It is the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting on Thursday and while the big race on the card is the Ascot Gold Cup, which we have previewed elsewhere on the site, there are three other group races on the card in Berkshire and some good betting opportunities among them.
We have gone through and come up with complete previews for all three group races as well as what we believe are the best picks to come out in front down the home straight.
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2.30 Royal Ascot: Norfolk Stakes
Favourites
The opener is a 5 furlong sprint for 2 year olds. This is a Group 2 with 15 runners going to post.
The favourite is Sunday Sovereign from the Paddy Twomey yard and his credentials look solid having beaten Arizona, Tuesday’s Coventry winner in a previous start, but he may well be better over an extra furlong.
A’Ali is the 2nd favourite but offputting is the fact he didn’t win on debut although he was only a neck back in 2nd, the pair coming 9 lengths clear. Air Force Jet is another in this field to beat a Royal Ascot winner when narrowly holding off Southern Hills who won Wednesday’s Listed Windsor Castle. Saying that, this is much better quality being a Group 2 and he was in receipt of 5lbs from Southern Hills when narrowly scoring.
Maven is the American challenger from the Wesley Ward yard. He’ll go well, they always do, but he might prefer the ground a bit faster.
Betting
Preference is for the O’Brien/Moore combination who are bidding for their 3rd 2 year old winner of the week with Mount Fuji. He won on debut but ran very green. He was scrubbed along from an early stage but finished to good effect. His trainer rates him at potentially smart and it’s interesting on what he’s achieved to see him pitched in at this level rather than the Listed race option he had open to him.
The trainer-jockey combo have won 2 of the last 4 runnings of this race so good things must be expected. Add to that a high draw in 13 which proved advantageous on Wednesday on the straight course, he looks a cracking each way bet to kick off Day 3.
Tips
Back Mount Fuji (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
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3.05 Royal Ascot: Hampton Court Stakes
Favourites
There are 14 for this 1 mile 2 furlong Group 3 race for 3 year olds. The field is headed by Fox Chairman who has only seen the track twice, winning well on debut before finishing 3rd at Chester in a Listed race behind St James Palace winner Circus Maximus.
However on a line through Mohawk, O’Brien’s Cape Of Good Hope has the beating of Fox Chairman and the Irish challenger has improved since finishing 4th in the French Derby. King Ottokar won on his reappearance beating Wednesday’s Queen Vase winner Dashing Willoughby so holds solid claims but any drying of the ground would be against him.
Betting
The selection, however, is Sir Michael Stoute’s Sangarius. This one looks like a typical Stoute middle distance horse that will only keep getting better. He steps up beyond a mile for the first time and should come on a bundle for his sole run this year.
As a 2 year old, he beat Bangkok, a leading fancy for the Derby, on debut before winning a Doncaster Listed event on rain softened ground by almost 3 lengths. He was then 4th in the Dewhurst behind top class Too Darn Hot, Advertise and Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck where he was noted as being immature. On his one start this year, he finished 3rd behind St James Palace 2nd King Of Comedy and even gave his rival 3lbs that day.
He’s sure to come on for that run, will appreciate the step up in trip and ground good or slightly worse will bring about improvement that should be enough to land this Group 3 prize.
Tips
WON – Back Sangarius (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 9.00 Betfair BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
3.40 Royal Ascot: Ribblesdale Stakes
Favourites
Another 3 year old middle distance event, this time the Group 2 Ribblesdale for fillies with 11 going to post over a mile and a half.
O’Brien & Moore have the favourite in Oaks 3rd Fleeting but she is most exposed of the market leaders and could be vulnerable to one improving past her. That said, the trainer has won 3 of the last 5 Ribblesdale’s so knows what it takes to win this race.
Queen Power is the lightly raced 2nd favourite and looks unexposed but this is her first time beyond 10 furlongs and easier ground raises question marks. Last time out she beat Star Catcher by half length but I fancy she’ll reverse the form as she likes more likely to be suited by the extra 2 furlongs.
Betting
The one for our money, however, is Oaks 6th Frankellina. She was 3 lengths behind Fleeting that day but is sure to get a whole closer this time. She’s lightly raced having seen the track just 3 times and her trainer, the in form William Haggas, says she’s improved quite a bit since the Epsom Classic.
She won here only race as a 2 year old and then race a stormer when 2nd in the Musidora going down by a neck after completely fluffing the start. The step up in trip worked as she stayed on stoutly in the Derby without ever showing a blistering turn of foot so this track is likely to suit her more than Fleeting. With no ground or stamina concerns and the wellbeing of the yard, she’ll surely go close.
Tips
Back Frankellina (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back her here:
Day 3 Placepot
For a bit of fun, here’s the 64-line suggestion (2 selections per race) for those wanting a go at the placepot:
2.30: Mount Fuji & Maven
3.05: Cape Of Good Hope & Sangarius
3.40: Star Catcher & Frankellina
4.20: Stradivarius & Thomas Hobson
5.00: Migration & Pogo
5.35: Constantinople & Sinjaari
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