Thursday 16th June 2022

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Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

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Royal Ascot 2022 Previews Sponsor:

 

Welcome to my preview for the third day of Royal Ascot and kicking things off again will be the 2:30 which is the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs. I’ve sided with Walbank here at 9/4 for the team of Richard Hannon and Rossa Ryan. He’s a two-year-old colt by Kodiac who sports the Amo Racing silks that have had great success in recent years, his most recent appearance on a racecourse came at York last month where he demolished a novice event by the best part of seven lengths. It’s likely that there is a lot more to come from him and he has to be considered as a serious player here.

Next up it’s the 3:05 which is the King George V Stakes which is a heritage handicap that’s contested over a distance of a mile and four furlongs. As to be expected, this is extremely competitive and it’s currently 6/1 the field. I’ve taken a chance on Israr though at 8/1 for the Gosdens and Jim Crowley. Sporting the Shadwell silks which we saw carried to success by Baeed on the opening day, he’s a useful sort himself. He was last seen when winning the London Gold Cup at Newbury and looks to have more progression ahead of him, he could well prove to be pattern class.

Moving onto the 3:40 and we have the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for fillies over a mile and four furlongs. Sea Silk Road heads affairs here and will be a warm order and likely tough to beat. I’ve tried to take her on though and I’ve done that with Life Of Dreams at 5/1 for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. The team have already tasted success at the meeting and I think this filly could well go close to giving them some more. She was impressive on her racecourse debut at Newbury when bolting up by over three lengths, after that she went to York to contest the Musidora Stakes but found Emily Upjohn to hot to handle and as a result finished five and a half lenths back in second. It will still a good effort to place in a Group 3 on just her second outing, and she gave the impression that this step up in trip will suit. I think there’s a lot more to come from her.

It’s the feature at 4:20 which is the Ascot Gold Cup a Group 1 event that’s contested over two miles and four furlongs. Stradivarius would bring the house down if he was to win this race for a fourth time, and he’s got every chance of doing so. My selection in the race though is Kyprios at 7/4 for the Ballydoyle team of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He’s progressed a great deal this term, winning both starts with his most recent sucess coming in the Group 3 Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown where he won by ten lengths, albeit being a 1/10 favourite. It’s extremely like that his progression has only just begun and he could develop into a major player within this division.

At 5:00 it’s the Britannia Stakes over the straight mile and this is another extremely competitve heritage handicap. It’s another Godolphin horse I like here which is Tranquil Night at 8/1 who represents Charlie Appleby and is the mount of James Doyle. He’s seemingly the second-string here, with William Buick opting to ride the current favourite King Of Time. However, this gelding has some very solid form to his name with his most recent success coming at Newmarket where got the better of the useful Outgate by over three-lengths, a rival that has since gone onto win again. He arrives here having won his last three races and you’d be foolish to discount him from making it four.

The 5:35 is the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes over a mile and two furlongs. This looks to be all about the royal runner Reach For The Moon who currently heads the betting at 8/13 for the team of John & Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori. He was a very promising two-year-old last season, winning the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown before being narrowly denied in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster by Bayside Boy. He made his seasonal reappearance in the listed Heron Stakes at Sandown where he finished second to My Prospero at Sandown. He’s got by far the best form on offer in this race and is clear on ratings, it would be disappointing should he not give the Queen a Royal Ascot winner.

Signing us off on the third day of the Royal Meeting is the 6:10 which is the Buckingham Palace Stakes, a listed contest over seven furlongs. This is another very tough race to get a handle on, with the majority of the field holding some form of chance. I’ve taken a chance on an old friend of mine though in Vafortino at 12/1 for the team of Kevin Phillippart De Foy and Benoit De La Sayette. I put him up on here for his most recent outing which came in the Victoria Cup when he got the better of Accidental Agent by half of a length. He’s been raised a further five-pounds for that success, but there’s every chance that this course and distance winner has more to offer and if turning up in the same form as last time he could well go close again.