Arsenal legend reveals Irish duo he's backing at Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot returns on Tuesday, 17 June, and this year's event will see more than £10 million in prize money handed out across the five-day festival.
In total, 35 races will take place across the week, with a staggering £1 million on offer for the winners of Wednesday's Prince of Wales Stakes and Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
The opening race is almost as lucrative, with first place netting £750,000 - and former Arsenal star Ray Parlour has his eye on Lead Artist, set to be ridden by Irish jockey Oisin Murphy, to triumph in the mega-bucks curtain raiser.
Only last month, Murphy rode Lead Artist to victory at Newbury in a thrilling encounter that saw the Killarney-born star edge past Dancing Gemini in the final moments.
The pair are now set for a rematch at Ascot, with former Gunner and NetBet main man Ray Parlour backing the 29-year-old to repeat his heroics in Berkshire.
'In the opening race at Ascot, Lead Artist is a horse I know won at Newbury and could go very well in the Queen Anne Stakes,' he says.
'Sometimes you receive a tip and follow that one, or look at the in-form trainers and jockeys. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, I will keep a keen eye on this horse, and likely, Oisin Murphy will take the ride.'
Lead Artist is 26/5 with NetBet to win the race, just behind Dancing Gemini at 9/2 and the favourite Rosallion at 7/2.
Parlour is also tipping another Irish racing legend to succeed, with trainer Aidan O'Brien looking to add to his record-breaking eight wins in the Ascot Gold Cup this year. His horse Illinois is 7/5 favourite with NetBet to win the race, ahead of Candelari at 7/2 and Trawlerman at 21/5.
O'Brien scooped six wins at Royal Ascot in 2024, making him the leading trainer at the event last year, the 13th time he has managed it in his career.
'Aidan O'Brien is the best flat trainer at the moment,' says Parlour. 'He has so many top horses in his stable who can win the sprints and longer distance races, so naturally, he's one to follow.
'Illinois is a good horse who may make it a very interesting race and could come out on top in the Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is such a great jockey too, and he proves time and time again the quality he has in the saddle.'
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You could also win a pair of tickets to the Summer Festival at Galway Races every time you bet €10 on UK and Irish horse racing - terms and conditions apply*.
'Royal Ascot is a superb spectacle,' adds Parlour. 'It's an icon of British sport. With the quality of racing, the main stand at the race course looks great, and it gets royal treatment as well, so it's 100 per cent up there for sure as one of the year's best events.
'For me, especially in the big races, I may just go with horse number 15, which was my number when I played.'
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Customers will earn 1 entry into the prize draw for every €10 wagered on UK & Irish horse racing within the promotional period.
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