THE bookies fear the Queen’s star horse Reach For The Moon could end up costing them the crown jewels at Royal Ascot.
The exciting three-year-old colt, trained by John Gosden, has been hammered in the betting for the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday.
King’s Lynn is the first of the Queen’s horses to run this week in the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday
He was as big as 11-4 a little over a week ago but is now a red-hot 4-5 favourite with Ladbrokes.
He heads a strong team for the Queen at the five-day Festival, which gets underway on Tuesday.
The colt will be ridden by superstar jockey Frankie Dettori, and a bullish Gosden said: “He is in great form and must have a big chance.”
Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady said: “Punters’ patriotism is at an all-time high with the Platinum Jubilee.
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“Reach For The Moon is the horse they all want. He is now 4-5.
“He has everything going for him and is a very strong favourite. The corgis have been barking about him for a few weeks now. A win would be the icing on the Royal cake — but it would cost us dear.”
While punters believe the Moon will shine, the Sun certainly will with the forecast set fair and temperatures set to rise as the action hots up.
The ground is currently good to firm, good in places but track bosses have turned on the taps in a bid to stop it getting too quick.
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ALL THE QUEEN’S HORSES
BOOKIES claim they would love to see a Royal winner this week.
But they are saying it through gritted teeth as patriotic punters plunge on the Queen’s horses.
The layers are running scared of Reach For The Moon who looks a banker bet in the Hampton Court Stakes on Thursday.
Ladbrokes’ Nicola McGeady said: “A win for him will be a disaster for us. He is 4-5 now and one of our worst results of the week. We don’t want to take a penny more.”
Her Majesty is likely to watch much of the meeting at home — with her one likely visit to the track coming on Gold Cup Day on Thursday.
However she could have as many as TEN runners across the five days.
King’s Lynn trained by Andrew Balding — one of her favourite handlers — is the first up.
The sprinter goes in Tuesday’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes but is a 14-1 shot and up against two hotpots from Australia and the USA.
Balding said: “He is in great form but it looks a red-hot race and we would be delighted to get a place.”
Perhaps the one race this week the Queen wants to win more than any other will be the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday.
And punters believe it will be Just Fine too.
Her runner has been laid out for the race by Sir Michael Stoute and will be ridden by Ryan Moore. McGeady said: “Just Fine is a 5-1 chance. I think even the corgis have put a few quid on.”
Perfect Alibi is an 11-1 chance for the Queen’s Vase on Wednesday, her only runner on Day Two.
Things really hot up on Thursday.
As well as Reach For The Moon, the Queen could have four other runners: Naval College (12-1) for the King George V Stakes, Saga and Kiteflyer who are both 16-1 for the Britannia and Tactical, a big-looking 25-1 for the Buckingham Stakes.
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The Queen’s final two entries are for Saturday with Discretion, a 12-1 chance for the Sandringham and Spring Is Sprung, 20-1 for the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes.
McGeady said: “Her Majesty is odds-on to have one winner at least. We are 5-2 for two Royal winners and 12-1 to have three or more.”
