ROYAL ASCOT DAY 3 BEST BETS -Thursday, 18 June 2026

ROYAL ASCOT DAY 3 BEST BETS THURSDAY

Race 1 CHESHAM STAKES (Listed)

No1 AIX LA CHAPELLE
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Granted his trainer’s excellent record in this race the eye is firmly drawn to AIX LA CHAPELLE who downed a well fancied stablemate on debut and is by US Triple Crown winner Justify out of a multiple Group winning mare. He could easily shape into a Classic prospect for 2027 and can remain unbeaten. APEROLL gave owner Jonny De La Hey a great start to his association with Richard Hannon when landing some good bets on her debut at Newbury and the Ghaiyyath filly will appreciate the step up to 1400 metres. SEA VENTURE also moves up in trip which should benefit the impressive Haydock winner. She overcame traffic problem that day, and has scope for plenty of improvement. TIME FOR THE MOON scored by a wide margin at Musselburgh and granted how well the Johnstons have fared in the race over the years also needs respecting.

Prediction: 1st AIX LA CHAPELLE, 2nd Aperoll, 3rd Sea Venture, 4th Time For The Moon

Race 2 KING GEORGE V HANDICAP

No17 HEYZOOM (Each Way)
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Saffie Osborne

Burrows fields a small but select team this week but his ace in the pack could be HEYZOOM, who was having only a third run when opening his account at Newbury under Billy Loughnane, who said he felt the colt should prosper going down the handicap route. He debuts in that sphere with the very much in form Saffie Osborne in his saddle. BNAIDER travelled beautifully and overcame greenness to score at Newbury when landing some good bets and is worth saving on. Joseph O’Brien saddles three possibles who each need respecting, and especially given how well the trainer has started the week. The pick of this trio could be CANNES, whose impressive Leopardstown triumph has been boosted. This is quicker ground than he’s faced so far, but if handling it he should get into the shake up under Dylan Browne McGonagle. Ireland offers up another strong contender in the Johnny Murtagh-trained Frankel filly BELIEVED who broke her maiden by more than eight lengths on the Polytrack and has the champion jockey in her irons. JOULANY might not have visited the winners’ circle but his form in maidens stands up to the closest inspection. In a blanket finish at Newbury he claimed third to Maltese Cross who heavily boosted the form with his second placing in the Derby, and though subsequently beaten at Chester his trainer has a great record in this.

Prediction: 1st HEYZOOM, 2nd Bnaider, 3rd Cannes, 4th Believed, 5th Joulany

Race 3 RIBBLESDALE STAKES (Group 2)

No9 LEGACY LINK (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Colin Keane

As long as this doesn’t come too soon for her, Oaks runner-up LEGACY LINK should take care of business, with the quicker ground holding no perils for the daughter of Dubawi. It’s only her second run over a mile and a half, while from her rail post she should obtain a prominent early position from which to counter in the straight. The filly that beat her at Epsom looked very smart and a win from my Nap would certainly endorse that Classic form. GILDED PRIZE is a Group 3 winner for Francis Graffard in France, who though having her unbeaten record stemmed in a Longchamp Group 2 could benefit from this move up the trip ladder, and she rates the main threat, as she has the measure of compatriot WARRIORS WHISOER on the book. JOHANNA WALSH was aggressively ridden when breaking her maiden at Leopardstown and is another for whom stretching out in trip can prove to be an asset.

Prediction: 1st LEGACY LINK, 2nd Gilded Prize, 3rd Warriors Whisper, 4th Johanna Walsh

Race 4 GOLD CUP (Group 1)

No6 TRAWLERMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick

In a new ovation to the equipping of tack, TRAWLERMAN will have protective goggles placed over his face both in the paddock and on the way to the start for this blue riband of the meeting. The eight-year-old gained a memorable first success in the contest last season when benefitting from an enterprising ride, and ended the campaign by taking out the Group 1 Long Distance Cup here in the autumn. Subsequently connections have had to closely monitor his eyesight, but should this unique headgear do its job the Godolphin-owned gelding can again show his effectiveness when fresh and take the spoils. SCANDINAVIA will enjoy the trip and the ground as he tries to make this a sixth success on the bounce following his St Leger and Levmoss Stakes triumphs. Coolmore have won two of the last five runnings and he rates on paper the one they all have to beat, with no question marks next to his name. CABALLO DE MAR is a smart stayer that keeps turning up and might well deliver in one of the Cup races this year. He grittily took out a Group 1 at Longchamp on his latest start, and has shown himself to be effective here. Trawlerman’s stablemate SWEET WILLIAM will get the strong pace he needs, and having shown a liking for the track with his Sagaro Stakes win last month should stay on into the money as a lively outsider.

Prediction: 1st TRAWLERMAN, 2nd Scandinavia, 3rd Caballo De Mar, 4th Sweet William

Race 5 BRITANNIA HANDICAP

No17 BLUE COURVOISIER (Each Way)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Saffie Osborne

Cox has his horses in sparkling form and in BLUE COURVOISIER fields a serious challenger for the toughest three-year-old handicap in our calendar. It’s normally hard to be confident in a 33-strong field but the son of Sea The Stars ran well here last month and then made all with Osborne in the plate to score easily at Carlisle. It shows that the selection gets every yard of a stiff mile, though whether stall 1 will prove positive is in the lap of the gods. Just four slots away in the gate is CREST OF FIRE who chased him home in Cumbria when not enjoying the clearest of runs. Tom Marquand is an interesting booking for Jack Channon’s charge, who has placed on a number of occasions and threatened to land a big pot even though 5lb higher. LANGSTONE is a barnmate of the selection who finished second in the same race on just a fourth career start. He appeared to allow the winner to steal a march but is right in the mix from his 6lb higher mark, and can earn. ORGANISE could progress for John Gosden with cheek pieces added, having done nothing wrong when second to Laureate Crown on his first run in a handicap at Sandown. He enjoys a swing in the weights with his conqueror, and can turn the tables.

Prediction: 1st BLUE COURVOISIER, 2nd Crest Of Fire, 3rd Langstone, 4th Laureate Crown, 5th Organise

Race 6 HAMPTON COURT STAKES (Group 3)

No10 MY LOVE IS KING (Each Way)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin

Formlines involving Derby winner Christmas Day make Aidan O’Brien’s ENDORSEMENT a hot property in this Group 3 over a mile and a quarter and he will start as a worthy favourite. That said, there could be some mileage in MY LOVE IS KING at three times the price. The son of Kingman got the trip well when second in a Listed race at Newmarket while finding only Derby runner-up Maltese Cross his superior on his previous start in a Newbury novice. His trainer now adds cheek pieces. MAHO BAY is on a recovery mission after flopping in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and although he would appreciate some rain he’s a player on what he produced on his two winning appearances before that. ITALY is game, and while often finding a couple to beat him is a useful second string to the O’Brien bow.

Prediction: 1st MY LOVE IS KING, 2nd Endorsement, 3rd Maho Bay, 4th Italy

Race 7 BUCKINGHAM PALACE HANDICAP

No28 MEZCALA (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand

It’s always tough to get out of jail in a race of this nature, but if you’re still behind the eight ball around 6pm there could be solace in supporting MEZCALA who failed to make the cut in yesterday’s Hunt Cup. The Expert Eye gelding fairly hosed up on reappearance at Doncaster and might have gone close at Newbury had he not been drawn on the wing. He’s been in very good form at home and might be in the best part of the track from stall 30. Doncaster scorer ARCTIC DAWN powered clear as the gamble of the day and the grey returns from 9lb higher. He was however good value for his winning margin on the Town Moor, and has crack Australian jockey Zac Lloyd in his saddle. COSI BELLO attracts my attention as a three race winner from just five outings while he was gameness personified when edging home from 2lb lower at Haydock. DANCE IN THE STORM loomed but wasn’t suited by the undulating track when missing out on a place at Epsom, but could fare better on a belated first visit to Ascot.

Prediction: 1st MEZCALA, 2nd Arctic Dawn, 3rd Cosi Bello, 4th Dance In The Storm.