Appeared, Walton Street and Clear Skies feature among Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes betting tips given by Horsebetting.com experts at Royal Ascot 2018 on Friday, 22 June. Appeared finished runner-up last year in the 1m 4f handicap that brings proceedings to a close on day four and his odds make him a bet to go one better. Read more in our 2018 Duke Of Edinburgh betting tips preview.Appeared odds appeal in Duke Of Edinburgh StakesAppeared has a good record fresh, so makes plenty of appeal in the 1m 4f Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes that brings proceedings to a close on day four of Royal Ascot (17:35). The Roger Varian trained gelding ran a cracker in this handicap 12 months ago when second of 19 to Rare Rhythm off a mark of 101.
After tracking the leaders travelling powerfully, Appeared held every chance approaching the final furlong. He was then unable to match the winner’s turn of speed but, after being snatched up and forced to switch 50 yards out, kept on well to go down by 2 1/4 lengths. Appeared got put up to 104 for that game effort and ran well off his revised rating to finish fifth at this venue and eighth of 17 at York.
He now returns to action off 1lb lower. That gives him every chance from a handicapping point of view on the pick of his form. Appeared’s form figures after a break since joining Varian read 1331, so the lack of a run is not a concern. He has clearly been saved and primed for this. Appeared thus looks sure to make a bold bid to go one better than last year.Walton Street worthy of considerationTrainer Charlie Appleby saddled the Godolphin owned Rare Rhythm to land the spoils 12 months ago and Walton Street holds leading claims of following in his footsteps for the boys in blue. The four-year-old is a lightly raced sort, who has a good strike rate having won three of his six starts. In the last of those at Meydan back in February, he produced a career best effort when finding plenty to readily beat Eynhallow by two lengths in a decent class 2 contest.
There was lots to like about the attitude shown by Walton Street and he looks the type that should have even more to offer. A 5lb rise in the weights looks fair if that is the case and he has a good record under William Buick, who has won two of his three starts on him, finishing a short head second on the other occasion. So, taking everything into account, Walton Street looks a key player in this.Clear Skies appeals each-way Clear Skies is a tough and consistent sort, so appeals as the best each-way value bet in the race. The mare is owned by JP McManus, who is renowned for pulling off gambles, and has won five of her last 10 starts.
Clear Skies has also posted some really solid efforts in defeat of late, including when third in a Group 3 at The Curragh two starts back and when a three-quarters of a length runner-up to Turret Rocks in a Listed contest at Gowran Park last month.
The latter came off an official rating of 105 and the Aidan O’Brien trained five-year-old is able to race in this off 1lb lower. That gives her every chance at the weights now eased in grade and the booking of Ryan Moore to do the steering is another plus – as is a good draw in stall 2.Your Next Bet