Frankie Dettori drops 10 fearless Royal Ascot predictions and a major admission about himself as he picks out winners

The Italian star won’t be riding at the famous meeting this week as he revealed that he turned the chance of mounts at the meeting

Flying Frankie Dettori reckons punters will have cash for expensive champagne once Sober does the business at Royal Ascot.

The Italian star won’t be riding at the famous meeting this week as he revealed that he turned the chance of mounts at the meeting.

But Dettori, who once rode a Magnificent Seven at the track at September 1986, still knows the form book inside-out and has marked cards for the five days.

He loves it and said: “I was offered to return to riding in Britain at Royal Ascot this year, but turned it down, though there is a little devil on my shoulder that says to me: One more time.

“It is our Olympics. It is the best that racing provides to the general public, it only comes around once a year, and attracts interest from all over the world, not just in England and Europe.

“There are Australians, Americans and Japanese as well. This is what people get involved in racing for, they want to have a horse that is good enough to go to Royal Ascot.

“The royal family play a big part, the dressing up, the creme de la creme of horse racing to boot as well. It is a range of five days of extraordinary racing for everybody to get their teeth into.

“It comes early in the season, it is in the middle of June, but everybody’s target is always Royal Ascot, especially the superpower yards, they have the bigger numbers but their focus is the Classics and Royal Ascot.”

Dettori - speaking to Stake – reckons jumping maestro Willie Mullins offers the best chance of a winner for punters this week and handed out a host of racing tips for the meeting.

Frankie Dettori’s Group 1 Royal Ascot tips

Queen Anne Stakes

“It is an amazing race. I really like Rosallion, he ran a super race last time out and I would also put in the American horse, Carl Spackler. I was second to him at Keeneland and he absolutely destroyed me. He is a horse that is improving, not a typical American horse as he is easy to handle, the occasion will not get to him. He could be a bit of a price.”

King Charles III Stakes

“You can name ten in here but I have gone quite boring with last year’s winner - Asfoora. I think he is head and shoulders above, he has had a prep run and would not be surprised if he hasn’t been trained right for this race. It’s the hardest race of the week to pick.”

St James’s Palace Stakes

“This is probably the best race of the week. There are possibly three Guineas winners turning up but I would like to see my old boss win it (John Gosden) with Field Of Gold and I think he will. I was super impressed last time, he is still on the way up, I would say he will be one of NAPs for the week and I’ll be surprised he gets turned over.”

Prince Of Wales Stakes

“There are a few you can put in but I am going to stick with the obvious one, Los Angeles. He stays well, has a big heart, Ryan Moore will have him prominent and whatever horse passes him will win, but possibly none will, because he will put them to the sword. He battles too so I’ll go with him.”

Ascot Gold Cup

“Aidan O’Brien’s runner, Kyprios, is out and has left a big hold, they are relying on Illinois now but I am going to stick with a horse that loves Ascot, he stays, he’s not Stradivarius but Trawlerman is as solid as a rock. John trained him for this race this year, you know Trawlerman is solid so I’ll go with him.”

Commonwealth Cup

“This is my NAP in the Group 1s of the week - Shadow Of Light. He showed great speed in the Guineas, most of the good horses have gone to the St James’s Palace,I think this leaves the door open for him to show his stuff. He could be my banker of the week, Field Of Gold would have been a bit too obvious.”

Coronation Cup

“This my last Royal Ascot winner, it took me years to get it, in this race. Zarigana is my pick. She was a lucky winner of the French Guineas but she is a top class filly. Mikael Barzalona gave her too much to do and got beat but won it in the Stewards Room, but he won’t make that mistake again.”

Jubilee Stakes

“I like Inisherin, Kevin Ryan’s horse. I have gone for him, it is a wide open race, you also have to chuck in the Japanese horse they are raving about, you have to.”

Longshot of the week

“I have gone with Billy Loughnane, the up and coming young jockey, he is riding the crest of a wave right now so I am going with the one he rides, Oliver Show in the Royal Hunt Cup.”

Banker of the week (non-Group 1)

“I couldn’t leave him out - Willie Mullins. His runner in the Queen Alexandra Stakes - Sober.”

Frankie Dettori gave his thoughts to Stake