Star Sports brought together Johnny Ward and Flynn Goward, to reflect on a unique Royal Ascot week and offer the insight of the traders when it comes to such a landmark event. 

The duo picked out Poetic Flare as the performance of the week, lauding the training of Jim Bolger, after the horse landed the top prize in the St James’s Palace Stakes, continuing a stellar run of form. 

A fair few weighty single bets will have meant that the run of Stradivarius was a tense one for traders, however, the Irish Thoroughbred failing to get the victory was something of a positive result both in the office and on the tracks, Goward revealed. 

Nonetheless, after a positive opening, the victory of Dream of Dreams in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes was a significant one in terms of pushing the week in favour of the punters. 

In spite of a relatively mixed bag when it came to the week’s racing, EURO 2020 has provided some positivity for traders, with the staggering of kick-off times being well-suited to punting. 

As well as this, it was revealed that the likelihood England will collide with either France, Germany or Portugal in the last 16 has seen Southgate’s side drift out to 15/2, as they seek to build momentum after an underwhelming draw with Scotland. 

Italy are the other big market movers, with Goward emphasising that if Mancini’s side can go all the way it could result in a tough tournament for the bookmakers, with attacker Ciro Immobile also moving in as a potential pick for the golden boot. 

Following victory in Group A with a 100% record, Italy take on Austria in the last 16 on Saturday, a tie they are around 8/15 to win over 90 minutes.