Hi Reader

The Victoria Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs at Ascot in May.

The Victoria Cup was first run over 2 miles at Hurst Park in 1901, becoming a 7 furlong handicap race from 1908. It was run at Hurst Park until the course closed in 1962 and was transferred to Ascot from the 1963 running, where it has been run ever since apart from two races at Newbury in 1964 and 1977.

Big Saturday Race Preview And Tips

All our Big Saturday Race Previews & Tips are published online at https://lp.betalchemist.com/

Following the result of the race, there are made availble to the public. Too late to back the winner or change the result at that time!

Ok, let's crack on with today's preview and tips.

Ascot Victoria Cup Claim

It's exciting to have the big field turf sprints back in focus.

The Victoria Cup has all of twenty nine runners over seven furlongs on the straight course at Ascot. These heritage handicaps are fiendishly difficult with luck playing a big part most of the time. The aim is to bag a couple of big priced winners over the course of the flat season to turn a profit.

There is a lack of pace in the Victoria Cup this year. That is on paper anyways and I have taken the view that hold up horses will find it difficult to win off a moderate pace. Great Acclaim for Eve Johnston Houghton is on a good handicap mark of 98.

Last season he ran his best races when dropped from a mile down to seven furlongs. He won over seven furlongs at Goodwood and Chepstow and finished second at Newmarket, Goodwood and Ascot too. Great Acclaim has the pace to lay up with the pace in a first-time visor. He showed he is ready to win with a good third at Haydock on quick ground a fortnight ago.

Storm Free is worth backing as I think this horse will love the stiff seven furlongs at Ascot. He should come forward from his first run this season at Newmarket when catching my eye. Storm Free enjoyed a good 3yo season last year winning at Nottingham over six furlongs and at Leicester over seven furlongs.

He was gelded over the winter and should progress as a four-year-old. Clifford Lee will be delighted with his middle draw in stall 13 with trainer James Tate saying Strom Free “has been laid our for this since last year”.

Ascot 2:20

0.5 point each way Great Acclaim 14/1 Betvictor & Ladbrokes, 5 places.

0.5 point each way Storm Free 20/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Coral & Paddy Power, 6 places.

Best of Luck,

Nicky

Big Saturday Races Past Results

A full listing of all our Big Saturday Feature Race selections and results can be found by clicking the button below.

Usually, there are two selections in the big field handicaps.

Latest Big Saturday Race Winner was Urban Lion at 12/1

2026 running total -10.50 points or -£210 to to £10 ew stakes.​