2023 International Stakes Tips

The Moet & Chandon International Stakes takes place at Ascot on Saturday 29 July, with Biggles running for trainer Ralph Beckett. The horse has been performing well this season and was victorious last time out when winning the bet365 Bunbury Cup over seven furlongs, although the horse was only able to finish ninth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Ascot Racecourse.

Fresh is yet to win a race this season and the six-year-old was fairly competitive when finishing fifth in the Wokingham Stakes, with the odds of 22/1 not suggesting that the horse might perform that well. However, the runner was well down the order previously to that and there could be better alternatives in the race.

Croupier was second to The Witch Hunter in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, with the horse finishing less than a length behind the big priced winner and we might expect another strong showing from the four-year-old here. Winning the Sky Bet Hambleton Handicap was a super effort although there’s a stablemate who could also be in the running.

Awaal finished third in that race won by Biggles at Newmarket and there was only two lengths separating the horses on that occasion. The runner previously finished third in the Royal Hunt Cup over one mile and could be a decent each-way contender, although it’s Quinault who catches the eye due to that excellent succession of wins.

2022 International Stakes Tips

Fresh is among the betting favourites to win the Ascot International Stakes although the bottom line is that the horse has failed to win any of his past eight races. He does have plenty of experience running at this racecourse, with the horse most recently lining up in the Wokingham Stakes but only managing to finish in ninth place.

The runner was sent off as the 4/1 favourite on that occasion before falling short, with a previously strong performance at the same course where the horse was able to hit the frame when finishing fourth in the Victoria Cup. It’s likely that Danny Tudhope will stay on board this horse and perhaps he can give a good account of himself.

Dark Shift looks like an exciting four-year-old and this is a horse that has been in the winners’ enclosure on several occasions during his career to date. The Charles Hills-trained runner was the 13/2 winner of the Royal Hunt Cup and there was plenty to like about this win over one mile.

Inver Park also has plenty to recommend this runner, with the horse obliging at the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting when claiming the spoils in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. George Boughey has high hopes of a runner that obliged at 12/1 in that race and the horse will line up bidding to secure a fourth consecutive win.

Who are the 2021 International Stakes Betting Favourites?

Danyah is the current market leader, with trainer Owen Burrows having enjoyed plenty of success with this four-year-old who has ran into the frame on the three occasions that he has run this term. Most recently, jockey Dane O’Neil rode the horse into second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes behind Highfield Princess when losing by just over a length.

Previously to this, there was a second placed finish in the MansionBet Spring Cup Handicap, with the season starting with fourth place in the Lincoln Handicap and that means he merits respect from an each-way betting point-of-view.

Highfield Princess has already had a 2021 to remember, with the John Quinn runner having scored a hat-trick of victories including that win in the Buckingham Stakes. The horse then followed this up with a triumph in the Louis Roederer Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes which was a Listed Race.

The horse has been a rock solid performer all year and will have Jason Hart on board for this ride, with Perotto another horse to capture attention despite an underwhelming outing last time out. Despite being sent off at 9/2 in the bet365 Bunbury Cup, the horse could only finish in ninth place.

There will still be punters looking to compare the latest horse racing odds and get the biggest odds about Perotto, with the runner having won at Royal Ascot thanks to an 18/1 triumph in the Britannia Stakes over one mile.

The History of the International Stakes

The International Stakes is not to be confused with the Juddmonte International which takes place at York Racecourse, with this being a horse race that is actually run at Ascot. This is a Class 2 Heritage Handicap and it’s open to any runners aged three or older, with a straight seven furlongs seeing the horses battle hammer and tongs down the straight at the Ascot track.

The fastest recorded time in the Ascot International Stakes was New Seeker in the 2005 renewal, with Clive Cox producing a wonderful training performance, while Philip Robinson was on board and that was in direct contrast to Stamp Hill who was a much slower winner in 2017.

Galician was also a sensational winner when striking gold with a fast time in 2013, while Blue Mist was the most recent winner in 2020. Raising Sand was a victor in 2019 and Jamie Osborne was able to deliver the goods, while Roger Fell was able to produce Burnt Sugar to achieve a success.