It’s Gold Cup day at Royal Ascot, and the big race is just one of seven exciting contests at the famous meeting. Check out our preview for day three here!
Race 1 – Norfolk Stakes – ELITE STATUS 5/4
ELITE STATUS lived up to his name with a fine National Stakes win and can again show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Norfolk Stakes.
A three-length winner on debut for Karl Burke at Doncaster, he rocketed home by five lengths at Sandown in what was a quick time on the night.
This Group Two is obviously another notch up the ladder, but this Havana Grey colt has looked a pretty striking runner.
Race 2 – King George V Handicap – BURGLAR 5/1
There are some fiendishly difficult handicap contests to get stuck into at the Berkshire venue, with the King George V Stakes possibly heading home with the Gosdens.
They field two for owner Anthony Oppenheimer and preference is for BURGLAR, who has won two of his three outings, most recently scoring at Redcar.
Others to consider include BERTINELLI, who needed every yard of the mile and a quarter to lift the London Gold Cup so should be even better at this distance, although he does have to concede weight to some unexposed sorts.
TAGABAWA, WONDER LEGEND and PERFUSE should not be ruled out.
Race 3 – Ribblesdale Stakes – AL ASIFAH 8/13
AL ASIFAH made short work of an admittedly average Listed contest at Goodwood, but it was impossible not to be impressed with the manner of her six-and-a-half-length verdict.
She quickly went clear when asked over a mile and a quarter and the extra two furlongs of the Ribblesdale Stakes should hold few fears.
Owner Shadwell and trainers John and Thady Gosden felt she merited supplementing for this Group Two contest and while a relatively swift return is an unknown factor, she looked a filly out of the top drawer.
Race 4 – Gold Cup – SUBJECTIVIST 8/1
Those willing to take a leap of faith with SUBJECTIVIST can be rewarded in the Gold Cup on day three at Royal Ascot.
The six-year-old looked the new staying superpower when scorching to a five-length victory in this contest in 2021, with Stradivarius toiling back in fourth.
However, connections’ joy was short-lived as he then suffered a tendon injury which looked likely to end his promising career.
The son of Teofilo was off the track for 618 days before returning to action in Riyadh in February, when he gave himself no chance of a dream return for trainer Charlie Johnston when racing far too keenly before weakening in the finish under top-weight in a richly-endowed handicap heat.
Given another chance to shine in the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March, Subjectivist was again eager to get on with matters and eventually had to settle for a five-length third behind the reopposing Broome.
That run showed he might just retain his old ability though, as he finished best of those to race prominently and, in an open-looking year, it could pay to side with a horse who is proven over course and distance at Group One level.
Race 5 – Britannia Handicap – DOCKLANDS
DOCKLANDS hacked up over the Britannia course and distance last month and even a 14lb hike might not stop him here.
RACINGBREAKS RYDER is also on a steep upward curve, while STARNBERG has bounced off quick ground to score as he liked at York and Nottingham.
Expensive purchase JUST AN HOUR beat a subsequent winner at Killarney but perhaps a chance is worth taking on fellow Irish raider PANIC ALARM, who made the frame in the Madrid Handicap won by Paddington, since when he has held his own in good company.
His compatriot FORT VEGA showed excellent resolution to hang on at Naas, with Betterdaysrcoming back in third. The latter franked the form with a Curragh victory, in a race in which Carracci didn’t get the smoothest of passages.
Race 6 – Hampton Court Stakes – CAERNARFON 8/1
CAERNARFON steps back to Group Three company in the Hampton Court Stakes following two fine efforts in Classics.
Fourth in the 1000 Guineas, albeit beaten 10 lengths, was supplemented by an excellent effort to be beaten just two lengths by Soul Sister when third in the Oaks.
It looked as though Jack Channon’s filly might even win the Epsom Classic at one point before she was collared in the final two furlongs, so it may be the mile and a quarter she faces here is actually her ideal trip.
Taking on the colts is clearly a big ask, but her fillies’ allowance puts her well ahead once her top rating of 112 is also taken into account.
Race 7 – Buckingham Palace Handicap – BARADAR
Many will fancy their chances in what looks a typically wide-open renewal, so only a tentative vote can go to BARADAR.
George Boughey’s gelding was arguably an unfortunate third in the Lincoln having been positioned on the wrong side of the track, and was luckless once again over this course and distance in the Victoria Cup last month after being slowly away and short of room at a crucial stage.
BIGGLES, who finished in front of the selection in second that day, has to be considered from an unchanged mark, along with the progressive Croupier.
Second in this off 3lb lower last year, the loveable ROPEY GUEST could outrun his lengthy odds and makes each-way appeal.
MONTASSIB and VAFORTINO must also enter the reckoning, while RHOSCOLYN finds himself on a workable mark judged on last season’s exploits and should not be underestimated either.
