Below are some of the major chances and Betfair odds at time of publication. These are subject to change. With acceptances taken after this Magazine is published some significant entries may go unmentioned.

The Gold Cup Betting and Main Chances

Rite Of Passage ($9) is an incredible stayer. He’s a former hurdler who won the Gold Cup in 2010 then had 11 months off before a placing and then another 16 months off when resuming and winning the Long Distance Cup on champions day when it was very wet at Ascot. Can Dermot Weld pull off another genius effort?

For Saddler's Rock ($8.40) he was placed in the Gold Cup in 2012 then won the Goodwood Cup and raced all the way through the season. Suspect he’s looking for a nice dry Royal meeting this year off his two Meydan efforts.

High Jinx ($12) will be more seasoned this year and showed that by trying so hard in the Prix Du Cadran on that heavy surface at Longchamp over 4000m although he’s now met Times Up ($21) three times and it’s 2:1 in the latter’s favour. He’s a bit of a warrior but can’t be ignored.

Not really been a girl’s race but Estimate ($7) resumed by winning the Sagaro and did win the Queen’s Vase last carnival, staying on strongly by a widening five lengths. How fitting it would be if the Queen’s horse could win the Cup.

Simenon ($8.80) has the achievement of winning both the Ascot Stakes and the Queen Alexandra stakes during the Royal Meeting last year. They were by massive margins (beating Shahwardi in the second one and we saw his Herbert Power win in Australia).

Just one more to consider is Imperial Monarch ($25) who is not a certain starter but has International staying form including a G1 win at Longchamp and he was hard in the betting in the French Derby last year.

For more detailed and up to the minute betting info on Royal Ascot got to Betfair.

Also check out all the form through the week at our comprehensive Racing And Sports Form Guides and also via the dedicated Racing And Sports Royal Ascot Mini Site