TREASURE CHEST
Surge of punters back King Charles and Queen Camilla to win £500,000 Epsom race with horse bred by his late mum
She's only been seen on the racecourse twice
MONEY has been flying in for King Charles and Queen Camilla's Epsom horse - as the trainer revealed: "This is our best chance."
Royal runner Treasure - who was bred by Queen Elizabeth II - has seen her odds slashed for Friday's Group 1 Oaks, worth more than £300,000 to the winner.
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Three-year-old filly Treasure was as big as 33-1 just four days ago but is now as short as 12-1 with Sky Bet after a surge of cash.
She has run just twice in her life, winning on debut at Nottingham last November before finishing fourth when seen on reappearance at Lingfield earlier this month.
Jockey Rossa Ryan was sweet on her chances after that most recent run, though.
He said: "It was a super run and there were no hiding places.
"I think in time my filly might be the one to take out of the race, especially on softer ground.
"Treasure's big, she towers over them, and she'll improve for the run compared to some of them.
"They looked very tight and fit and knew their job, while she was a bit lost half-way through. She'll be smart in time."
Trainer Ralph Beckett saddles four in the Oaks and he reckons this year is his 'best chance' yet after a decade of domination by Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and legendary handler John Gosden.
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Beckett, who is based in Kimpton, Hampshire, said: "We had been edging more towards the Ribblesdale (at Royal Ascot) with Treasure, but we’ve had a change of heart.
"She’s trained very well since then, and ground on the easy side will be in her favour.
King Charles & Queen Camilla greet crowds at Chelsea Flower Show
"It will be very exciting to have a runner in a Classic for the King and the Queen.
"We’ve done quite well in the race before, but it’s a long time since I won it last with Talent, and since then nobody but Aidan O’Brien and the Gosdens has won.
"We’ve had plenty of tries since, but this feels like our best chance.
"I think the market has them about right in terms of preference, although it got it wrong in 2013.
"I may have had three runners in a race a few times, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never had four before. Let’s hope one of them is competitive!"
King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated a Royal Ascot winner last year in the form of 18-1 outsider Desert Hero.
While Frankie Dettori broke Royal protocol at the big summer meeting by kissing Her Majesty on the cheek.
Desert Hero then went to the Doncaster's St Leger - the final Classic of the year - in September hoping to give the ruling couple a big winner.
And though he ran well he could do no better than third, netting them just under £80,000 in the process.
The late Queen famously never won the Epsom Derby - the only of the five Classics to evade her during her 70-year reign.
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Queen Elizabeth II won the Oaks twice.
First in 1957 with Carrozza, who had Lester Piggott in the saddle, and 20 years later with Dunfermline, who was ridden by Willie Carson.
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