Royal Ascot Day 3 Preview

Day 3 features the Ascot Gold Cup as well as the Tercentary Stakes where the Queen could well have a winner in Peacock.

Norfolk Stakes

King of Rooks was 3rd on debut to Steady Pace with Beaverbrook in 2nd (finished 3rd and 4th at Royal Ascot respectively) before improving significantly for this run when stepped up in distance at Newbury. Making most of the running he quickened away well to win by 6 lengths in a maiden which had previously been won by Canford Cliffs. He was stepped up in class to a Listed race at Sandown and won this very impressively. Buratino was back in 2nd with Steady Pace 3rd and this form now looks very strong. This Listed event at Sandown was won by Tiggy Wiggy and Rizeena for the past 2 years who both have proven themselves to be Group 1 performers. The concern would be that he is an Acclamation colt and these have a poor record at Ascot.

Waterloo Bridge will be Ryan Moore’s mount in this race and he has been improving with every run and eventually got off the mark at the 4th time of asking. His form behind the likes of Round Two looks quite strong but he’ll need to really improve to get involved here as the 2 Hannon horses look to have far superior form so far. Zoffany had his first progeny winner at Royal Ascot on Day 1 with Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge should run well here as well.

Log Out Island is the other Hannon runner with this one purchased by Godolphin after a very impressive win on debut over CD. He beat Buratino that day and with a line through this one and Handytalk who was 2nd, there shouldn’t be that much between him and King of Rooks. Being a Dark Angel colt he should handle the course better than King of Rooks and is probably worth taking the favourite on with.

Rogues Gallery is the most experienced horse in the race with 5 runs already under his belt but it did take him all 5 runs to finally get his head in front. He is improving for each run but others have already shown more and with improvement likely for them then Rogues Gallery may well be found out here.

A race that looks between the 2 Hannon horses and with both recently bought, the owners will be looking to recoup some of this expense. With improvement likely for Log Out Island and the fact he is a Dark Angel colt he should handle the course and looks the better bet of the 2 @ 11/4.
———————————————————————————————————————————

Tercentenary Stakes

Cape Clear Island has been quite highly tried this season including when finishing 7th in the French Derby last time out. He was beaten earlier this season by Master Apprentice in a classic trial and there probably isn’t much between them. Cape Clear Island has been fitted with the 1st time blinkers and this may sharpen him up but it’s interesting to see that Ryan Moore has not chosen to ride this one and is aboard the Sir Michael Stoute horse however this may be due to Joseph having more of a say with this horse as reports are he is taking on more of the training role this season.

Peacock was very impressive on his last start when stepped up to 1m2f at Newmarket and his form this season looks very strong. 2 wins under his belt either side of a 2nd to Golden Horn who has since won the Derby in very impressive fashion. Richard Hannon doesn’t have a great record in this race although I’m sure he would have targeted this Queen runner at a race that he could win.

Time Test ran some good races last season including when 2nd to Latharnach who has since finished 2nd in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot before making an encouraging winning reappearance at Newbury in a race that has a habit of throwing up plenty of subsequent winners. Previous runners in this race including Green Moon (winner of Melbourne Cup), Monterosso (winner of Dubai World Cup), Al Kazeem (winner of numerous Group 1’s), Hillstar (winner of Canadian International Stakes) and Cannock Chase (followed up winning this race at Royal Ascot). After being held up at Newbury he quickened up nicely and won going away and should improve for that run and clearly has a big chance in this race. Frankie takes over the ride and they should go well.

Don Camillo comes over from Ireland and will be making his turf debut having had 3 runs on the All Weather surface so far at Dundalk. He was beaten last time out by Hardstone who didn’t really frank the form on Day 1 at Royal Ascot. Dermot Weld doesn’t come over with horses that don’t have a chance but it’s unclear what this one will show on the turf.

Disegno is Ryan Moore’s chosen mount and this has to be a positive. Both his runs this season have been quite good including when 3rd behind Golden Horn and Peacock at Newmarket before getting chinned on the line at Chester in a race that wasn’t run to suit. The race is unlikely to be run at a crawl and this horse should be given a good ride by Ryan Moore and staying on really well late on.

Bocca Baciata finished 5th in the Irish Guineas last time out having previously beaten both Pleascach and Diamondsandrubies at Navan who have both franked this form. A drop down to a Group 3 may well suit as would the step back up to 1m2f. Fran Berry takes the ride and she should go close with her Fillies allowance taken into account.

A really tricky race with nothing really standing out. Time Test is likely to improve for his recent run and the form of that race always works out well. A small win bet only on Time Test @ 9/4.
———————————————————————————————————————————

Ribblesdale Stakes

Pleascach has won her last 2 runs including the Irish 1000 Guineas when her pacemakers did a great job. She just held off Found that day and this is very strong form. On this performance she looks head and shoulders above her rivals and Godolphin have made a very good purchase here. The worry would be the course record of Teofilo progeny but her recent performances have been so far clear that even with this she should go very close.

Zamoura won her first two starts this season in good style before being stepped up for the Cheshire Oaks at Chester and despite running well she was no match for Diamondsandrubies and probably has a bit to find with some of her rivals. With her form looking slightly below par and being an Azamour Filly who have poor records here she is probably worth skipping.

Curvy has really improved this season including last time out when beating the highly regarded Giovanni Canaletto who ran well for 4th in the English Derby. Ryan Moore takes over the reins but she does have 6 lengths to turn around with Pleascach on their debut efforts however Curvy has obviously improved since then. The course should suit more so than some of her rivals and we expect her to run well.

Pamona was a horse we fancied to run a big race in the English Oaks if she had turned up after an eyecatching 3rd to Crystal Zvezda. She got no run that day and was doing all her best work late on and should improve enormously for that run. Duke of Marmalade progeny have started well at the course with 2 winners from 18 and Pamona should go well here.

Gretchen has only had the one run and she was an impressive winner and the runner up has since come out and won as well. She should improve for that run and the maiden that she won was previously won by Riposte who went on to win this race at Royal Ascot. This is a step up in class but is deserved and she may well spring a small surprise.

A really tricky race to work out who is the best bet in the race. We think Pleascach is the one to beat but can’t be backing her at odds on. Pamona and Gretchen are the 2 that have e/w chances and can be backed at 7/1 and 9/1 respectively.
———————————————————————————————————————————

Gold Cup

Tac De Boistron has been really consistent with 4 wins and 3 2nd’s from his last 7 races including when winning here at Ascot in the Longines Sagaro Stakes in really impressive fashion. The didn’t quite go to plan last time out at Chester however the form has been franked with the winner Clever Cookie winning again and was due to run in this race. A smooth travelling horse he should come there going well and it is probably all about whether he stays this far. If he does then he is sure to go very close. He looks very overpriced at 16/1.

Forgotten Rules has only had 4 runs in his career and has won all 4 including a bumper at Punchestown and latterly a Group 3 at Navan which has been won in the past by Fame and Glory and Leading Light both of whom have won this Gold Cup. Dermot Weld has won this race before with Rite of Passage and Forgotten Rules looks to have all the credentials to follow suit.

Mizzou was winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes at Ascot on his last start which has been won by Estimate and Tac De Boistron in the last 2 seasons so has to have a big chance and is very unexposed with only 6 runs to date. This would be a step up in class but he is deserved of that and is still a colt so connections obviously feel he is very talented. He has the beating of Vent De Force and Forever Now on the back of his recent win.

Kingfisher ran a decent race on his reappearance when 4th to Forgotten Rules and stepped up on that when winning on his next start when winning a Listed race at Leopardstown but it would take a leap of faith to believe this one can reverse form with Forgotten Rules.

This looks obvious as to what to do in this race as TOP RATED Tac De Boistron is 16/1 and a decent e/w bet looks in order. Forgotten Rules is the one to beat and a saver on him looks in order @ 11/4.
———————————————————————————————————————————

Britannia Stakes

Resonant has come out TOP RATED and this on the back of being well beaten at Epsom. Before this however he had shown some smart form including when winning a good handicap at Goodwood. The form of this race however hasn’t been franked yet and in fact a few have let it down so it might not have been that good a performance. Regardless he has come out TOP RATED and Mark Johnston, Silvestre De Sousa and Cape Cross progeny do well here so can’t be discounted.

Mutarakez comes into this race in great form having won his last 3 races and looks a horse that can certainly continue his progression and in time over further. He just got up at Haydock and so will need a really fast pace but he is likely to get this here and with Fast Company progeny already having a winner at Ascot, you would hope he handles the track. Drawn in 12 means he can choose which group to join and should be making his move late and fast.

Sugar Boy dead heated last time out with Critical Risk at Sandown and this form looks quite strong. Sitting relatively prominent he battled on well when headed and was able to rejoin Critical Risk on the line to share the spoils. He too has been drawn in the middle so can decide which side to join. The concern would be both James Doyle and William Buick have decided to ride other Godolphin horses.

Quick Defence took his time to break his maiden tag before doing so on his 5th attempt when dropped back in distance to 1m having been tried over 1m2f. This extra stamina that he should have should mean he is finishing his race off well which is needed at Ascot as they normally go fast in these types of races. Joel Rosario takes the ride and he is sure to sit pretty handy aboard this useful horse.

Bow and Arrow has been selected by James Doyle as his ride and he arrives having his last 3 races including at Redcar on his final start when only just holding on. The fact that James has selected to ride must mean he feels this has a reasonable chance but may find one or two of these a bit more unexposed.

Amazour is stepping up in distance having won his last 2 race over 6f and 7f and the way he has been finishing these races indicate the step up in distance might work. If this step up does work then it may be that we haven’t quite seen the best of Amazour and he may still be ahead of his mark.

Sahaafy had a form boost today when Always Smile almost won the Sandringham and his subsequent victory at Newmarket was also very impressive. He has been raised 11lb for that and may find this tough to overcome however is going the right way and can’t be dismissed.

Resonant may well bounce back here as Epsom isn’t to every horses liking and if he does then he looks very overpriced. Mutarakez may have the race run to suit and should be finishing best of all. They both look decent each way bets @ 25/1 and 10/1 respectively.
———————————————————————————————————————————

King George V Stakes

Space Age is TOP RATED and it is understandable why. His last 2 efforts have been good including when 5th on his return to Time Test before making all at Newmarket over 1m2f. This extra distance should suit at this flatter track and a 3lb rise might appear lenient. William Buick has been riding well so far and he will be looking to get another on the board for Godolphin who were so narrowly denied in the last on day 2.

Dissolution was 2nd when Space Age was 5th and is weighted to maintain the places as Space Age has been raised for his win at Newmarket. Slowly away against Time Test he was closing all the way to the line indicating this step up in distance should suit. Ryan Moore is back in the saddle and he is flying at Royal Ascot so far and should go very close again here.

King Bolete stepped up in distance last time out to win and steps up again. He has been raised 9lb for this win and Frankie has got the ride who rode his 50th winner at Royal Ascot on Osaila. Out of Cape Cross he should handle the track but whether his recent win is as good as Dissolution or Space Age is the question.

Keep In Line is James Doyle’s mount in the race and has been steadily getting better everytime he has been stepped up in distance. He steps up a further 3 furlongs today and could be very well handicapped if this distance is what is required. Godolphin won this last year with a similar sort and it would be no surprise to see both Godolphin horses go close.

Space Age @ 12/1 looks a good e/w bet with a small saver on Dissolution @ 5/1. Keep In Line can’t be dismissed and looks overpriced @ 28/1
———————————————————————————————————————————