• Home
  • Horse Racing
  • Royal Ascot
  • Commonwealth Cup

2023 Commonwealth Cup Tips - Two to back against the hot favourite

jon-vine
Editor
Last updated: 22 Jun 2023
Jon Vine 22 Jun 2023
Share this article
Or copy link
  • Odds and betting predictions for the 2023 Commonwealth Cup
  • This Group One takes place on day four of Royal Ascot on Friday 23rd June
  • Shaquille and Marbaan features in our selections
Expired
shaquille newbury
James Doyle riding Shaquille win The BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury. (Getty)

Day four at Royal Ascot features two excellent Group One races. The first is the newest top-level race of the meeting, the Commonwealth Cup, which is open only to three-year-olds and run over a trip of six furlongs.

Here's our free guide to the 2023 Commonwealth Cup, including our best betting tips.

2023 Commonwealth Cup Odds


You can find the latest odds for the Commonwealth Cup here on our website.

2023 Commonwealth Cup Tip 1 - Shaquille

The bookmakers are taking no chances with Little Big Bear, who'll likely be sent off at odds-on when post time comes around. Aidan O'Brien's star sits ten pounds clear of his closest rival in the ratings and, although he was helped by a definite track bias at Haydock, his warm-up victory in the Sandy Lane Stakes was impressive.

However, this is much more than just a one-horse race and the dominance of the favourite in the market has left several talented runners sitting at appealing prices.

After Sakheer and Lezoo were confirmed in the field, SHAQUILLE drifted out from single figures to 10/1 with most firms. That seems slightly unfair when you consider that, on Racing Post Ratings, his victory in the Carnarvon Stakes is the best piece of seasonal form on offer - beating the 118 rating Little Big Bear received for his Haydock triumph by a pound.

Shaquille has only suffered defeat once in his career so far, finishing last when far too keen in last year's Champagne Stakes. This term, Julie Camacho's star has been flawless, bolting up in a handicap at Newmarket before that runaway success at Newbury - the form of which was boosted when runner-up Desert Cop ran a blinder to finish sixth in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes.

Unlike many of the runners in here, who were precocious juveniles who've disappointed this season, Shaquille is improving at a rate of knots. Oisin Murphy will be delighted with his draw in stall four, given that Little Big Bear and the two Godolphin runners have been drawn on his side of the track. At this fresh price of 10/1, Shaquille is a rock-solid each-way bet.

undefined
Marbaan (yellow) winning at Glorious Goodwood in 2022. (Getty)

2023 Commonwealth Cup Tip 2 - Marbaan

You can now back MARBAAN at shorter than the 50/1 I took at the ante-post stage, but as there will be at least four places available with most bookies, 33/1 is still a very generous price.

It wasn't so long ago that Marbaan was being touted as one of the next big things in British racing. Charlie Fellowes' star beat Holloway Boy to win the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and carried odds of 7/1 into the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh.

Marbaan has run well on both his starts this season, finishing fourth from a tricky track position in the Commonwealth Cup Trial here at Ascot in May, before losing out by a neck against his elders in the Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury. All three of Marbaan's best performances have come on quicker ground and he could be the forgotten horse in this Group One.

Live Stream


If you want to watch Friday's first Group One live on your mobile or tablet, then check out our 2023 Commonwealth Cup Live Stream page.

Verdict

Shaquille is our best bet in the 2023 Commonwealth Cup. Marbaan was our selection at the ante-post stage.

1: Shaquille 2023 Commonwealth Cup Best Bet @10/1 at bet365 - 10 Units
2: Marbaan 2023 Commonwealth Cup Ante-Post Bet @33/1 at Hollywood bets - 1 Unit
Shaquille
2023 Commonwealth Cup Best Bet
@10/1 - 10 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365
Marbaan
2023 Commonwealth Cup Ante-Post Bet
@33/1 - 1 Unit
£30 Free Bet
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Claim £30 free bet & 20 Free Spins. Use the promo code NEWBONUS. New Hollywoodbets account holders. 18 years or older. United Kingdom residents only. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Hollywood bets

Top Betting Sites

special-offer-1Betting offers

Upcoming Events

06 November 2024

Load More
23 Jun 2023

Commonwealth Cup 2023