Royal Ascot 2023 - Day 3

 

14:30 Norfolk Stakes 5f (Group 2) (2yo)

Elite Status is a warm order for this after a demolition job at Sandown in the National Stakes and he put up a big speed figure that day according to the stopwatch lovers, but we saw with Asadna in the Coventry that it doesn't mean he'll back it up here. The form of that Sandown win wasn't exactly boosted on Wednesday evening when the second World Of Darcy could only finish 13th in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes.

One whose form has been tested is NOCHE MAGICA for shrewd operator Paddy Twomey. I thought the way he travelled into the Marble Hill Stakes at the curragh was very taking, he was headed late on by Givemethebeatboys who ran well in the Coventry on Tuesday to finish 4th. This drop back to 5f could be ideal based on that run at the Curragh and his striking debut win, the yard has had 3 winners from their last 5 runners over the last couple of weeks so I'll have him each-way with 4 places available.

Of the others, American Rascal is hard to weigh up, but we did have a winner from the states on day 2, but I don't like his draw in stall 1 anyway. I like the form of the Marble Hill Stakes so I may have a reverse exacta on the tote with His Majesty, who wasn't far behind the selection last time and as we've seen this week the yards runners can take big steps forward.

NOCHE MAGICA 9/1 - 1 Points Each-Way (use a firm paying 4 places)

15:05 King George V Stakes 1m4f (Heritage Handicap) (3yo)

STRUTH had a timely form boost yesterday when Saint George finished 2nd to Gregory in the Queen's Vase on Wednesday and I'm suprised you can still get 20/1 on him with 6 places. He was giving 7lb to Andrew Balding's colt that day and finished clear of the third, the drop back to 1m4f shouldn't be an inconvenience given his Chester win on seasonal return. The 4lb rise he was given looks potentially lenient and he appears versatile with regards to tactics so I'm happy to back him each-way.

There is plenty in with a shout here though so I'm going to keep stakes small, Davideo has a big shout for the in-form Ralph Beckett. Valiant King also has to be respected, with this step up in trip looking sure to suit for Joseph O'Brien's son of Roaring Lion who has entries in the Irish Derby and St Leger.

STRUTH 20/1 - 0.5 Points Each-Way

16:20 Gold Cup 2m4f (Group 1) (4yo+)

With the lack of a standout candidate in this staying division I'm going to take a chance on one who is unproven over the trip in the hope it can eek out some improvement, YIBIR fits the bill here for Godolphin. The furthest he has ever gone on the track is 1m5f so we are very much in unknown territory, but he has been strong at the finish in all of his victories. He ran a huge race from off the pace in the Sheema Classic at Meydan, the only one to make ground from the rear. Later in the season he comfortably saw off a decent field in a Group 2 at Newmarket with multiple subsequent group winners in behind. I was a bit disappointed with his reappearance but that came off the back of a 317 day absence so he could strip fitter and this longer trip looks worth exploring. It's surprising the yard haven't had a winner at Ascot yet this week, but they have been amongst the winners elsewhere including two at Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

YIBIR 11/1 - 1 Point Each-Way

17:35 Hampton Court Stakes 1m2f (Group 3) (3yo)

This is a completely different race to last year's renewal which only had six runners and that opens up each-way angles with four places on offer. Torito was an obvious contender here after an impressive win at Epsom last time, but I missed the bigger prices and he doesn't look a huge amount of value at 7/2 now. EXOPLANET has improved on each start this year, initially finishing a good second to subsequent Lingfield Derby trial winner Military Order with Chesspiece in behind, who finished a good third in the Queens Vase on Wednesday. Last time he did very well to finish third beaten half a length at Newbury when drawn widest of all. He was sat last and had to challenge wide before jumping a piece of litter on the track and momentarily stumbling, so he did well to get back on an even keel and stay on strongly for third.  It would be no surprise for him to take another step forward and these connections had a decent result with Royal Champion on the first day of the festival.

EXOPLANET 9/1 - 1 Point Each-Way

18:10 Buckingham Palace Handicap 7f (3yo+)

I wrote the following about SPIRIT OF LIGHT after his last run "Good run over inadequate 6f at York 17/08/23, one to look at up to 7f. Could be one for buckingham palace / bunbury cup" so I can't let him go unbacked here. It's a slight concern that he ran shockers on both his course and distance starts but they were both when he had only recently joined this yard. He looks a much better horse this year and I'll take him with 6 places each-way.

I'm also going to back KINGDOM COME on the other side of the track for Clive Cox and Kieran Shoemark. He has been progressive on the all-weather including when comfortably accounting for Rainbow Fire at Kempton who won a decent handicap since. Last time out he was a beaten favourite when switched to turf, but it looked to be the extra furlong which beat him rather than the surface. We know Kempton form can translate well to Ascot anyway and the drop back to 7f is a big plus, so anything above double figures definitely looks a bet to me.

SPIRIT OF LIGHT 20/1 - 0.5 Point Each-Way

KINGDOM COME 12/1 - 1 Point Each-Way