Off the mark yesterday with a comfortable 8/1 winner in Ribchester who took the opener. Royal Ascot Day 3 represents the midpoint of the Royal meeting and the highlight is the Ascot Gold Cup for the best stayers around.
2.30: Norfolk Stakes
We kick off with a 5 furlong sprint for the youngsters. It would be foolish to dismiss any horse sent over by Wesley Ward especially after Lady Aurelia’s procession in the Queen Mary yesterday but his runner here, Red Lodge, looks better on top of the ground. I’m keen to oppose the front 2 in the market; Global Applause is Dettori’s mount and has won 2 of his 3 starts to date including the National Stakes at Sandown but he’s no certainty to like this ground. Silver Line, Godolphin’s charge, is once raced and won comfortably but again has something to prove on this easier going.
The O’Brien/Moore combination have a runner priced at 8/1 which is unheard of in an 11 runner event, especially as the horse, Peace Envoy, has form figures of 121. He has something to prove but he’s perfectly capable judged on his latest victory in a Listed event at Naas. The one for me though is Legendary Lunch. He was a winner at the Epsom Derby meeting, landing the Listed Woodcote over a furlong further but 6 furlongs at a sharp Epsom is broadly similar to a stiff 5 furlongs here. He quickened in taking style that day and despite hitting the front too soon, he battled back to win narrowly. His one defeat was when turned over a long odds on but he didn’t scope right so I’m prepared to ignore that. His 2 wins have come on rain softened ground and that’s enough for me; proven winner in a decent grade, quickens up well, happy on soft ground and at a perfectly backable price.
Back Legendary Lunch (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Coral (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)
3.05: Tercentenary Stakes
A Group 3 contest for the classic generation over 10 furlongs, we have a small field of 9 and no outstanding value bet here. Blue De Vega has twice finished behind the high class Awtaad who won the Irish 2000 Guineas so he probably represents the most solid bet and, for those wanting to get involved, can be backed at 5/1.
3.40: Ribblesdale Stakes
Another for the Classic generation but this time the trip is a mile and a half, open to fillies only. Architecture will go off a strong favourite after finishing a clear 2nd to Minding in the Oaks earlier this month but I’m not convinced she’ll follow up so it might be better to look elsewhere. Chicadoro looks to be a good benchmark and did beat Architecture on the latter’s debut and she also finished 2nd on her last run in the Pretty Polly where 2nd favourite Even Song was one place further back but should be able to turn the tables granted a clear passage.
Another race which featured more than 1 runner today was the Listed event that We Are Ninety landed at Newbury over 10 furlongs. I don’t expect her to follow up as the ground and extra quarter of a mile may not suit but instead, I expect Queen’s Trust to reverse the form. After winning in impressive style on sand on her debut, she was a disappointing favourite when 5th in the 7 furlong Oh So Sharp Stakes. It was evident to me that 7 furlongs was on the sharp side so I was pleased to see a good run on her reappearance as a 3 year old when a close up 4th to We Are Ninety over 10 furlongs. That day, she was tightened from room when Ryan Moore went for a gap that wasn’t there and she’d have gone very close with a clear run. She is likely to appreciate the step up in trip and will almost certainly come on for her reappearance run. In a race where there’s no standout contender, I’m more than happy to get involved at the 10/1 on offer.
Back Queen’s Trust (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3 BOG)
4.20: Gold Cup
The stamina sapping Gold Cup over 2 miles 4 furlongs and the Evens favourite is Aiden O’Brien’s Order Of St George. He’s been impressive in winning his last 4 starts but this is a massive step up in trip and, if there are any flaws, it may be whether this 4 year old lasts home. It’s a big question mark and, in my opinion, brings some of the others into the equation.
Max Dynamite would have been of huge interest if he’d hadn’t bombed out 3 weeks ago behind Pallasator. I expect much better from him today and, on last season’s form, would stand a good chance but I’m really worried that he’ll need this. Of more interest would be Gosden’s horse Flying Officer and Cumani’s Mizzou. The latter got the better of Flying Officer on their seasonal reappearance runs in the 2 mile Sagaro Stakes here 7 weeks ago, finishing just under a length ahead, but the 3rd horse that day is 5lb better off today and should be capable of reversing the form.
A winner of 6 of his 10 starts, this lightly raced 6 year old should appreciate the step up in trip, goes well at the track and is proven on soft ground. That last run can be upgraded too as he battled for the lead for a long way so the fact he was still there at the business end is a plus. He likes to be up with the pace which should suit on this going and he’s been noted in several races as ‘staying on well’. He should last home and has a master in the saddle so 10/1 to turn over the favourite looks appealing.
Back Flying Officer (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3)
5.00: Britannia Stakes Handicap
30 runners over the 1 mile straight track for 3 year olds. It’s looks to be an absolute minefield and you might be better picking the one with the nicest colours rather than trying to solve this puzzle. The front 5 or 6 all look open to bundles of improvement and I’m not even going to give a shortlist. There’ll be plenty of winners to come out of this race and it will pay to keep an eye on this form later in the season.
5.35: King George V Stakes Handicap
Another handicap, this time slightly easier with just the 18 runners going to post. Again though, there are so many 3 year olds with loads of potential so I’m leaving this one alone too. The tentative shortlist would be Primitivo, Harrison and Soldier In Action.
