ITV Racing's Oli Bell Royal Ascot preview & tips

I can't wait for a stunning week of back-to-back quality racing, with ITV showing all six races live every day on the main channel.

I'll be kicking off proceedings each morning on ITV4, bringing you the first five days at 10am before starting Saturday at the slightly earlier time of 9.25am. And I must say, our line-up of guests is brilliant.

Richard Hannon joins us in the studio this morning, before Jeremy Noseda takes a place on Wednesday. On Thursday, Johnny Murtagh will be on the show, with Joseph O'Brien our guest on Friday. Champion jockey Jim Crowley rounds off a top few days by coming in on Saturday.

With the racing just hours away, take a look at who I like the look of on days one and two.

Tuesday

2.30pm - Queen Anne Stakes, 1m

Ribchester is a short-price favourite and some people will be wanting to take him on with Lightning Spear. But they have raced against each other five times and every time Ribchester has finished ahead of his rival.

If you want to take on Ribchester, it might be worth doing so with another horse and the one I'm keen on is Mutakayyef with William Haggas, who has finally got the conditions his six-year-old thrives on.

The trainer had a couple of options, but in a recent Sporting Life interview, William said the Queen Anne was the race he preferred and he's gone down that route.

I think Mutakayyef is going to run a very big race and offers competition to the favourite. With respect to David Simcock and Jamie Spencer, I'd rather be taking on Ribchester with Hamdan Al Maktoum's horse than Lightning Spear. But what a race to start the week!

3.05pm - Coventry Stakes, 6f

I've been hearing lots of good reports about Arawak, the American horse. Jamie Spencer rode a few of the horses in work at the track and I hosted a preview night with him on the evening of that work.

He was very complimentary about Arawak and he might be able to get Wesley Ward's Royal Ascot challenge off to a flyer.

Jessie Harrington's Brother Bear is looking good while Murillo with AP O'Brien and Ryan Moore's record is one to respect.

It will be fascinating to see how Arawak looks in the paddock and it wouldn't be the first time an American horse dwarfed the European two-year-olds around the parade ring. With that in mind he's a horse of real interest to me.

3.40pm - King's Stand Stakes, 5f

One horse I'd be looking to take on this week is Lady Aurelia. She's obviously high class and she appeared to blitz her work on the track.

The slight concern is that she left her race there and at her current price I would be tempted to look elsewhere.

It would be fantastic for Sir Mark Prescott and Elite Racing Club to win with Marsha, who might be a cut above her rivals.

She did well to win under a penalty last time out at Newmarket in May and has already proved she's a Group One quality filly. Marsha's the one for me that they all have to beat. 

Goldream won this race in 2015 and might be picking the right time for another big race in the very capable hands of Robert Cowell.

4.20pm - St James's Palace Stakes, 7f 213y

Of all the short-priced favourites I think Churchill is banker material. Lots of people are making a case for Barney Roy to reverse his record against the odds-on favourite, but Churchill is a horse that does just enough to beat you.

Many wondered if Barney Roy could have stamped his authority on the Qipco 2000 Guineas last month when he was unbalanced on the downhill run at Newmarket over a furlong out.

The incident created a lot of whats, ifs and maybes with regards to Barney Roy, but Churchill is a proven dual Guineas winner that will only do enough and is a class above his rivals.

5pm - Ascot Stakes, 2m 3f 210y

This is a mix of Flat versus Jumps horse and while I greatly respect the Jumps horses - notably Nicky Henderson's Beyond Conceit who will relish the test - I think a horse trained by my good friend Charlie Fellowes has an outstanding chance.

Endless Acres ran into a very good Sir Mark Prescott horse in Flymetothestars at Newcastle in May and I know from talking to Charlie for Sporting Life that he's very confident of his chances.

I think Endless Acres is a very talented stayer and although we have to respect the Jumps' horses, Charlie's entry is overpriced.

5.35pm - Windsor Castle Stakes, 5f

It's an open race and lots of horses have similar credentials. I will be keeping a close eye on George Scott's runner Another Batt, who showed a lot of speed to win at Ripon earlier this week.

While the form of the horses he beat doesn't amount to much, the manner of his victory took everyone by surprise and he could run well at a big price.

Wednesday

2.30pm - Jersey Stakes, 7f

The one I like in this is Dream Castle for Saeed bin Suroor and Josephine Gordon. I think seven furlongs could prove to be his optimum trip.

Although he's a keen going sort, despite pulling hard he's ran well on his last two starts. Josie will have a job on her hands to settle him, but she's a very capable rider and will relish the opportunity to ride this horse.

Dream Castle has an incredible amount of latent talent and if this can be channeled in the right way he will take a lot of beating.

3.05pm - Queen Mary Stakes, 5f

All the talk from America is that Happy Like A Fool is a good thing in this race. Ryan Moore takes the ride and her work has been good.

Wesley Ward is a man you have to greatly respect in these races and although his horse is a short price I find it hard to see her getting beaten.

However, there are some fillies in there that won't go down without a fight. Heartache looked good winning at Bath, where Clive Cox likes to run his better horses. 

Chica La Habana for Robert Cowell impressed when winning at Beverley, but they will all have to go some way to beat the American filly.

3.40pm - Duke of Cambridge Stakes, 1m

Having been at a few preview nights, a lot of the chat has been about Qemah, who is a Group One filly running in a Group Two race. 

She didn't have the rub of the green on her seasonal reappearance run at Lingfield and added to that Jean-Claude Rouget's horses had a big cloud hanging over them.

Luckily, the yard has come out the other side. Taking everything into consideration, for me Qemah is one of the best bets of the week. She's high class and I think she'll stamp her mark on  Ascot on Wednesday.

4.20pm - Prince of Wales's Stakes, 1m 1f 212y

Decorated Knight is overpriced for this race as well as being underestimated. There are question marks over Jack Hobbs and Highland Reel, while Decorated Knight is a proven Group One performer, versatile, talented and a much bigger price than his rivals. Underestimate this horse at your peril.

Towards the top of the market, Ulysses looks ready to land a big one at Ascot. His win at Sandown last time out was impressive and given his trainer Sir Michael Stoute's record in races of this stature, he stands a big chance.

This will be a great renewal of the Prince of Wales's Stakes, with the finish fought out between Ulysses and Decorated Knight.

5pm - Royal Hunt Cup, 1m

I'm liking El Vip in this race, who looked very good when winning at Newcastle in his most recent run at the start of the month. He's a horse with bags of talent.

Obviously it's a competitive race with lots of well-handicapped horses, and you will need your fair share of luck to win it. But, speaking to a few connected with El Vip, they're expecting a big run from this unexposed, talented horse.

5.35pm - Sandringham Handicap, 1m

Gymnaste is my selection and I'm hoping that Josie Gordon has a good week at Ascot. This horse was denied a clear run on the all-weather at Kempton at the end of May and wasn't given the chance to get the better of Keyser Soze.

But her win at Chester was impressive. It's another open race this year with a talented field, but Gymnaste is the most likely winner for me.

Best bet

My bet of the week is a short-priced favourite and I can't see Caravaggio being beaten in Friday's Commonwealth Cup.

His win in the Coventry last year was, for me, the performance of the week. His comeback win at Naas was super-impressive and while the Commonwealth Cup is hot this year, for me the X Factor at Ascot in 2017 will be presented by Caravaggio. 

Keep an eye on Salouen in the King Edward VII Stakes on the same day as well. He was desperately unlucky in the Derby, nearly coming down before quite literally picking himself up and running on only to find trouble in the final furlong. If he's sound after that run, he represents a decent price.

It's going to be a great week and I hope you can join us on ITV. Best of luck with your bets and enjoy the racing.