Royal Ascot continues Thursday night Australian time, headlined by the Gold Cup (4014m), with star stayer Kyprios being the favourite. Racing expert, Adam Page has done the form for us and provided his best bets for Day 3 at Royal Ascot below. Good luck to everyone following along!
Royal Ascot Racing Tips: Thursday June 20th 2024
Race 1: Norfolk Stakes 1006m - 11.30pm AEST
Diamond Rain is the best on the card but I think a good thing can be found in the opening race via (13) Whistlejacket, a close relation to former top youngster Little Big Bear. He did more than enough on debut over 1200m on heavy ground before finding firmer footing and came back to 1000m, with the end result being a spank job from on speed. He looks a really good prospect and like that they have kept him to 1000m and not gone back up to 1200m.
Wesley Ward has great record at Royal Ascot so you have to give respect to 14 Saturday Flirt, a debut winner at Keeneland. Normally with his runners, they jump, run and are just too fast. This one was dragged back to get cover behind the speed before angling widest on the turn and she knuckled down with purpose late to win. That was over 1100m so she's had a decent grounding.
(10) Stakeholder has only had one start, which came over 1000m at Beverley in a small field, where he was the widest runner down the straight but was trucking before being clicked up and showed nice change up speed but condition gave out, and in the end he just fell in to win. Natural improvement, he rates highly.
(13) Whistlejacket
$1.80 (5 Units)
Race 3: Ribblesdale Stakes 2406m - 12.45am Friday AEST
Best bet on the card for me here comes via (2) Diamond Rain, that is 2/2 to start her career and each time she has looked to have class. Debuted with a win over the mile at this track before going to 2000m at Newbury where she did a bit wrong when asked for the effort but the last 100m or so, she really lengthened like a good filly and won well. IMO, she'll eat up 2400m at Ascot and has upside/progression to come. Keen.
(13) You Got To Me doesn't have much upside I feel but has a good racing style and brings decent enough form lines. All the way winner of the Oaks Trial at Lingfield before going to the Oaks at Epsom. I thought she was brave in defeat when fourth to Ezeliya but I don't think she was 100% happy on the soft ground. The winner looks to be heading towards the Arc so that form clearly reads well and she becomes dangerous if this track is suiting those on speed.
(1) Danielle brings fresh legs into this. She ran third to You Got To Me in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield and while she was safely held, I thought her run was full of merit in defeat given she chased the winner, who led by a space, and I just think doing the donkey work to chase it down just brought her undone late in the piece. Think with a more economical run, she's an absolute must for exotics.
(2) Diamond Rain
$2.60 (5 Units)
Race 4: Gold Cup 4014m - 1.25am Friday AEST
(3) Kyprios isn't the horse he was of 2022, even 2023, but I still think the 2024 version of Kyprios is good enough to claim this race. 2/2 to start his 2024 campaign and while he hasn't been spectacular like he has been in the past, he has got the job done, with class coming to the fore in each win. He is the proven 4000m+ stayer in the field so the trip is no issue, he has that sense of timing, class and is a fighter.
From a Melbourne Cup perspective, (8) Vauban is very interesting given Willie Mullins has already indicated he wants redemption with this horse after he flopped last year on the first Tuesday in November. He resumed in the Yorkshire Cup at York and ran a very credible race in defeat when second to Giavellotto. Beaten comfortably, but did spank the third horse, Gregory, who is shorter than him in the market here, which I find staggering. He has to be respected.
(1) Coltrane seems value if Kyprios is indeed off his game. He was runner up in this race last year and comes into this edition in winning after winning his second straight Sagaro a few weeks ago over the mile here, with class coming to the fore late in the piece. Trip no issue and he's very honest. Not sure I could back him to win but I'd say is a lock to run top four.
(3) Kyprios
$2.10 (5 Units)
