should be ideal and she has a lot more improving to do.
YOU GOT TO ME was a good fourth in the Oaks and lots of fillies who ran well in that Classic do well in this. The soft ground may not have been ideal given it was much quicker when she won the Lingfield Oaks Trial. Today’s quicker surface can help.
LEG 4 Kyprios, Gregory
KYPRIOS won this in 2022 during a golden season that saw him win four Group 1 races in a row.
Last year was a write-off as injury kept him off the track until September and he didn’t look right when second on both his runs.
This season has seen him look more like his old self, with a comfortable Listed win at Navan on comeback before coming out on top at Leopardstown last month.
This is his toughest assignment since his brilliant Cadran win 18 months ago but we know this trip and track are ideal plus Aidan O’Brien has had a ninth win in this race carefully targeted for months – and he rarely misses.
GREGORY shapes as though this marathon will suit and he needed the run in the Yorkshire Cup last time.
LEG 5 Mickley, Qirat
MICKLEY has been in excellent form over seven furlongs and stepping up to a mile looks like it will bring more improvement. He zipped in at Doncaster on handicap debut last time and a 7lb rise in the weights looks fair enough. Decent ground suits and he can go close.
QIRAT took a step forward on his first tilt at handicaps when winning comfortably at Goodwood latest. He’s another who can show more now tackling a mile.
LEG 6 King’s Gambit, First Look
KING’S GAMBIT was impressive when destroying his rivals at Newbury last time on just his fourth run. Harry Charlton’s colt cruised along before pulling right away from his rivals inside the final furlong. He should get similar quick ground and he proved his liking for this 1m2f trip there. You would expect plenty more improvement with so few miles on the clock.
FIRST LOOK is a serious threat after his two-length second in the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris earlier this month. He is proven over this distance with the only concern being the faster ground he’ll encounter here.
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