ROYAL ASCOT 2016. DAY THREE THURSDAY 16th JUNE

Thursday Weather update -- Any early rain in the south soon clearing on Thursday then along with Friday, dry with sunny spells. High of 20C. 

Going -- SOFT

DAY THREE

Gold Cup day, also known as LADIES DAY -- 'but hang on' I hear you shout -- every day is Ladies Day here are Royal Ascot, you just can't move for the amount of dresses and hats on show, even the Essex Girls have made an effort and the fake tan is giving off a nice orange glow in the silver ring. 

Before we reach the big one we've a few other decent events to take in, which will start at 2:30 with the Norfolk Stakes over 5f for 2yos.

11 runners declared, PEACE ENVOY a logical starting place as the choice of the Aiden O'Brien yard, and you'd be wise not to discount RED LODGE if she takes her chance on the going. 

PRINCE OF LIR could be of interest at a decent price too but I would be surprised if it's not out of the top three in the betting in this opener. 


2:30 Result
1st -- Prince Of Lir (Luke Morris) 8/1
2nd -- The Last Lion (J Fanning) 20/1
3rd -- Silver Line (J Doyle) 7/2

At 3:05 we have the Tercentenary Stakes (which I know better as the Hampton Court Stakes) and it's a Group 3 for 3yos over 1m 2f. Why they have to mess about with the names I don't know, what does this one mean? 300th anniversary of Hampton Court or what? Can't be that, anyway back to the race ... 

9 runners in this, a third of which are Godolphin inmates of which HAWKBILL looks the pick on a run of 4 straight wins. 

LONG ISLAND SOUND has a trio of wins too in low key races over in Ireland but Aiden only runs this one so must be slightly fancied. 

3:05 Result
1st -- Hawkbill (William Buick) 11/2
2nd -- Prize Money (J Doyle) 4/1
3rd -- Long Island Sound (R L Moore) 9/2


3:40 is the RIBBLESDALE Stakes a Group 2 event for 3yo Fillies (well it IS ladies day). 

There's a few that come into this with just maiden form to speak of but must be doing something at home to warrant an entry into a decent Group 2. 

However at least there's some listed form for both THE BLACK PRINCESS and WE ARE NINETY and with them both being forecast about 12/1 it would be interesting to try and back them both in the win/place markets against the field. It however a really hard race to call on the form available.

3:40 Result
1st -- Even Song (R L Moore) 15/8 fav
2nd -- Ajman Princess (Andrea Atzeni) 33/1
3rd -- The Black Princess (William Buick) 8/1

4:20 Ascot -- THE ASCOT GOLD CUP 2m 4f

The Gold Cup is the feature race of the whole week as far as I am concerned, despite all the other Group 1 races I think the mix of Ladies Day and the stayers makes this the day to attend and this year ought to be another cracker. 

A field of 18 declared with a warm order favourite in ORDER OF ST GEORGE (surely some irony being trained in Ireland) but at Even Money it's not appealing bet for me. 

Two against the favourite and indeed the field that I've seen in action this season are FLYING OFFICER (Frankie Dettori) and PALLASATOR (Oisin Murphy) both seem to be out and out stayers, have shown good form in trials over 2m and I expect them to be there at the finish, if there are any holes in the favourite then Pallasator is certainly big enough to take advantage, and soundly beat Max Dynamite at Sandown last month. 

4:20 Result THE ASCOT GOLD CUP
1st -- Order of St George (R L Moore) 10/11F
2nd -- Mizzou (A Atzeni) 10/1
3rd -- Sheikhzayedroad (M Harley) 40/1

5:00 is the Britannia Stakes over the straight mile. Only 30 runners (3 reserves declared) so nice and easy as you can tell. 

Top weights seem to go well in these big handicaps here so worth a good look at ABOVE N BEYOND who's forecast 25/1 and drawn 4. 

In the middle (drawn 13) we've Frankie on board PREDICTION and they're 14/1 and at the other end of the draw we pick ARCANADA (drawn 30) out of Tom Dascombe's yard and priced 33/1 so plenty of options and who knows which is best, low, high or straight down the middle.


5.00 Result
1st -- Defrocked (J P Spencer) 13/2
2nd -- Abe Lincoln (Jim Crowley) 20/1
3rd -- Chief Whip (S M Levey) 12/1


5:35 The King George V Stakes over 1m 4f for 3yos and only the 18 runners for this one.

Both PLATITUDE (Sir M Stoute) and THE MAJOR GENERAL (A O'Brien) give away at least 4lb or more to the rest and they're both drawn high too.

Further down the order and on opposite side of the draw is Platitudes stablemate SHRAAOH (Frankie Dettori). We think backing three against the field is sufficient and prices indicate there's still chance of profit in doing so.


5.35 Result
1st -- Primitivo (William Twiston-Davies) 13/2
2nd -- Platitude (R L Moore) 12/1
3rd -- Harrison (S De Sousa) 8/1



Should be able to update results from today during the early evening, and we've still got Friday and Saturday to enjoy.

Oh and if this wasn't enough there's another meeting from Pontefract to savour on Sunday afternoon.