Day Three of the Royal Ascot features a further four Group races, which includes one of the races of the week – The Gold Cup.
GG Editor Tom Aldridge guides you through his selections & analysis for all 7 races on the card, including a strong fancy in the Gold Cup, plus one he likes a big price in the Britannia Stakes.
Back his selections with SkyBet and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you place ANY bet!
Odds correct at time of posting – 1.05pm 21st June
2.30pm – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
What a race to start things off! This should be a two horse race between the market leaders, and I personally thing ELITE STATUS will edge it. He made a promising debut when winning at Doncaster, but it was his effort in the National Stakes that really caught my eye. The way he powered clear of the field to win by five lengths was so impressive, and it’s also worth noting he’s already achieved an RPR which would have been good enough to win 8 of the last 10 runnings of this. American Rascal could be absolutely anything, but I’d rather side with the proven quality of Elite Status.
SELECTION – Elite Status
3.05pm – King George V Stakes (Class 2)
An open looking race that has had just two winning favourites in the last ten years, but also has only three win at double-figure odds in that timeframe. With that in mind, I’ve come down on Sir Michael Stoute’s PERFUSE, who makes his handicap debut after winning both his races since finishing third on debut. The way he pulled further clear when hitting the front at Doncaster last time out was pleasing to watch and I think he’s a good each-way option at tempting odds, with SkyBet offering seven places on the race.
SELECTION – Perfuse
3.40pm – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
This is a relatively straightforward one – AL ASIFAH should take the world of beating here. Having been supplemented for the race following her demolition job at Goodwood earlier in the month, she went straight to the top of the market and deservedly so. The Frankel filly has been so impressive in both runs so far, and it’s difficult to see any of the others here getting close to her. The fact she represents the Gosden yard, who have won four of the last six renewals, is further encouragement to her chances and she rates as one of the most solid bets of the week.
SELECTION – Al Asifah
4.20pm – Gold Cup (Group 1)
Although he’s set to go off as favourite, I still think COLTRANE is an excellent price. He’s one of the stars of the staying division now, and has some of the best form on offer in this. He ran out an easy winner of the Sagaro Stakes here last month on seasonal reappearance and that should have him fully primed for this, which would have been the target for the season. Eldar Eldarov rates the obvious danger, but if you want an each-way selection I quite like the chances of Broome. For win only purposes, I think Coltrane will be difficult to beat.
SELECTION – Coltrane
5.00pm – Britannia Stakes (Class 2)
You don’t get many French runners in British handicaps, but BLESS could be well handicapped off this mark on the pick of his form in France. He was a nose away from beating Marhaba Ya Sanafi on his seaosnal reappearance, and that one is now a Group 1 winner, and he was also just a head behind German 2,000 Guineas winner Angers on his penultimate start. He runs out of stall 10, which was the same as last year’s winner Thesis and double-figure stalls have won 9 of the last 10 renewals. I think Bless has a big chance here at a big price.
SELECTION – Bless
5.35pm – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
Charlie Appleby and William Buick teamed up to win this in 2016 with Hawkbill and I think they could do so again this year with BOLD ACT. Having won his last four races, he stepped up to Listed company and wasn’t overly impressive, finishing fifth behind Canberra Legend. However, that was his first race on testing conditions and the ground here should be much more to his liking. After being gelded following that run, he was a neck away from winning the London Gold Cup, with Exoplanet a further neck behind. He’s 6lb better off with that rival here and I think he has a big chance of landing a victory in his first race in pattern company.
SELECTION – Bold Act
6.10pm – Buckingham Palace Stakes (Class 2)
I usually have a shortlist of 2-3 runners for these handicaps when looking through the field, but there was only one that I came down on in this – Michael Dods’ NORTHERN EXPRESS. His record over this trip on good or better ground reads 51812124 (3-8), but when you just focus on his record with Paul Mulrennan on board it reads 11212 (3-5). He was just touched off over a mile in the Hambleton Handicap on his last appearance, finishing third behind Croupier, but he was waiting for room and flew home once in the clear. He’s also 1lb better off with that rival now and I think he’s a cracking E/W bet. Fingers crossed we can sign off day three with a big winner here!
SELECTION – Northern Express
Back his selections with SkyBet and you can get £30 in Free Bets when you place ANY bet!
ROYAL ASCOT DAY 3 THROUGH-THE-CARD TIPS
2.30 – Elite Status (7/4 generally)
3.05 – Perfuse (8/1 generally)
3.40 – Al Asifah (4/5 generally)
4.20 – Coltrane (7/2 generally)
5.00 – Bless (25/1 generally)
5.35 – Bold Act (17/2 generally)
6.10 – Northern Express (16/1 generally)
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