All about Ascot

Sky Sports News' tipster Ed Chamberlin reveals which horses you should be backing at Royal Ascot.

Ed marks your card for Royal Ascot

Sky Sports' pundit Ed Chamberlin tips up the sporting action over the next week.

Horse Racing - Royal Ascot betting

Sea The Stars was a brilliant winner of the 2009 Derby and I can never remember being able to call the winner so far from home in the great race. As the first to do the 2,000 Guineas/Derby double since Nashwan in 1989, the world is the horse's oyster right now but I think punters need to tread very carefully. I would warn against backing this horse for races like the Irish Derby, King George and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe because first, Sea The Stars is ground dependant and will not race on a soft surface and second, I can see John Oxx sticking to 10 furlong contests for the rest of the season. I think the Eclipse, Juddmonte International and Breeders' Cup route is by far the most likely. It was a fantastic Derby and punters are in for another treat all next week with the 2009 Royal Ascot kicking off on Tuesday and every race over the five days live on Attheraces (channel 415). The first-day highlights are the Queen Anne and St James' Palace Stakes. This time last year Aqlaam was a brilliant winner of the Jersey and it was a pity that a stress fracture curtailed his season. He ran no sort of race on his return in the Lockinge but I'm told he has been working brilliantly since and much better is expected on the quicker ground next week. Mastercraftsman did this blog a good turn by winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas and I fully expect him to follow up in the St James' Palace. Tartan Bearer will be many people's banker on Wednesday in the Prince Of Wales Stakes but I fear the French could spoil the party with Vision D'Etat. Last season's French Derby winner and Arc fifth was an eye-catching winner of the Prix Ganay and has been laid out for this race by trainer Eric Libaud. Vision D'Etat's superior turn of foot should prove decisive. The Royal Hunt Cup poses its usual tricky puzzle but Tryst jumps off the page to me. He looks on an eye-catching mark and I'll be snapping up the 12/1 with Sky Bet. Trysts' trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, should have his usual profitable Royal Ascot week and I strongly fancy his July Jasmine to win the Ribblesdale on Thursday. I tipped July Jasmine in this blog to win the Lingfield Oaks trial but she failed to handle the track and did well in the end to finish second to Midday. That horse franked the form in the Oaks and I'm sure July Jasmine is capable of a lot better - she is one of the bets of the week. All eyes will be on Yeats' attempt to win a fourth Gold Cup but he's hard to fancy after a poor reappearance at Navan. The staying division lacks strength in depth and I can see Geordieland and Patkai fighting out the finish. I will be siding with the latter to reverse the form of their Sandown meeting last month. On Friday do not miss Freemantle in the King Edward VII Stakes. I was impressed with his reappearance in the Dante and he would have been my each-way selection in the Derby so I will be sticking by him in Ascot's version next week. Royal Ascot betting fancies: Tuesday: 2.30 Aqlaam (e/w), 3.05 Tax Free, 3.45 Mastercraftsman, 4.20 Steinbeck
Wednesday: 3.45 Vision D'Etat, 4.20 Tryst
Thursday: 3.05 July Jasmine (nb), 3.45 Patkai
Friday: 3.05 Freemantle (nap), 3.45 Apple Charlotte (e/w)