Queen’s Vase betting with William Hill

The Queen’s Vase is one of the most prestigious staying races for three-year-olds in the calendar.

Run over 1m6f, this Group 2 contest is run on the fourth day of Royal Ascot and is widely regarded as not only a key race in its own right, but also a race that can throw up a potential St Leger winner for later in the season.

Horses whose connections have openly discussed the possibility of a Classic challenge later in the year need seriously considering when assessing Queen’s Vase betting.

Leading Light and Kew Gardens, both trained by Aidan O’Brien, went on to Classic glory at Doncaster having won the Queen’s Vase.

The Queen’s Vase places the stamina of any horse under extreme scrutiny and only the most talented of stayers emerge victorious from this stiff test.

It is, therefore, often won by a horse who returns to Ascot as a Gold Cup contender. Estimate and Leading Light are both recent winners of the Queen’s Vase who went on to lift the Gold Cup the following season.

Queen’s Vase betting tips

The number one attribute required to win a Queen’s Vase is stamina, you need to stay to win this race and stay very well, especially on a stiff track like Ascot. It is imperative to have raced at least once previously over at least 1m4f.

Last-time out winners have a good record, although it is probably more important to have an improving profile as the horse steps up in trip.

It seems unusual that a race over 1m6f would be affected by the draw, but it does play a part in the Queen’s Vase because the runners only have around a furlong before they hit a sharp right-handed bend, and that spells trouble for those sat wide.

Horse drawn in double-figure stalls are often at a disadvantage, unless they get off to a flyer and can get across in time, although that may use up valuable energy that is needed in the later stages.

With that in mind, be wary of horses drawn high when checking Queen’s Vase betting lists.

Queen’s Vase betting trends

The Queen’s Vase tends to prove one of the easier betting races of Royal Ascot, with favourites having an outstanding recent record.

One obvious blemish on that record is Sword Fighter, who overcame a 33-1 starting price in 2016, but generally speaking, you need to be concentrating on the top of the market when studying William Hill’s Queen’s Vase betting.

Because the stalls are positioned just a short distance from a sharp right-hand turn, single-figure draws tend to be favoured. Only one horse, Aloft in 2015, defied a double-figure stall between 2009 and 2018.

Aidan O’Brien has a tremendous record in the race and is more often than not the trainer of the favourite in Queen’s Vase betting lists. He is well on course to surpassing the late Sir Henry Cecil’s eight Queen’s Vase wins.

Mark Johnston and Saeed bin Suroor are other trainers with terrific records in the race.

Fillies and mares don’t have a particularly strong record in the race. Estimate was as rare female winner in 2012.

Queen’s Vase ante-post betting pointers

The Queen’s Vase winner will need to show all the attributes required to win the St Leger later in the season and his price for the Doncaster showpiece will nearly always contract after he or she has passed the winning post at Ascot.

If the Queen’s Vase is won by a filly, the obvious next port of call is the Lillie Langtry Stakes (1m6f) at Glorious Goodwood.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes, run at York in August, is run over the shorter 1m4f trip, but serves as a key St Leger trial and falls perfectly in the calendar for horses building up to the Doncaster Classic.

If the Queen’s Vase winner has the tactical speed to drop back to 1m4f then they could end up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, although no horse has won the Queen’s Vase and gone on to strike at Longchamp.

There is one obvious target for strong-staying Queen’s Vase winners the following season and that is the Gold Cup back at Royal Ascot.

The Listed Zetland Stakes, a 1m2f contest for two-year-olds at Newmarket in October, is often won by a horse with staying potential for the following season, like Kew Gardens in 2017, so pay close attention to any horse with that race on his/her CV when checking out Queen’s Vase betting.

Queen’s Vase history and memorable winners

Aidan O’Brien is a master at training horses to win the big staying prizes on the Flat and he has a tremendous record in this race, so it’s imperative that his runners are seriously considered when studying Queen’s Vase betting.

Leading Light quickly developed into a brilliant stayer for the Ballydoyle team, justifying very short odds in the 2013 Queen’s Vase before going on to win the St Leger later that season and the Gold Cup the following year.

Stradivarius only won the 2017 Queen’s Vase by a neck but it was the day John Gosden’s improving stayer announced himself on the big stage. He went on to rule the staying division, landing the £1m Weatherbys Hamilton Stayers’ Million the following year.

Aidan O’Brien may go on to surpass the great Sir Henry Cecil who won the Queen’s Vase an incredible eight times between 1972 and 1999.

Elizabeth II won the race named in her honour in 2013, with Estimate who ran out a hugely impressive five-length scorer, providing trainer Sir Michael Stoute with a fourth win in the race. Estimate then returned to Royal Ascot 12 months later to win the Gold Cup.

Queen’s Vase betting 2021

The Queen’s Vase was first raced in 1838 and has become one of the most prestigious staying races for three-year-olds.

It’s held in June during Royal Ascot and holds Group 2 status after being promoted in 2017 in a move which also saw the distance shortened from 2m to 1m6f.

If you’re looking for St Leger pointers later in the season, then this is one of the races to watch. Leading Light (2013) and Kew Gardens (2018) are recent winners to go on to strike in the final Classic at Doncaster.

While there are plenty of notable winners, including Estimate (2012), for Her Majesty The Queen, and Stradivarius (2017), who went on to win three Ascot Gold Cups in a row.

In the weeks before Royal Ascot, look out for our ante-post Queen’s Vase betting.

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Queen’s Vase jockey and trainers to watch

Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien are a notable duo when it comes to the Queen’s Vase betting.

The Irish trainer has won the race on seven previous occasions, with Moore riding three of those, including Kew Gardens and 2020 winner Santiago, who went on to land the Irish Derby just eight days later.

In 2021, the pair had to settle for second as Wordsworth was denied by Kemari and William Buick for Charlie Appleby.

Other multiple-winning trainers include Mark Johnston (7) and Sir Michael Stoute (4), while John Gosden and Saeed bin Suroor are both dual-winners.

So, in the lead up to Royal Ascot, look out for the latest Queen’s Vase betting tips and news at news.williamhill.com.