The magic touch of day one failed to carry over to day two but it wasn’t a complete washout. One winner at 5/2 and three placed including a 20/1 and a 5/1 from the main selections means level stakes each way punters would have made a slight profit and win only players would have had almost 60% of their stake back. The others weren’t too far off the mark and if you’d have told me at the start of the week that after 12 races I’d have had 6 winners, 2 seconds a third and a fourth I’d have happily settled for that.
Day three looks quite difficult and there are no real stand out dead-certs for me. At the likely odds most of todays selections are backable each way. Add to that the possibility of storms overnight and potential non runners after this is published and the advice is to tread cautiously.
The two year olds get things under way with the Norfolk Stakes at 2:30 and once again Wesley Ward has the tissue favourite with McErin. There are two trains of thought here. One, that his ‘best’ two year old got turned over yesterday. and two, he has had one hack up on both days. Personally I am joining the first camp as I am wondering if the straight 5 furlongs will stretch the horses stamina, that added to the fact that it has already been beaten is enough for me to side step it. My selection is SANTRY who has already won twice, is unbeaten and has already beaten a few of these. He looks the type to stick with for a while. True Blue Moon looks the better of Aiden O’Brien’s pair despite Ryan Moore choosing Sioux Nation and he could chase the selection home.
The Hampton Court Stakes at 3:05 has a strong field of three year olds and features a mix of horses who just came up short in classics and classic trials and unexposed potential improvers. Mirage Dancer and Tamleek could both be top class but I am going to go for one with some solid form in the book. BAY OF POETS was placed in two Derby trials and finished mid division in the French Derby. Add to that the fact that he has been gelded since and that the stable and Godolphin have hit form and it makes him of enough interest to be a sporting selection. The other Godolphin horse Benbatl could chase him home.
The Ribblesdale Stakes at 3:40 is a race I always like and the superbly bred MORI looks to be the one here. Sir Michael Stoute overtaking Sir Henry Cecil as leading all time Royal Ascot trainer with a Frankel filly would also be a nice touch. Alluringly looks set to chase her home.
Technically the centrepiece of the whole meeting the Gold Cup is at 4:20 and as seems to be usual these days it is likely there will be a very short priced favourite. Order Of St George won the race well last year and has obviously had his whole season geared around a repeat. However, the difference in the ground, the fact that the Ballydoyle horses have mostly come up a little short so far this week and the slight doubts I have about the horses appetite for a battle mean selecting him at the current odds is a non starter. A far better gamble in my opinion could be taken on SIMPLE VERSE having the necessary stamina to see out the trip. She certainly has the class and the speed to put all these to the sword. At the likely odds it is worth taking a chance on her stamina. Trainer, Ralph Beckett is convinced by all accounts that the trip holds no fear for the 2015 St Leger winner. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Torcedor follow her home.
Two very tricky three year old handicaps end the day. Firstly at 5:00 the Britannia Stakes. As is the way with these Ascot handicaps there are a lot of unexposed horses who will probably go on to win in pattern company later in the season. A case could be made for several and once again most of the big yards and connections are represented. The one that interests me the most is the Charlie Hills trained AFAAK, it has the classic profile of a Hamdan Al Maktoum big handicap winner and won its last two races nicely. With just 8 stone 11 it is receiving weight from most of the fancied runners and looks a good bet to finish in the money. Gilgamesh who is on a five timer is also fairly treated and is my second selection. The well bred Senator, by Frankel out of Red Bloom is surely better than he has shown so far and is my tricast selection in the hope that the step up in trip will suit.
The final race on day three is the King George V Stakes at 5:35 and this one is no easier to solve than the Britannia. In this one I like the look of MASTER SINGER. He won his maiden at Newcastle on the dirt by an incredible sixteen lengths and if he can transfer that ability to turf he could be something special. John Gosden does not enter horses unless he thinks they can win and it is likely he sees this horse as a potential group performer later in the season. There are plenty of other improving and unexposed horses in the race though so it will be no sixteen length cakewalk today. Atty Persse also looks to be one to keep on side and he could give the selection most to do. Top weight Homesman has some good solid form and despite concerns about the weight he is my tricast selection.
Lets hope day three is more day one than day two and good luck to anyone having a punt. Back for more on day four.