Coventry Stakes Betting Tips and Free Bets
Royal Ascot’s first major event for two year olds comes with the opening day’s Coventry Stakes. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers available, and provide our betting tips for this sprint contest.
This Group 2, 6f contest was first run at Ascot in 1890. Restricted to two year olds the race now offers £150,000 in total prize money. Read on for the lowdown or take a look at all our Royal Ascot betting offers.
Coventry Stakes Tips and Betting Offers, 3:05 at Royal Ascot, 18 June 2019
The Coventry Stakes is open only to two-year-olds and is the biggest race of the career of any of those in the field for the 2019 renewal. It’s run over 6 furlongs and carries a massive prize fund for such young horses which always ensures a cracking field.
Head of the Market to Produce Another Winner?
Despite two-year-olds being relatively unknown quantities compared to many of the horses competing at Royal Ascot, the market usually provides a very good guide to the Coventry Stakes. Few horses outside of the top three in the betting have won this race in recent years even though several winners came to Ascot on the back of just one previous appearance.
The market is keen on the chance of Arizona for this year’s contest. The best price you’ll find on Aidan O’Brien’s colt is the 7/2 that bet365 are quoting and the only question is whether the value that represents is fair.
The Ballydoyle had a big decision to make about where next for Arizona after he lost his maiden status with a nine length win at the Curragh in his second performance. They plumped for the Coventry Stakes and are likely to partner Arizona with Ryan Moore for the third time. He certainly has the class to claim another win and won on ground that was slower than the official going suggested at the Curragh so should be able to cope with the forecasted soft ground at Ascot.
Sunday Sovereign One Not to Miss at the Prices
It took Arizona two starts to win because he came up against Sunday Sovereign in incredible form when the two met at the Curragh in early May. Paddy Twomey was obviously delighted with the three length win that day but was even happier with his dominant win over 5 furlongs next time out at Tipperary.
Winning at the minimum distance opened any number of doors for Sunday Sovereign and it is very interesting that he remained in the Coventry Stakes at the six day declaration stage. That decision may well have been prompted by the softer than usual ground at Ascot as Sunday Sovereign has shown an aptitude to run very well with cut in the ground so he looks to be a real competitor once again.
Betting Predictions
There is every chance that the betting markets will prove spot on about the Coventry Stakes once again. Obviously there is an extra level of unpredictability when it comes to backing juvenile favourites on their first trip to Royal Ascot as many well fancied types have found the occasion too much for them. Arizona appears a calm sort who will just go about his business which adds to the suggestion that he will provide another winning favourite at 7/2 with bet365.
Those looking for a real value bet may decide to eschew the appeals of the favourite and instead take the 10/1 that RaceBets are quoting about Sunday Sovereign’s chances. The higher level of competition that he’s facing means an each way bet is a safer option and there’s enough room in that price for that to be tempting.
Previous Race Winners
- 2018 – Calyx – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer John Gosden
- 2017 – Rajasinghe – jockey Stevie Donohoe, trainer Richard Spencer
- 2016 – Caravaggio – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2015 – Buratino – jockey William Buick, trainer Mark Johnston
- 2014 – The Wow Signal – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer John Quinn
- 2013 – War Command – jockey Seamie Heffernan, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2012 – Dawn Approach – jockey Kevin Manning, trainer Jim Bolger
- 2011 – Power – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2010 – Strong Suit – jockey Richard Hughes, trainer Richard Hannon, Sr.
- 2009 – Canford Cliffs – jockey Richard Hughes, trainer Richard Hannon, Sr.
- 2008 – Art Connoisseur – jockey Jamie Spencer, trainer Michael Bell
- 2007 – Henrythenavigator – jockey Michael Kinane, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2006 – Hellvelyn – jockey Ted Durcan, trainer Bryan Smart
Coventry Stakes History
The “Coventry” of this race’s title refers to the 9th Earl Of Coventry, George William Coventry, who’s association with horses as Master Of The Buckhounds is honoured here. As with many of Royal Ascot’s races, the Coventry Stakes is steeped in history and filled with tales from years gone by.
Great Horses
The achievements at the track of the 1893 winner, Ladas, certainly merited plenty of attention, as following an unbeaten juvenile campaign, which included victory in this race, the colt went on to land the following season’s 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby. The spotlight shone that bit brighter on this one however, as his owner was none other than the Prime Minister of the day, Lord Roseberry.
1895 hero Persimmon was smart at the track and also made his mark at stud as the sire of Sceptre, who became the only horse to ever win four British Classics. The history books record Persimmon as being an exceptionally good looking individual. Should you wish to see this handsome sort for yourself, pay a visit to the National Horseracing Museum where his stuffed and mounted head is on display!
Rather ungainly in physique, the appearance of 1913 winner The Tetrarch wasn’t helped by an unusual grey coat with randomly distributed white dots, spots and blotches. Persimmon he was not. So unappealing did he look, that he was initially dismissed as having no potential as a racehorse at all. Sometimes looks really aren’t everything though. The Tetrarch became, in the eyes of many, the greatest two year old ever to grace the track. Injury sadly robbed the racing world of seeing him develop further, but he ruled all in a perfect seven form seven juvenile campaign.
Moving into the 20th Century and we continue to find the roll of honour peppered with stars. Diadem (1916) and Dante (1944) went on to win the 1000 Guineas and Derby respectively, but the greatest of them all was the legendary Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Mill Reef, who took this in 1970.
The Coventry Stakes has maintained this position of being a useful pointer towards future Classic success in more recent years. 2009 winner Canford Cliffs went on to land the Irish 2000 Guineas, whilst Henrythenavigator and Dawn Approach, successful here in 2007 and 2012, each triumphed in the following season’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Jockeys and Trainers
No jockey has taken this prize as many times as Sir Gordon Richards. The classiest of his nine winners in the race being Tudor Minstrel, whom he also partnered to victory in the 1947 2000 Guineas.
The 2013 victory of War Command was the seventh in the race for Aidan O’Brien, moving him level with Fred Darling and Frank Butters at the top of the trainers table. But victory with Caravaggio in 2016 moved O’Brien clear as the leading trainer with eight wins to his name.