2023 St James's Palace Stakes Tips - Hills and Shoemark can upset the Classic winners
- Odds and betting predictions for the 2023 St James's Palace Stakes
- This Group One takes place on day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 20th June
- Cicero's Gift features in our selections
The third and final Group One on day one of Royal Ascot is the St James's Palace Stakes. Three-year-olds will be under the spotlight in this eight-furlong Group One and the form lines from three Classic could be drawn together in this year's contest.
Here's our free guide to the 2023 St James's Palace Stakes, including our best betting tips.
2023 St James's Palace Stakes Odds
You can find the latest odds for the St James's Palace Stakes here on our website.
2023 St James's Palace Stakes Tips - Cicero's Gift
The last two editions of this Group One have been won by the 2000 Guineas winner, so it's no surprise to see the betting dominated by a pair of Classic winners. Chaldean and Paddington were good value for their victories, but I think the strength of both races has to be questioned.
All of Chaldean's main rivals at Newmarket either underperformed or failed to see out a mile. Andrew Balding would have been hoping to see either the second, Hi Royal or the third, Royal Scotsman boost that Newmarket form in the Irish 2000 Guineas, but neither really landed a blow as Paddington - who was rated just 105 going onto that Classic - ran out a two-length winner over 107-rated stablemate, Cairo.
I'm keen to take the 2000 Guineas form on and a case can certainly be made for CICERO'S GIFT being the most progressive horse in this field.
Charlie Hills' star carried odds of 22/1 to victory on his sole juvenile start at Newbury, turning over an odds-on favourite of the Gosden's in the process. On his reappearance at Wolverhampton, Cicero's Gift was given the hurry-up turning for home, but the favourite picked up quickly to eventually beat a future two-time winner by over a length.
Kieran Shoemark's mount was a little weak in the betting prior to his most recent run at Goodwood, as money came in for Kolsai. Having been buried away on the inner for much of the race, Shoemark angled his mount out off the rail with two furlongs to travel. When asked for a serious effort, Cicero's Gift took off, putting five lengths between himself and the chasing pack in the blink of an eye before cantering over the line.
The downpour that's due to hit Ascot on Tuesday morning won't inconvenience Cicero's Gift - who's two turf victories have come with cut in the ground. Hills' star may be stepping up into pattern company for the first time, but Cicero's Gift clearly has an enormous amount of potential and I could see him taking Royal Ascot by storm.
Live Stream
If you want to watch this historic sprint live on your mobile or tablet, then check out our St James's Palace Stakes Live Stream page.
Verdict
Cicero's Gift is our best betting tip in the 2023 St James's Palace Stakes.
Cicero's Gift
2023 St James's Palace Stakes Best Bet
@5/1 - 20 Units
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