There are two handicap races on the card for the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting and we have left them both for their own preview. The handicaps provide a couple of competitive puzzles to solve but we’ve come up with a selection in both of them as we look to get stuck into the excellent racing on show at the Berkshire track.
Special Offer
Bet on all races with Betfred and get your money back as a free bet up to £10 if your horse is second by a neck or less! Click the image below to take advantage of this offer. All customers! 18+ T&Cs apply.
5.00 Royal Ascot: Britannia Stakes Handicap
Preview
Another big straight track handicap with the 1 mile Britannia for 3 year olds. 30 runners will be spread across the track and based on Wednesday’s straight track big field races, high numbers should be favoured.
There were 3 races with over 20 runners on the straight track on Wednesday with the 1-2-3 drawn 25-18-23 in a field of 25, 21-18-32-25 in a field of 28 and 24-22-23 in a field of 21.
Favourites
Migration is the favourite having won a Class 4 handicap easily last time out off 86. He’s been raised 8lb but has a good draw in 24 although the price of 7/1 looks a bit tight. Hero Hero is drawn high too but there are stamina doubts.
Velorum is 2 from 2 this term but like Motafaawit, there are draw concerns. The latter won here last time out on soft ground and would have been a likely selection with a better draw.
Betting
At a big price, I’ll take a chance on Pogo who’s drawn well in 26. He’s trained by Charlie Hills, the trainer who landed the big handicap on Wednesday with Afaak and this one brings solid form to the table. As a 2 year old, he ran well in races won by top class opposition in Advertise, Main Edition, Phoenix Of Spain and Sangarius.
This term, he won his 2nd start, a Class 2 Newmarket handicap on good ground off a mark of 94 recording a RPR of 106 in the process. He’s now racing off 100 which doesn’t look too harsh. He has taken in one run since where he finished midfield in the German 2000 Guineas.
Back down in class, on ground that should suit and with a good draw, he’s a tentative selection at a big price.
Tips
Back Pogo (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 29.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back it here:
Special Offer
Bet on every race at Royal Ascot with Boylesports and get your money back as a free bet up to £20 if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd to the SP favourite! Click the image below to bet with them. All customers! 18+ T&Cs apply
5.35 Royal Ascot: King George V Stakes Handicap
Preview
The final race of the day is another handicap, this time over a mile and a half but again for 3 year olds only. It has attracted a field of 19.
The last 8 winners have been drawn in double figures and only 2 of those 8 starts at 10/1 or bigger so it pays to stick with the fancied runners.
Favourites
Constantinople is the favourite for the O’Brien/Moore combo and comes here off the back of a win in a Group 3. He is however 8lbs higher than the last time he raced in a handicap where he was edged out into 2nd. Sir Ron Priestly is from the Mark Johnston yard and he’s won both starts this term but only one of those was a handicap and it wasn’t overly competitive. He did however see off his other 3 rivals easily but will an 8lb higher mark and bigger field prove too big an obstacle.
Good Birthday was 2nd in the London Gold Cup at Newbury over 10 furlongs but doesn’t look like he needs an extra 2 furlongs.
Betting
That, however, cannot be said for the horse 2nd in the race, Sinjaari and he is our final bet of Day 3. He had a troubled passage that day at Newbury, he lost a front shoe in the process and still only went down by a head after finishing best of all. He’s gone up 8lbs and now races off 97 but note he recorded a 103 RPR at Newbury that day.
On his 2 other starts this term, he’s showed that a mile and a half is what he wants. First up, he lost out narrowly to Private Secretary (a horse that takes in the Group 2 King Edward on Friday and one who has won twice since) when staying on better than anything. Next time, he won a maiden at Windsor drawing clear and finishing strongly to win a shade cosily.
He’s drawn widest of all and hails from the Haggas yard which couldn’t be in better form. With ground on the easy side of good perfect, he’s going to be very difficult to keep out of the frame.
Tips
Back Sinjaari (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 7.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019
