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Royal Ascot Day 3 Preview
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 3! The bandwagon rolls on to Thursday with the Ascot Gold Cup where Stradivarius will be looking to steal the show again. Not to be missed! Find our previews for every single race.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
Royal Ascot Day 3 Schedule
2.30 Ascot Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 5f
3.05 Ascot Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) 1m2f
3.40 Ascot Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) 1m4f
4.15 Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1) 2m4f
5.00 Ascot Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Class 2 1m
5.35 Ascot King George V Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 1m4f
6.10 Ascot Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 7f
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Royal Ascot 2.30 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) Class 1 5f
The Lir Jet showed a cracking attitude to get up in the closing stages last year and land us a nice winner. Hopefully we can kick off Day 3 with a similar result this time around. Given how competitive it looks I’ve decided to put forward two selections. The first of them is INSTINCTIVE MOVE for Clive Cox. This Showcasing colt really impressed winning on debut at Bath last month. He showed a smart turn of foot to leave them standing and while the form doesn’t look up to much he couldn’t have really done it any easier and with improvement a near certainty I think he can run a big race here under Derby winning jockey Adam Kirby.
My second play in the race has to be PROJECT DANTE for Bryan Smart. This colt scrambled home to win on debut at York but it was a good effort given how inexperienced he looked and the form has been strongly franked since. The second Korker won at Carlisle next time out and the third Jadhlaan was a very impressive winner on third start at York. The fourth Red Power won at Ayr and even the fifth Magic Warrior has since opened his account. He will have to improve but everything about that first start suggests he will and I can see him going off shorter than 9/1. Cadamosto is a big danger along with Lucci who both put their unbeaten records to the test. At a huge price Khunan looks a tough colt and it wouldn’t surprise me if he hit the frame.
Royal Ascot 3.05 Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) Class 1 1m2f
This looks a cracking renewal of the Hampton Court Stakes with plenty of top level performers in here. The top 3 or 4 runners will be running regularly in Group 1 company for the rest of the season. MOHAAFETH was an absentee in The Derby which was a big shame as he looked top class winning the Newmarket Stakes and more than capable of stepping up. He has won 3 in-a-row and as long as we don’t get too much rain he is the one to be on. If we get too much rain he won’t run.
Movin Time has to be the main danger after beating yesterdays Queen’s Vase winner by 5 lengths at Newmarket and if in the same form he can step up to this level. One Ruler has run in the Guineas and The Derby and is interesting stepping down to this level but does have a penalty to carry which doesn’t make life easy and is enough to put me off.
Royal Ascot 3.40 Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) Class 1 1m4f
I’m really looking forward to seeing VALUE TIP for Sir Michael Stoute. I still think this filly could be very smart and I know the initial response was disappointment when she was beaten at York but the winner Snowfall has since routed the opposition in the Oaks so it looks a strong piece of form now. She is still learning her trade and with the further step up in trip sure to suit I think she has plenty going for her here. She won in soft ground at Nottingham as a 2yo so is versatile regarding the ground. I think there are thunderstorms forecast overnight so it shouldn’t get too bad but she’ll handle it whatever situation materialises.
Gosden has a good record in this race so Gloria Mundi has to be respected. She was beaten a neck by Eshaada last time but she should relish this step up in trip and I think she’ll be thereabouts in the closing stages. An ideal scenario would be Loving Dream and Dubai Fountain taking each other on early as a good honest gallop would suit the selection.
Royal Ascot 4.15 Gold Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Class 1 2m4f
There was only one place to start with the Gold Cup and that is STRADIVARIUS. He has won the last 3 runnings of this race and looks to have a great chance of doing it for a 4th time. He started the season with an easy win over course and distance and should be bang on to retain his crown now. He may have run poorly here at the end of the season but the ground was very testing that day and even with rain it shouldn’t be near that. He will be hard to beat and no doubt the Royal Ascot crowd will be roaring him home!
Trueshan who won the race he disappointed in looks to be the main danger after running a cracker on return at Chester behind Japan and should be just as good at this trip. Santiago is interesting at this trip and could outrun his odds as he hasn’t been beaten far in two runs this season.
Royal Ascot 5.00 Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Colts & Geldings) Class 2 1m
Mithras should run a big race here but the market certainly hasn’t missed him. I suppose with Frankie Dettori up he was always going to be fairly short. I think there are better value plays here though and AIR TO AIR looks the best of them. George Boughey has had an impressive year and a Royal Ascot winner would just about cap it off. This son of Toronado has won his last two and strikes me as a real improver. He looked much more the finished article knuckling down well under pressure to score in soft ground at Newmarket and then improved again up to this trip for the first time running out a stylish winner at Doncaster. There should be tons of pace on here and he will be ridden quietly as he attempts to pick them up late under a typical Jamie Spencer ride.
I’ve also backed AERION POWER for Stoute. This Kingman colt brought up the hat-trick showing a good attitude at Doncaster last month and while this obviously requires a big step forward I think he is capable of better and some of his form stacks up so he has gone under the radar a bit. Raadobarg is on an impressive run and has to be feared along with Liffey River. Royal Pleasure also has to be given a mention but he’ll need to settle better to see out his race.
Royal Ascot 5.35 King George V Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 1m4f
A big field handicap round a bend is always tough and I am going to have two bets in this. The majority of the winners over the years have carried 9 stone or less and SUREFIRE who is 3lb well-in looks to have a nice mark after winning easily on handicap debut at Leicester two weeks ago. He was beaten by Siskany who carries more weight than him in this and should reverse that form and go very well.
The other selection in the race at a bigger price is MILITARY MISSION who looks as though a step up in trip will suit after staying on well at Chester after his runaway win at Salisbury. He is versatile regarding the ground and the price just looks too big even in a field of this size.
There are a few dangers including the favourite Sir Lamorak who looks a classy sort but I don’t want to back him at top weight at a short price. First Light was an easy winner at Ripon and could step forward again for this. Finally Act Of Wisdom at 28/1 at the time of writing looks a big price after running behind Mohaafeth last time and had won 4 in-a-row before that.
Royal Ascot 5.35
Surefire 8/1 each way
Military Mission 33/1 each way saver
ITV Racing 4/1 offer available on this race
Royal Ascot 6.10 Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 7f
It doesn’t get much more competitive than this 6/1 bar the field at the time of writing so it won’t surprise you that we’ve taken three against the field. BOARDMAN has to be the main hope as I’ve been really impressed with this horse recently. He has improved no end winning head in chest at Haydock before following up impressively at York and then arguably producing his best run at Chester last time. He seems to handle whatever test is thrown at him and at 9/1 he has to be a strong each way play. He is up 6lb in a better race but he has turned a corner and looks progressive so you’d be foolish to rule out another big run!
BLUE MIST also catches the eye in here for Roger Charlton. He likes it here with 2 of his 3 career wins coming at this venue and while he has been out of form since taking a big pot here in July he should strip fitter from that Newbury reappearance and sometimes it can take a couple of runs for a wind op to work. He’ll need to spark back into life but I think that’s a chance worth taking at around 16/1 at the time of writing. He’ll be held up for a late run so will need a bit of luck coming through but with Ryan Moore in the saddle that certainly doesn’t dampen confidence.
With so many big prices on offer I’ve also had a saver on DANCE FEVER for Clive Cox. I remember this horse winning on debut at Windsor and thinking he was a bit of a tool. He went on to win his first three starts and while he was beaten twice as a 3yo he ran creditably on both occasions and I can see this big field scenario suiting as he is at his best when he gets carried into the race. He’s certainly not out of it from a handicapping perspective and I think 20/1 is generous. Aldaary, Persuasion and Lord Campari completed the shortlist – it’s the sort of race you could end up backing 4 or 5.
Royal Ascot ITV Racing Win Treble
With 7 races live on ITV Racing again from Royal Ascot on Thursday we have included a Win Treble which includes 3 of our best bets on the channel this afternoon. All have to win for this to land.
Royal Ascot ITV Racing Win Treble
Royal Ascot 3.05 Mohaafeth NEXT BEST
Royal Ascot 3.40 VALUE TIP
Royal Ascot 4.15 Stradivarius NAP
Pays 20/1!
Royal Ascot ITV Racing Each Way Double
With so much more quality racing on Thursday live on ITV Racing we’ve also included an Each Way Double. These are two horses at decent odds we can see running big. If both place we should still make a return.
Royal Ascot ITV Racing Each Way Double
Royal Ascot 5.00 Air To Air
Royal Ascot 5.35 Surefire
Pays 70/1!