Racing: Superstar Frankel to raise the Royal curtain at Ascot

Sir Henry Cecil’s star is the 1-5 favourite to stretch his unbeaten tally to 11 with success in the first Group 1 of the Royal meeting. William Hill spokeswoman Lucy Rhodes said: “Frankel has been backed despite his prohibitive odds and, with Sir Henry Cecil’s superstar expected to be a day-one slam-dunk for the punters, he’ll no doubt be a firm feature to kick off many multiples across the land.”

Frankel featured among 12 possibles revealed yesterday, including Excelebration, who has been well-beaten four times by his nemesis, including in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last month. His trainer Aidan O’Brien has also left in multiple Group 1 winner So You Think at the five-day stage, as well as Windsor Palace.

Frankel’s half-brother and regular galloping companion Bullet Train is among the dozen as are Strong Suit, Premier Loco, Side Glance and Red Jazz. Andreas Wohler’s Indomito represents Germany while Worthadd and Helmet make up the entries.

The opening day also features the King’s Stand Stakes and ante-post favourite Bated Breath is one of 25 sprinters to stand their ground in a cosmopolitan field. Roger Charlton’s five-year-old will be going for his first Group 1 victory on the opening afternoon of the meeting and is set for a rematch with Irish raider Sole Power, who he beat in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Bated Breath and Aussie raider Ortensia share 9-2 favouritism for the five-furlong dash, with the French-trained Wizz Kid, who has been the best-backed in the last week, quoted at 11-2.

At Hamilton last night meanwhile, Julius Geezer ran his rivals ragged when blitzing to an all-the-way success in the Steps And Peter Andre Live On Sat 7 July Handicap.

There was drama at the start of the night’s feature race when the favourite Hopes N Dreams reared up in the stalls and unseated Julie Burke who was lucky to escape unscathed. The filly was quickly withdrawn which resulted in a hefty 40p in the £1 Rule 4 deduction to all winning bets.

Cheshire raider Julius Geezer, a 16-1 chance ridden by Richard Kingscote and trained by Tom Dascombe, scorched home one and three-quarters of length ahead of Crimson Knot. Kingscote said: “He won the Lily Agnes Stakes at Chester in 2010 but then lost his way a bit. He won a seller at Leicester a fortnight ago and he seems to have got his confidence back. He’s won well tonight and I was always travelling well enough in front.”

Linda Perratt took the hamilton-park.co.uk Handicap with Rock Canyon carrying the colours of her mother Helen.

Katie Margarson, daughter of trainer George Margarson, recorded her first winner on Richard Guest-trained Cut The Cackle in the Join Hamilton Park On Facebook Amateur Riders’ Handicap. The 7-2 favourite was her 27th ride.

SELECTIONS

Newbury

2.20 Ayaar

2.50 Tigers Tale

3.25 Albamara

4.00 Gold Show

4.30 More Than Words

5.05 Nicholascopernicus

5.35 Now What

Nottingham

2.00 Super Simon

2.30 Full Shilling

3.05 Big Wave

3.40 Jamarjo

4.10 York Glory

4.45 Razorbill

5.15 Dutch Diamond

5.45 Penderyn

Yarmouth

2.10 Tickled Pink

2.40 Sangrail

3.15 Tiger Sunset

3.50 Cantal (nap)

4.20 Cotton Grass

4.55 Quixote

5.25 Tafawuk

Haydock

6.50 Teak

7.20 Luhaif

7.50 Dos Amigos

8.20 Trail Blaze

8.50 Diman Waters

9.20 Brockwell

Hereford

6.10 Butler

6.40 Art History

7.10 Royal Riviera

7.40 Ours

8.10 Dukes Art

8.40 Beauchamp Viking

9.10 Woodacre

Uttoxeter

6.00 Kings Apollo

6.30 Whispering Jack

7.00 Nether Stream

7.30 Beggar’s Velvet

8.00 Tinseltown

8.30 Sahrati

9.00 Dare To Endeavour

Double

Cantal

3:50 Yarmouth

Gold Show

4:00 Newbury