In The Money Telegraph
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 · Royal Ascot Day 2 · By ITM Staff
Day 2 is here — but first, an opening day that delivered a 50/1 shock, a record for Aidan O’Brien, and one of the great Ballydoyle afternoons.
Day 1: Shocks, Records & a Ballydoyle Masterclass
The Queen Anne set the tone. Ed Walker’s 50/1 outsider Ten Bob Tony swept from the back under Kieran Shoemark to deny More Thunder by half a length, with Opera Ballo third after setting stiff fractions and the 9/4 favourite Notable Speech never landing a blow. It was the latest in a long line of big-priced Queen Anne surprises — and it carried a Breeders’ Cup Mile “Win and You’re In” berth with it.
Then Aidan O’Brien took over. Great Barrier Reef (6/1) handed him a record-extending 12th Coventry Stakes — with Ryan Moore having sided with stablemate Confucius — before the headline act of the day. In the King Charles III Stakes, 14/1 Mission Central swooped late under Moore to win by a head from the French filly Rayevka, with the Australian favourite Overpass third. It was O’Brien’s 98th Royal Ascot winner and completed the full house of every Group 1 at the meeting for the O’Brien–Moore partnership; the winner, who earned a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint berth, is already being mentioned for Australia’s Everest.
A treble was a head away. In the St James’s Palace, Bow Echo (5/6) dug in to hold off O’Brien’s Gstaad in a thrilling rematch of the English and Irish Guineas winners, staying unbeaten in five and confirming his Newmarket superiority. A third meeting could come in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood next month.
Two ITM voices stood tall: Steven Bonnick had flagged Mission Central among his Interesting Outsiders, and Richard Farquhar not only tipped Great Barrier Reef but pinpointed the Wayne Lordan booking as the tell.
Watch: PTF & Barry Faulkner Preview Day 2
From the Boatman in Windsor — PTF’s Christmas-Eve-of-Ascot tradition — PTF and UK punter Barry Faulkner go through the entire Day 2 card. The centrepiece is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, which Barry calls the race of the week and which doubles as a Win-and-You’re-In for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, with an Arc winner among a loaded field. They also dig into the Queen Mary — where Barry is keen on the American runners at a price — the Queen’s Vase, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Royal Hunt Cup cavalry charge.
▶ Watch the Day 2 preview on the ITM YouTube channel →
ITM at Royal Ascot
Alex Sausville’s Day 2 Card
Alex Sausville goes through all seven Day 2 races, with his Best Bet on Almaqam in the Prince of Wales’s — the Tattersalls Gold Cup winner he reckons still has another level in him against Arc hero Daryz. He’s also taking a swing at the American shipper Ruiva in the Queen Mary and opposing Coolmore with Controlla in the Windsor Castle.
His card: Ruiva (Queen Mary), Limestone (Queen’s Vase), Kon Tiki (Duke of Cambridge), Almaqam — Best Bet (Prince of Wales’s), Fifth Column (Royal Hunt Cup), Rumba Numba (Kensington Palace) and Controlla (Windsor Castle).
ITM at Royal Ascot
Steven Bonnick’s Day 2 Closer Look
For the deep dive, Steven Bonnick goes race by race through the Day 2 card — Market Leaders, Key Contenders and Interesting Outsiders for all seven, with the draw and pace angles that matter on the straight track and a full read of the loaded Prince of Wales’s.
ITM Plus
Rob Dove’s Day 2 Picks
Rob Dove — one of the top ten pro punters in the UK today — is back with his selections for Day 2, including his read on the Prince of Wales’s, exclusively on ITM Plus.
Worth a Read
Richard Farquhar’s Royal Ascot Musings
If you’re not reading our friend Richard Farquhar, you’re missing some of the most entertaining race-reading anywhere. By his own admission “not generally short of an opinion,” Richard takes on the whole Royal Ascot card with sharp, contrarian judgment and the kind of storytelling that makes you wish you were in the grandstand beside him — like the year a 25/1 winner nearly launched his top hat into a tree. His musings run from confident Group 1 calls to big-priced each-way darts and a full Tote placepot perm. It’s free to subscribe — and well worth it.
Also on Tap: The Gallop Out — Wednesday Turf Pick 3
Away from Ascot, Ryan Anderson and ITM’s Mikee P team up for The Gallop Out, going through Wednesday’s Turf Pick 3 at Horseshoe Indianapolis — pace scenarios, value plays and ticket construction across the sequence. Presented by Horseshoe Indianapolis, where the late Pick 3, late Double and Turf Pick 3 all carry a player-friendly 15% takeout.
▶ Watch the Gallop Out Turf Pick 3 on the ITM YouTube channel →
More all week: Andrew Harman’s daily Three to Follow at inthemoneypodcast.com, daily video previews on the ITM YouTube channel, and premium tips on ITM Plus.
