THURSDAY sees the feature of Royal Ascot with the Gold Cup Group 1 at 4.15 over two miles and four furlongs with Stradivarius looking to win this prestigious race for the fourth time. This seven-year-old is the equine star of Royal Ascot 2021 as he is very much a public horse now and has formed a great partnership with Frankie Dettori, who has ridden him in nineteen of his twenty-six races. Stradivarius is Unibet 4/5 on currently and whilst some have raised a point about his age, let’s remember that Yeats was eight when winning his fourth Gold Cup in supreme style in 2009.

In terms of rivals Stradivarius’ main threat looks to be Trueshan, who beat him in soft going in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day over two miles, although it had been a long season for Stradivarius. Trueshan won three of his five starts last season, with one success on good going as he has tended to run on softer going.

Stradivarius looks unopposable under the current quick conditions and if the forecast deluge does come then take Trueshan Unibet 13/2 each way in the Gold Cup at 4.15 to chase him home. 

Enjoy the day if at Royal Ascot and #ATHome watching all the races on ITV Racing.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

3.15 Ascot – Hampton Court Stakes Group 3 (1m 2f)

Mohaafeth (nap) was marked up in my Unibet blog for the Derby Festival ahead of pulling out because of the ground being good to soft. With the forecast rain it still looks like it will be good at the slowest, which Mohaafeth won on at Newmarket in a Listed contest as he liked. On his previous start in 2021 at the Craven meeting at Newmarket he had looked a very exciting prospect when winning easily. This trip looks ideal for him, and he has a great chance here with Ascot looking sure to suit.

Unibet 6/5 win

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4.15 Ascot – Gold Cup Group 1 (2m 4f)

Stradivarius as noted above is hard to oppose to take his fourth Gold Cup and if the forecast rain comes then back Trueshan each-way if the ground is good or softer.

Unibet Stradivarius 4/5 win

Unibet Trueshan 13/2 each way

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5.00 Ascot – Britannia Handicap (1m)

Emperor Spirit for the John & Thady Gosden team has crept right in at the bottom of the handicap. This colt had three starts as a juvenile with form figures of 321, winning at Wolverhampton on his last appearance. This season on his only appearance in April he finished second to Grantley at Ripon trying to give the winner a stone and just losing out. That was a good effort as he didn’t settle, pulling hard early on and the stiff mile at Ascot looks sure to suit. The draw of stall 12 will give Andrea Atzeni options too.

Unibet 18/1 each way

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Aerion Power for Sir Michael Stoute looks overpriced and can make it a hat-trick for this season providing stall 1 doesn’t work against this Kingman colt. He has a good attitude and keeps improving, winning in good style at Doncaster last night out, with the second and third winners last time. The straight mile will suit, and Aerion Power always just does enough so there is more to come off a mark of 97.

Unibet 20/1 each way

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5.35 Ascot – King George V Stakes Handicap (1m 4f) 

Surefire looks really progressive and can follow up on his win at Leicester last week under a six-pound penalty. This was visually very impressive, and he beat OZ Legend by a bigger margin than he had at Windsor the time before. At Windsor, Surefire was second to Siskany (won at Sandown on next start), who he meets on much better terms because of running under a penalty. Surefire has won on good to firm and is by Fastnet Rock, who was ground versatile.

Unibet 17/2 each way

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6.10 Ascot – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (7f)

Shelir was fifth in this contest last year and has been in better form this season with a good second to Finest Sound at Haydock in April, followed by another good run when chasing home Rhoscolyn at Epsom. Shelir is genuine, not ground dependent, and stall 12 can work well here.

Unibet 22/1 each way

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