Royal Ascot Day 3

Royal Ascot Day 3

2:30	NORFOLK STAKES (GROUP 2) (CLASS 1) (2yo) Winner £45,368 12 runners 5f Good To Firm CH4

So we open up with the 5F dash in the Norfolk for 2 yr olds

King of Rocks should sweep this up at a skinny Evens or just above (he is double and treble material) and the likely winner of this one
The only challengers to him are potentially Log Out Island 3/1 another Hannon 2 yr old and Waterloo Bridge 16/1 as its O'Brien and Moore combo which is always there or thereabouts

Can not see beyond King of Rocks

3:05	TERCENTENARY STAKES (GROUP 3) (CLASS 1) (3yo) Winner £42,533 14 runners 1m2f Good To Firm CH4

Another race that has no clear stand out winner and could prove awkward to pick a winner in

Roger Charlton's Time Test is going in the right direction and a Fav here he is only 3/1, you would hope to get him beat by an improver but who !!!

Master Apprentice looks very interesting and Andrew Balding will have him spot on for this and he has been impressive he is a juicy 8/1 and that is value for a horse that hopefully will be there when it matters.
Mustadeem needs a mention, a fair way behind Golden Horn in the Feilden Stakes but we know how good he is and has come back and finished a close second in a class 1 at Newmarket he is risky but 10/1 with Hanagan on board he is not without a chance.
I would not rule out Disegno he has talent and is just missing out and can not quite get his nose in front but 9/1 with Ryan Moore on the back he looks big.

Take your pick of those 3 if the Fav can be beat

3:40	RIBBLESDALE STAKES (GROUP 2) (FILLIES) (CLASS 1) (3yo) Winner £105,934 10 runners 1m4fGood To Firm CH4

Pleascach is the rage here and should comfortably win this one i really can not see much stopping him here but again he is skinny at just above evens but will he do the distance.

The Irish challenge apart from the obvious is Curvy who is not without hope here, but if he is good enough is probably no!!  but he is 7/1 and Pandora got to within 3 lengths of Star of Seville so may end up being the main threat and looks the value horse at 10/1 but again is he good enough then today will show

Its Peasecach for me but any chinks then Pandora is the one to take it at a price - Interesting and tricky race.

4:20	GOLD CUP (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £229,854 14 runners 2m4f Good To Firm CH4

The Gold Cup and the Queen does not have a runner, i have fancied all week Vent De Force 8/1 and i should stick to my gut feel, its further than he has been before but you can say that about most, its how they cope with it.

Kingfisher has had his ups and downs but must be respected 10/1 the distance will prove no problem here.
Mizzou and Forgotten Rules are the Fav and can go well although i want them beat in this which should be done
Forever Now 25/1 is not out of this either if stepping up in trip works and could be a bigger danger

I will go with my gut feeling Vent de Force at 8/1 with Kingfisher and Forever Now as places

Add to that its a 4 yr old that normally takes this!!!

5:00	BRITANNIA STAKES (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (COLTS & GELDINGS) (CLASS 2) (3yo 0-105) Winner £74,700 30 runners 1m Good To Firm CH4

Another 30 Horse Race so dart time i hear you cry

Well...................  May be not this time!!!!!

Rotherwick Rotherwick and Rotherwick i will stick my neck on the line and get him home first he has the form at Ascot and its his race and i am being serious for sure, had the prep run with a very creditable 2nd 

This is not an easy race of course and i could find reasons to put others up but i am sticking to my guns on this one (bonkers really) 

Nothing over 9st wins this (its rare) so lets go on the hear and now and at 20/1 he is a steal and fits the profile.

Rotherwick is mine in this one

5:35	KING GEORGE V STAKES (HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo 0-105) Winner £46,688 19 runners 1m4fGood To Firm CH4

Another yet again difficult race to pick a winner 

However I am going for Scottish from the Baldwin yard he is progressive and should see the distance out although very few in here have run this far on a racetrack 

I was impressed with his Newbury run last time out and a step up from that can win this one for him, he is currently an 8/1 shot and is a Value pick.

Nothing heavier than 9st 1lb has won this since 2001 

Putting Green 20/1 has a shout but has to step up big time as does Rib Reserve 16/1 whom i do like but this may have come too soon.

Belgrade 16/1 is interesting as Hughes has chosen this one.

Quest For Wonder is a big long shot and not one to put much on but is 20/1 and the reason i am drawn to him is he has the miles under the bones he will for sure get the distance he is a low weight so could run a biggie here in the lucky last has gone under the radar if he steps up.

So Scottish is the main bet at 8/1 but Quest for Wonder 20/1 will go in too