Thursday – Day Three of Royal Ascot…

Carl Harris of Racing Diary Looks at Day Three of Royal Ascot…todays schedule is another great one;

• 2:30 Norfolk Stakes (group 2) (2yo, Class 1, 5f, 12 runners)
• 3:05 Ribblesdale Stakes (fillies’ Group 2) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 4f, 10 runners)
• 3:45 Gold Cup (group 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 4f, 9 runners)
• 4:20 Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap (straight) (3yo, Class 2, 1m, 30 runners)
• 4:55 Hampton Court Stakes (listed) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 2f, 13 runners)
• 5:30 King George V Stakes Heritage Handicap (3yo, Class 2, 1m 4f, 19 runners)

Another Thrilling Day on Day 3 ahead...

The Gold Cup is the highlight of Ladies Day at Royal Ascot on Thursday. Yeats is looking for a historic fourth successive Gold Cup which will bring the house down if he was able to achieve it. There are other big races either side of the Gold Cup for punters to enjoy.

2:30 Norfolk Stakes (group 2) (2yo, Class 1, 5f, 12 runners)

A group 2 5f 2 y-o event kicks off the card and it could be another one for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. Twelve runners go to post and I am firmly with Monsieur Chevalier. Timeform have this one as top rated at 124. He is the firm favourite at 11/10 ahead of Radiohead at 7-1. Monsieur Chevalier has won all four of his starts so far to date, and was a good winner at Sandown last time of a listed event.

Racing Diary Advice…

Back Monsieur Chevalier to win

3:05 Ribblesdale Stakes (fillies’ Group 2) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 4f, 10 runners)

I am with Sam Turner of the Daily Mail who has given us Leocorno as his best bet at Royal Ascot. Sam says;

LEOCORNO (Ascot, 3.05 Thursday) looked a star filly in waiting at Sandown on her reappearance and it appears significant that her mercurial handler preferred to sidestep The Oaks in preference for today’s event. The scopey daughter of Pivotal greatly impressed Frankie Dettori at the Esher venue and, although she is yet to prove her stamina at this afternoon’s trip, there appears little doubt at home that she could improve again for the step up to 12 furlongs.

Leocorno is the favourite at 7/4 but is not the top rated by Timeform. That accolade goes to Take the Hint who is rated 123 behind Leocorno at 119. The way Leocorno won last time though I am thoroughly with Sir Michael Stoute’s runner.

3:45 Gold Cup (group 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m 4f, 9 runners)

This is the biggest race of the week and has the added spice of Yeats going for his fourth successive Gold Cup. The market speaks in favour of Aidan o’Brien’s superstar. The odds are as follows;

Paddy Power: 9-4 YEATS, 3 Geordieland, Patkai, 6 Veracity, 14 Eastern Anthem, 25 Hindu Kush, 33 Centennial, Washington Irving, Sagara

Geordieland is back to form as he showed at Sandown beating Patkai. Yeats is the best stayer Royal Ascot has ever seen but is he still the horse he was? He disappointed on his seasonal reappearance but that was on shocking ground and we can ignore that. Yeats is miles clear on all ratings and if he is the same horse as last year he will win!

Here is Yeats winning the 2008 Gold Cup, will Geordieland be the danger again?

Paddy Power have come up with some Yeats specials…

WHERE WILL YEATS FINISH IN THE ASCOT GOLD CUP?

Paddy Power: 9-4 First, 3 Second, 6 Third, 11-8 Fourth or further down the field

YEATS ASCOT GOLD CUP WINNING DISTANCE SPECIAL

Paddy Power:

5-1 Yeats to win by up to and including two and three quarter lengths

9-2 Yeats to win by three lengths or more

I think Yeats will win! If he was not up to it he would not be here, he has nothing to prove and Aidan O’Brien has enough horses not to have to force him to run. The signs are there and there will not be a dry eye in the house if he does it.

Racing Diary Advice..

Back Yeats to Win.

4:20 Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap (straight) (3yo, Class 2, 1m, 30 runners)

This is such a tough race that we will analyse this race seperately and in full.

4:55 Hampton Court Stakes (listed) (3yo, Class 1, 1m 2f, 13 runners)

A good race in prospect and Johnny Murtagh can sign off, before his suspension with another winner for Aidan O’Brien aboard Freemantle. Top rated by Timeform and favourite in the market at 11/8. He was a short head second to Black Bear Island in York’s Dante Stakes and takes a drop in grade to listed company. I can not see him beaten here and am firmly with the Ballydoyle team who could have a very big day.

Racing Diary Advice

Back Freemantle to win

King George V Stakes Heritage Handicap (3yo, Class 2, 1m 4f, 19 runners)

Another hot handicap. We will analyse this seperately.

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