Royal Ascot day three tips: Golden oldie Stradivarius still in tune
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Stradivarius eyes fourth Gold Cup win in Royal Ascot day three tips
We’ve got Royal Ascot day three tips as the star-studded action continues at the Berkshire track, with more top-class contests and wide-open handicaps on Thursday’s cracking card.
Elite-level horse racing and high fashion combine to make this five-day spectacular a can’t miss event on Britain’s sporting and social calendars.
However, we’re focusing on the action on the turf, as we try to pick out the best bets for Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien landed this 5f contest in 2015 and 2017 and The Antarctic (3/1) has shown enough speed in two Irish wins to suggest he can further enhance that record in our Royal Ascor day three tips.
The Dark Angel colt scored on his Tipperary debut despite displaying clear signs of greenness and then claimed a cosy success at Naas in the style of a horse who has much more to offer.
William Haggas can breathe easy for the rest of the week following Baaeed’s Queen Anne triumph on Tuesday but will still be hoping to pick up another nice price with the promising Mandobi at 10/1.
Connections have taken a patient approach with this three-year-old but he looks ready to step up in class after twice justifying favouritism at Ripon and Thirsk.
Haggas and Tom Marquand have another fancied runner here in Sea Silk Road, but she made hard work of scoring at Goodwood last month and slight preference is for Emerald Isle raider Magical Lagoon (11/4).
Jessica Harrington thought enough of her charge to send her over for the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket as a juvenile and she was far from disgraced behind Inspiral.
Magical Lagoon made her three-year-old debut at Navan in April and just failed to wear down Concert Hall, who has since gone on to be placed in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before finishing fourth in the Oaks at Epsom.
As a daughter of Galileo, our selection should have no trouble stepping up in trip to 1m 4f and half-brother Novellist landed the 2013 King George over this course and distance.
There won’t be a dry eye in the house if Stradivarius (5/2) can add to his 2018, 2019 and 2020 victories in the stayers’ showpiece.
While he is perhaps not quite the force of old, the eight-year-old did reappear this season with a win in the Yorkshire Cup and will not mind the recent dry weather one bit.
John Gosden admitted: “At eight, you have to face the fact that it’s like a boxer getting back in the ring too late in his career sometimes, but he’s still enjoying his training and everything is going smoothly.”
With Trueshan absent due to the lack of rain, Kyprios is rated the biggest threat, but the Irish raider has disappointed on two previous trips to Britain.
Gosden and Frankie Dettori will hopefully be in good spirits for this contest, as they have an interesting contender in The Queen’s Saga (10/1), who has been frustrating to follow this term but still looks well treated on his juvenile form.
The son of Invincible Spirit was second to English and French 2,000 Guineas winners Coroebus and Modern Games on his first two starts before making all in fine fashion at this track.
Her majesty will have high hopes of another popular success here with 4/7 favourite Reach for the Moon, who impressed in victory at Newbury and Sandown last season.
He found My Prospero too good when returning to action last month but that victor franked the form with a cracking run when a close third in the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday.
Vafortino seemed to have plenty left in the tank when winning the 27-runner Victoria Cup over the same course and distance last month and can give trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy another notable triumph at 10/1 in the last of our Royal Ascot day three tips.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
