Bookies bashed on opening day

Bookmakers were left reeling after a string of well-backed horses put punters in the driving seat on the opening day of Royal Ascot.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Jun 2010, 22:47 BST

It was one long tale of woe in the first four races and backers got off to a flier thanks to French superstar Goldikova justifying favouritism in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Equiano then landed a major gamble in the King's Stand Stakes before a Richard Hannon double through Canford Cliffs, in the St James's Palace and Strong Suit in the Coventry left the bookmakers on the ropes. Ghimaar's defeat in the Ascot Stakes won by Junior, pictured above, offered little respite, while the concluding Windsor Castle Stakes was little better even though the gambled-on market leader Metropolitan Man got turned over by the well-backed Marine Commando.

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"Goldikova, Canford Cliffs and Strong Suit all combined to hand punters a cracking start to the Royal meeting," said David Williams of Ladbrokes. "Even Equiano was backed off the boards and after four races we were ready to pack up and walk home.

Related topics:Ascot