Royal Ascot Day 3 tips and best bets with Garry Owen bullish as he picks out his Gold Cup good thing. Our main man is mixing bankers with tantalising outsiders for the big week in Berkshire.
Gold Cup Highlight: Rahiebb
RAHIEBB (4:15) looks gilt-edged in a tremendous renewal of the Gold Cup on Day 3 of Royal Ascot. Roger Varian's horse looked in need of a stiffer stamina test despite some solid efforts over 1m 4f. The bay certainly relished tackling 1m 6f when third to Carmers in last season's Queen's Vase here. That performance made the four-year-old a realistic contender for Classic honours in the St Leger. He was suited by the return to 1m 4f when fourth to Merchant in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. The colt was better suited by further when just held by Scandinavia in the Leger itself at Doncaster. The bold-galloper was expected to really excel over staying trips this season following a Winter break. He began to fulfil those expectations when easing home from Al Nayyir in the Yorkshire Cup at York. The bay hit the line running so he can upstage the staying elite over today's marathon trip of 2m 4f.
Chesham Stakes: Aix La Chapelle
Aidan O'Brien regularly targets the Chesham Stakes so I'm rowing in with AIX LA CHAPELLE (2:30). The colt was a reasonably well-fancied 4-1 shot ahead of his debut in a Curragh maiden 13 days ago. He showed abundant class when staying-on strongly to comfortably deny Bull Shark in a hot event. The two-year-old clearly has a bright future so he can get the better of some promising opponents.
Hampton Court Stakes: Endorsement
O'Brien can get the verdict once again with ENDORSEMENT (5:35) in the Hampton Court Stakes. The colt went into plenty of notebooks when second to Benvenuto Cellini on debut at Killarney. He quickly built on that effort when comfortably defeating Limestone over 1m 1f at Tipperary. The bay stayed 1m 2f well when chasing home Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland at Newmarket. He then wasn't ready for Group 1 company when well-beaten in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. The three-year-old hit back when pipped by Christmas Day in the Ballysax at Leopardstown. He stayed on the rise with a close third to James J Braddock in the Irish Derby Trial back there. The bold-galloper benefitted from a step-up to 1m 4f at that venue when caning Amadeus Mozart. That is the best form offer in an above par Group 3 so the son of Wootton Bassett can strike again.
King George V Stakes: Joulany
The King George V Stakes looks as trappy as ever but I'm on Ralph Beckett's JOULANY (3:05). The three-year-old looked promising when chinned by Look To The Stars on debut at Kempton. He then made eye-catching late headway to claim fourth behind Morshidi over a mile at York. Those efforts saw the colt being pitched into a red-hot novices' event on his return over 1m 2f. He did very little wrong when a cracking third to future Epsom Derby runner-up Maltese Cross. The bay was even better suited by 1m 4f when second to the classy Galiyan in a Chester maiden. The son of Sea The Stars is still on the upgrade so he can make his class tell on his handicap bow.
Ribblesdale Stakes: Legacy Link
LEGACY LINK (3:40) can earn us a few quid in another fascinating running of the Ribblesdale Stakes. Team Gosden's horse was an eye-catching third to Evolutionist on debut over a mile at Newmarket. She put that effort to good use when hacking-up from Lyrics Of Life in a similar contest at Haydock. The filly then finished strongly to take fourth behind Precise in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile back at HQ. That performance marked the three-year-old as a Classic contender over middle distance this year. She burst into the Oaks reckoning with a convincing defeat of Felicitas in the Musidora at York. The bay then found only fast-rising Thundering On too good in the 1m 4f showpiece at Epsom. There is plenty more to come from this smart type who can gain compensation in this Group 2.
Britannia Stakes: Exclusive Code
EXCLUSIVE CODE (4:50) has all the answers for Archie Watson in the Britannia Stakes. The three-year-old was a 100-30 jolly on debut in a typically warm novice at Newbury. The colt certainly ran with plenty of promise to take fourth behind the talented Gewan. He soon improved again when filling the same spot behind Isaac Newton at Goodwood. The strong-travelling bay was expected to come on plenty stepped-up to a mile this year. He took well to that trip when brushing aside Lighting Thunder on his return at Newbury. The Wathnan raider can do plenty of damage in handicaps so he can see off a strong field.
Buckingham Palace Stakes: Cosi Bello
The Buckingham Palace Stakes is another puzzler but I'm siding with COSI BELLO (6:10). Hugo Palmer's horse began his career by hacking-up from Critical Aclaim at Chelmsford. He raised his game again on all-weather by storming home from Arboreous at Kempton. The four-year-old took well to Turf when agonisingly beaten by Mayday Malone at Chester. He handled this track well when a terrific fourth to Fearnot in a valuable handicap in July. The gelding was given time to develop, returning over seven furlongs at Haydock in April. He duly recorded a fresh personal best with a game head defeat of the useful Sarab Star. This big prize had been the aim ever since so he can hit the target for his shrewd handler.
Yarmouth Selection: Penelope Valentine
PENELOPE VALENTINE (3:15) can turn on the charm for George Scott at Yarmouth. The filly ran with credit again over a mile when second to Leadenhall at Nottingham. The four-year-old was doing all her best work late so she can go on better up in trip.
Ascot Selections Summary
- 2:30 AIX LA CHAPELLE
- 3:05 JOULANY
- 3:40 LEGACY LINK
- 4:15 RAHIEBB (NAP)
- 4:50 EXCLUSIVE CODE
- 5:35 ENDORSEMENT
- 6:10 COSI BELLO
