Thursday Weather update -- There was a slim chance of showers today and any early rain in the south should soon clear on Thursday then along with Friday, dry with sunny spells. High of 18C so although dry not as warm as you would have liked.
Going -- GOOD TO FIRM
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 race today we've a few other decent events to take in, which will start at 2:30 with the NORFOLK STAKES over 5f for 2yos.
A smaller field than usual with just 10 runners declared, this won't be easy to determine, since every horse has at least won a race so far. Plenty of interest in the American raider SHANG SHANG SHANG and will probably go off favourite according to the market. So we side with a pair against the field at reasonable odds of reward. First up is CHARMING KID and we pair with Irish raider LAND FORCE.
2:30 Royal Ascot -- Norfolk Stakes (5f)
RESULT
1st. Shang Shang Shang 5/1
2nd. Pocket Dynamo 20/1
3rd. Land Force 7/1
At 3:05 we have the HAMPTON COURT STAKES and it's a Group 3 for 3yos over 1m 2f. Nice of them to return to the original name this season.
16 runners line up for this renewal, a trio of which are Godolphin inmates, KEY VICTORY, NATIONAL ARMY and NORDIC LIGHTS of which KEY VICTORY looks the pick on his effort in the French Derby. Plenty of opposition and possible to pick MAIN STREET while the John Gosden and Frankie Dettori partnership is still firing in winners on the latters favourite track.
A big prize outsider MASAARR (20/1) is interesting back in a non handicap and with a strong pace assured.
3:05 Royal Ascot -- Hampton Court Stakes (1m 2f)
RESULT
1st. Hunting Horn 5/1
2nd. Crossed Baton 16/1
3rd. Zaaki 14/1
3:40 is the RIBBLESDALE STAKES a Group 2 event for 3yo Fillies (well it IS ladies day).
Of the ten declared there are a few that come into this with interesting form to start with WILD ILLUSION who was runner up in the Oaks at Epsom and meets lower quality here so should take all the beating if not too affected by that experience, had MAGIC WAND back in 4th but was a long way back and would be a surprise if able to reverse that form even on this more accommodating track.
The likes of SUN MAIDEN must be highly regarded as they move up into Group company from a small novice win at Salisbury, and DANCING BRAVE BEAR will go well at a nice price for his connections having contested a Group 3 last time and is capable of placing.
3:40 Royal Ascot -- Ribblesdale Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st. Magic Wand 10/3
2nd. Wild Illusion 9/4 fav
3rd. Sun Maiden 3/1
4:20 Royal 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 only 9 are declared with the absence of last years winner Red Orange due to injury this can go back to the 2016 winner ORDER OF ST GEORGE won this well that year and is still only lightly raced as a 6yo so looks like he's going to be difficult to beat once more.
Was hoping to see Sweet Selection too but another who appears to have been injured so maybe DESERT SKYLINE who was placed in the Sagaro Stakes here then runner up in the Yorkshire Cup so clearly stays and can step forward and run a good race for another place here.
4:20 Royal Ascot -- THE ASCOT GOLD CUP (2m 4f)
RESULT
1st -- STRADAVARIUS 7/4F
2nd -- VAZIRABAD 9/2
3rd -- TORCEDOR 14/1
5:00 is the BRITANNIA STAKES over the straight mile. Only 33 runners and 9/1 the field 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 RUFUS KING who's forecast 33/1 and drawn 21 too.
In the middle (drawn 17) we've David Probert on board CRACK ON CRACK ON and that one is seeking a hat-trick and has winning form on Good to firm going so 9/1 probably won't last too long although has never seen a field of this size and depth.
Of the many that Richard Hannon saddles here I would go with QAYSAR despite his defeat last time given another chance here off a low draw.
5.00 Royal Ascot -- Britannia Stakes (1m)
RESULT
1st -- Ostilio 10/1
2nd -- Curiosity 14/1
3rd -- Magnificent 33/1
4th -- Desert Wind 66/1
5:35 -- KING GEORGE V STAKES over 1m 4f for 3yos and only the 19 runners for this one (2 reserves declared too).
Top weight is Charlie Appleby's Godolphin runner DUBHE a winner on his season debut and James Doyle to assist gives him an excellent chance despite the burden of 9st 7lb. Might do well to give the weight to the likes of FIRST ELEVEN / MAKING MIRACLES and the finale for day three couldn't be more competitive.
5.35 Royal Ascot -- King George V Stakes (1m 4f)
RESULT
1st -- Baghdad 9/1
2nd -- Corgi 12/1
3rd -- First Eleven 6/1
Results from today have been updated 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 too plus the World Cup if you hadn't noticed that.
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