Potential five-fold threat for bookmakers at Royal Ascot

The presence of short-priced favourites in five of the eight Group 1 contests at Royal Ascot next week has led to the suggestion of a mega accumulator, which could inflict huge losses for bookmakers at the Flat racing festival next week.

The multiple, which would consist of races from Tuesday to Friday, is something which has been more common at Cheltenham in recent years, with Willie Mullins regularly having a host of well fancied runners. However, Aidan O'Brien is now getting in on the act at the Royal meeting, with four of the five short-priced runners coming from his yard.

O'Brien's four consist of Churchill in the St James's Palace Stakes on Tuesday (4/6), followed by Order of St George in Thursday's Gold Cup (10/11) and Caravaggio and Winter in the Commonwealth Cup (11/10) and the Coronation Stakes (8/11) respectively. The accumulator is completed by the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester, who is due to run in Tuesday's Queen Anne (for which he's a general 8/11 chance) - the very first race of the week.

The five-fold is currently available at a general price of 22-1 at the time of writing, which will appeal greatly to punters looking for an interest over the course of the week of Britain's biggest Flat meeting.

Bookmakers were famously saved a payout of around £40 million on the first day of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, when Annie Power's final flight fall in the Mares' Hurdle foiled a 16-1 Willie Mullins four-fold on the final leg.

Who are the five runners in question? We take a look at their chances:

(All prices from Betfair)

Queen Anne Stakes, 2.30pm, Tuesday 20th June 2017

Ribchester (10/11) Richard Fahey

Built on a cracking season last term by taking form to a whole new level when winning the Lockinge last month. That second career Group 1 set him out as the top miler in Europe and he is very much the one to beat in this.

St James's Palace Stakes, 4.20pm, Tuesday 20th June 2017

Churchill (8/11) Aidan O'Brien

The star of this year's three-year-old crop so far, showing his versaltility when completing the Guineas double at the Curragh from off the pace. Has to confirm the form of his Newmarket win over Barney Roy, who stumbled at a crucial stage in the English Guineas, but is odds-on to do so.

The Gold Cup, 4.20pm, Thursday 22nd June 2017

Order Of St George (evens) Aidan O'Brien

Gave the impression that he could dominate the staying division when winning this race last year, though it hasn't been plain sailing since, including a short-odds defeat in the Irish St Leger. Resumed winning ways in a listed contest at Leopardstown in May, and the absence of French raider Vazirabad through injury strengthens his case.

The Commonwealth Cup, 3.40pm, Friday 23rd June 2017

Caravaggio (evens) Aidan O'Brien

Timeform's top two-year-old of 2016, his four wins including the Coventry Stakes here last year and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Continued to look something out of the ordinary when making a winning return in a Group 3 at Naas in May, though Harry Angel and Blue Point could both provide a stern test here.

Coronation Stakes, 4.20pm, Friday 23rd June 2017

Winter (4/6) Aidan O'Brien

Took a step forward when winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, but proved it was no fluke when following up in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Assuming stable mate Rhododendron doesn't re-oppose, she's a long way clear of the rest of the field on form terms.