Day three of Royal Ascot 2024 features the Gold Cup, which for many is their favourite race over the five days. Kyprios is Unibet 6/4 favourite to take his second Gold Cup following his success in 2022 during a campaign when he won six on the bounce. He was off injured when he appeared late on in the 2023 season finishing second on both occasions. In 2024 Kyprios has beaten Queenstown on both occasions at Navan and Leopardstown respectively and should follow up here, with Trawlerman my each way selection chasing him home.
I’m looking forward to being at Royal Ascot tomorrow.
Enjoy whether at Royal Ascot or watching all the races #athome on ITV Racing.
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The Wine Tipster
3:05 Ascot – King George V Stakes Heritage Handicap (1m 4f)
Persica trained by Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon dictated the pace at Epsom over 1m 2f on Derby Day under an excellent ride by Sean Levey. Persica fended off the challenge of the favourite Portsmouth and went on win by 2½ lengths with the third Redhot Whisper another 5¼ lengths back. On his previous appearance at Newbury Persica was fourth in the London Cup when ridden from the back and made headway late on, which didn’t suit him tactically, hence the change for Epsom. Here he is stepping up to this trip for the first time and his sire New Bay won over this distance and was a staying on third in the Arc. Persica has an excellent attitude and certainly wasn’t stopping at the line at Epsom so expect a big run.
Assailant went into the notebook as one likely to come on for his Newmarket run when, although well beaten by Kalpana (who runs in the Ribblesdale later in the afternoon) he stayed on well up the final climb and was only half a length behind Align The Stars at the finish, form that got a timely boost when that one won easily at Thirsk at the weekend. Given Align The Stars can easily be rated in the 90s now, and Assailant gets to run off the same mark as Newmarket, he looks nicely handicapped.
4:25 Ascot – Gold Cup Group 1 (2m 4f)
Trawlerman with the ground quickening up all the time looks the obvious each-way play against Kyprios, who is rightly the obvious favourite.
The pair fought it out in the Long Distance Cup, with Trawlerman just getting the better of Kyprios under an inspired Frankie Dettori, when getting back up in the shadows of the post after looking beaten. He lost little in defeat out in Meydan, and this extreme trip promises to bring a bit more out in him. There’s a lot to like about his chances of hitting the frame today.
5:05 Ascot – Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap (1m)
Skukuza has looked just the sort for this all season, being brought along in small steps on each run, when clearly in need of it at Newmarket when a close sixth to Kikkuli back in April. He improved plenty on that to run second back at Newmarket and on latest appearance ran out a ready winner of a good handicap, with form that’s already been franked with third home Arisaig winning next time. This stiff mile looks ideal, he has a perfect draw up the middle, and looks sure to go well under William Buick.
6:15 Ascot – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (7f)
English Oak (nap) looked so impressive at Haydock last month over this distance on soft going and it was a question of just how far he would win by. He had previously been second to Noble Dynasty at Newmarket and last season showed his liking for Ascot when finishing runner-up to Rohaan over six furlongs.
The quicker ground will be a bonus for English Oak, who looks a group horse in the making.
Carrytheone had caught the eye when finishing midfield here in the Victoria Cup and although going off a big price, came from the clouds to pinch a valuable handicap right on the line at Newmarket last time, the return of the hood (on again today) helping him settle better. He’s only gone up a couple of pounds for that, and in truth would have been an unlucky loser, having found trouble at the furlong pole. The demands of this cavalry charge should again suit him well.
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