DAY three of Royal Ascot 2025 features the Ascot Gold Cup, which for many is the race of the five days.
This appears to be a good opportunity for Trawlerman Unibet 9/4 to finally nail the Gold Cup victory he so deserves with no Kyprios to block his path this year. An easy win in the Henry II at Sandown on his reappearance should have teed him up nicely for this; however, you must be fearful of Illinois, Candelari, and stablemate Sweet William.
Enjoy whether at Royal Ascot or watching all the races #athome on ITV Racing.
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The Wine Tipster
2:30 Royal Ascot – Norfolk Stakes Group 2 (5f)
Charles Darwin was an easy winner at Naas in May, in a very good time figure and that form places him well clear of these with a good draw in stall 15.
His trainer says he is a better horse at home than Gstaad, who won the Coventry Stakes by three lengths on Tuesday.
Charles Darwin won’t be daunted by the big field and can continue his upward trajectory in style.
3:05 Royal Ascot – King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (1m 4f)
Merchant (nap) looked very much on the ascendancy when scoring easily at York in May, the step up from one mile two furlongs to one mile four furlongs showed he had both stamina and speed, with the race all over at the furlong pole. It is worth including, too, that the form has worked out well, with the third Many Men winning next time out, while the second Rahiebb and fourth Pantile Warrior are reopposing. This was only Merchant’s fifth start, and he looked a class act, who you would expect to step up to Group company by the end of the season.
5:00 Royal Ascot – Britannia Stakes Heritage Handicap (1m)
Arctic Grey trained by Unibet Ambassador has form figures of 121 and delivered his best performance to date at Goodwood last month when doing well to win after failing to get a clear run.
He is a very likeable colt, and you can expect him to step up again to reward each way players.
5.35 Royal Ascot – Hampton Court Stakes Group 3 (1m 2f)
Tornado Alert ran an excellent race in the 2000 Guineas to finish fourth to Ruling Court and then ran well to finish sixth in the Derby when clearly not staying the trip. He was much more settled than he been at Newmarket and ran enthusiastically at Epsom, which bodes well for this step down to what looks an ideal trip for him.
6:15 Royal Ascot – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (7f)
Gleneagle Bay ran here in the Victoria Cup in May over this trip when coming from the back of the field to finish a close third to Hickory and Qirat, who are both renowned Ascot specialists.
The fourth Popmaster was three lengths behind Gleneagle Bay, with a fair number of that field reopposing here so there is a strong look to that performance.
Gleneagle Bay has been campaigned over this trip and a mile, which is always a positive and with the quick ground in his favour you can expect a big run.
Akkadian Thunder won well over this distance at Doncaster earlier this month when moving clear in the final furlong to beat Billyjoh by one and a half lengths with more to come here.
He has an excellent attitude and has run well at Ascot previously, including finishing second at 22/1 last season over this distance.
Akkadian Thunder is drawn in stall 29 and based on the five renewals this certainly works in his favour.
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