Hi all,
It’s Day 3 at Royal Ascot and its Gold Cup Day with the big race going off at 4:20. In today’s preview I’m looking at all seven races on the card with my selections at the end of the main piece.
Royal Ascot
2:30 – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) – 5f
The speedy juveniles get the meeting underway. Walbank an expensive purchase at the breeze-ups built on his C&D racecourse debut second to the smart Noble Style when running out an impressive winner at York last month. Looks the one to beat on form.
Pillow Talk won the Listed Marygate Stakes at York last month. The only filly in the field. Her connections won the Queen Mary yesterday and seem to have a strong hand of useful speedy juvenile fillies. She’s capable of better on just her third start and should go well. Jockey Danny Tudhope seems to prefer Thunder Moor who took a big step forward from his racecourse debut when winning at York last month. He looked a smart prospect at York and it could be significant that Tudhope prefers him to Pillow Talk.
The Antarctic, a half-brother to Battaash has won both his career starts and trainer Aidan O’Brien has saddled the winner of this race twice since 2015.
3:05 – King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 4f
I want to be with the higher drawn horses here. Post Impressionist (13) was a 2 ½ length 2nd of 14 tp Eldar Eldarov last time. The winner won yesterday’s Queens Vase, so the form is strong, and he looks set to be suited by the step up to 1m 4f. Stablemate Mandobi (18) has won both this season’s starts and proved his stamina for 1m 4f when winning at Thirsk last month. He’s likely capable of better on his handicap debut and looks to have a good draw out wide.
Israr (12) showed a good attitude to prevail in the London Gold Cup (1m 2f) at Newbury last time. He should stay 1m 4f and is open to further improvement. Surrey Mist (7) was ½ length behind Israr at Newbury. He’s another capable of further progress although Israr could be open to more improvement for the step up in trip.
Yashin (4) had Vina Sena (16) 1 ½ lengths back in second when winning at Navan (1m 2f) 19-days ago. The runner-up gets a 6lb pull in the weights so is entitled to get closer today. Yashin is already proven at the trip but Vina Sena looks to have the better of the draw.
Savvy Knight (6) has won all three career starts and can’t be discounted. Nor can the Johnny Murtagh Flying Dolphin (9) who is going the right, is open to further improvement and has stamina for 1m 4f on the dam side of the pedigree.
3:40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) – 1m 4f
Sea Silk Road is going the right way and there was plenty to like about her recent Listed success at Goodwood (soft). Looks the sort to better with racing and the daughter of Sea The Stars shouldn’t have any problem with today’s much quicker ground. Magical Lagoon has the better form after her short head second to Concert Hall on her seasonal return. The step up to 1m 4f should suit her on pedigree and she’s a worthy favourite. Life Of Dreams was a 5 ½ length 2nd of 5 to Emily Upjohn in the Musidora Stakes at York last time. The step up to 1m 4f should suit her and she remains a promising filly. History looked an improving filly when winning a Group 3 (1m) at Leopardstown on her seasonal return. However, she was well behind Homeless Songs in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time and although she remains with potential for the step up in distance does have a question to answer after her latest performance.
4:20 – Gold Cup (Group 1) – 2m 4f
Trueshan is a likely non-runner if the ground remains on the quick side. Kyprios has returned to action with two impressive wins and he’s a young stayer on the up. If he stays this marathon trip, every chance on pedigree, then he’s got a great chance of giving Aidan O’Brien an 8th success in the race. If Kyprios is the up and coming stayer Stradivarius is the old master. The 8-year-old bids for a 4th Gold Cup success and he gets his ideal underfoot conditions. He did, however, finish 2 ¼ lengths behind Princess Zoe in last year’s race. Princess Zoe showed she’s just as effective on good to firm as soft ground when winning the Sagaro Stakes (2m) here in April. She’s a real stayer and the stronger the stamina test the better her chance. She shouldn’t be underestimated in her bid to go one better than 12 months ago and if Kyprios doesn’t stay she could be the one to take advantage. The other two mares in the field Bubble Smart and Burning Victory also can’t be totally discounted. The former is a smart stayer whilst the latter showed she’s capable of a smart staying performance when runner-up in last season’s Cesarewitch oner last run on the level.
5:00 – Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 2) – 1m
There’s a whole host of potential improvers among the thirty declared runners. None more so than the Charlie Appleby pair of King Of Time & Tranquil Night. Both geldings look to be well berthed in stalls 29 & 30 respectively and both come into the race having won their last starts back in April. William Buick opts for the former who is the better fancied of the pair in the betting, but Tranquil Night shouldn’t be underestimated.
The booking of Jamie Spencer for Newmarket winner (1m 2f) Bolthole is interesting and although the colt is 6lb higher, in a deeper race, he looks capable of a good run back down to a mile. Koy Koy’s 1 length 2nd of 8 to Outgate on his seasonal reappearance looks good form now. I’m not sure how good stall 8 will be but there’s more to come from him that’s for sure. Wanees is much better drawn in 21. We haven’t seen the colt since his win in the Esher Cup at Sandown in April, but this has been the plan and he won her over 7f last season on good to firm.
The very strong pace will suit Atrium (22)who won over C&D last time. He’s 7lb higher in a better contest but should get the race run to suit and trainer Charlie Fellowes does well at the meeting with his runners on the straight course. He’s more exposed than most but is high on the shortlist. Jimi Hendrix put in a much improved performance when winning at Haydock on his handicap debut last time. Stall 12 could be better, but the colt is going the right way and could well be suited by this stiff mile.
5:35 – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 2f
Reach For The Moon is likely to go off a hot favourite to give HM The Queen a winner. The colt has yet to race beyond a mile but on pedigree should stay and improve for the step up in distance. The most likely winner. Claymore is another who can improve for the step up to 1m 2f. A winner of his sole juvenile start he finished a 3 ½ length 2nd of 6 to Native Trail in the Craven Stakes on his seasonal return before finishing last of 15 in the French 2,000 Guineas. That run is best ignored as he did far too much early from his wide draw. He looks the one to give the favourite most to do.
6:10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) – 7f
Montassib made it 3-3 when winning at Goodwood last time. A big field, strongly run 7f should suit the lightly raced 4-year-old who could still make up into a Group performer. He’s been raised 10lb for his latest success which is less of a concern than stall 1.
Inver Park bids for the hat trick and if today’s extra furlong suits, then the 4-year-old is capable of a big run, albeit stall 2 is off-putting. Tanmawwy is another seeking the hat trick but isn’t certain to be as effective over 7f as he has been over 6f.
Chiefofchiefs (25)might be an 8-year-old, but he goes well on Ascot’s straight course. He’s vulnerable to any improvers in the field but he shaped better than his 8 ½ length 18th of 27 in the Victoria Cup over C&D suggests, didn’t get the clearest of runs 1f out. He’s well suited to good to firm ground and a strongly run race and won’t be far away. That’s a comment that also applies to Star Of Orion (16). He finished a short head 2nd of 19 in the International Handicap over C&D last July, from 1lb lower. There’s a nice handicap pot in the 4-year-old who should be all the better for his 6 length 8th of 27 in the Victoria Cup on his seasonal return.
Fastnet Crown (12)went into the notebook after his ¾ length 4th of 25 at Cork two starts back. The 5-year-old is well suited to a big field handicap and although he doesn’t win very often, looks capable of winning off his present mark when all the cards fall right.
Ouzo (27)shaped well on his first start since switching to the Jamie Osborne yard when a neck 2nd of 8 to Rebel Territory at Sandown last time and the front two pulled nicely clear of the rest that day Fourth in last year’s Royal Hunt Cup. He get’s the first time cheekpieces today and he looks on competitive mark, if he’s not inconvenienced by the drop back to 7f.
Betting Advice:
Royal Ascot
3:05 – 1pt win – Mandobi – 14/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Flying Dolphin – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:20 – 1pt win – Princess Zoe – 15/2 @ Bet365
5:00 – 1pt win – Wanees – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Atrium – 16/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
6:10 – 1pt win – Chiefofchiefs – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Star Of Orion – 20/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John