Royal Ascot Thursday Tips
- 2:30 Ascot – FIRST LEGION 12/1
- 3:05 Ascot – GUNSHIP 10/1
- 3:40 Ascot – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL 13/2
- 4:20 Ascot – TRAWLERMAN 5/2
- 5:00 Ascot – TEROOMM 11/1
- 5:35 Ascot – DETAIN 10/3
- 6:10 Ascot – ENGLISH OAK 11/2
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2:30 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 5f
None of the last twelve favourites have won this race, while the last four winners have been 12/1 or bigger, including a 150/1 chance, so the day three Royal Ascot opener can be a real puzzler. However, it could pay to side with FIRST LEGION (12/1) who has had two runs to date – one of them a win – and Richard Hannon’s charge can regain the winning thread here. A York debut winner last month over six furlongs, the Mehmas colt stepped up to Listed company for the National Stakes at Sandown for his next outing, where he found only one too strong in Anthelia, keeping on well without being able to match the winner over the minimum trip. He may ideally want further than the five furlongs he again contests here, but this race can often be run at a frenetic pace, and he’ll be staying on at the finish, where he can finish in the places as pace-setting rivals begin to falter.3:05 King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m4f
Lightly-raced GUNSHIP (10/1) could be the answer to a tricky puzzle and the Sea The Stars colt could improve for this step up in trip. James Ferguson’s charge has just four starts to his name thus far, scoring on debut towards the end of 2024 and showing progressive form with each start this campaign, making the frame in starts at Southwell and Sandown prior to getting back on the scoresheet at Newcastle latest. Third on his penultimate start, he gave the impression that a longer trip would suit when beaten almost three lengths by reopposing Sing Us A Song, held up early before running on well, and he was a good winner latest when beating War Hawk. However, he did benefit from getting first run. Nevertheless, it was a strong performance and the runner-up has won twice since to give some substance to the form. Plenty of these like to go forward, so he’ll get a solid pace to aim a,t and the longer trip can unlock another level of potential in him. So, assuming he can continue his progression back on turf, then there would be no shock in seeing him deliver a big performance under Oisin Murphy. FREE BET – Bet £20 with a new BetMaze account > get a £20 free bet.3:40 Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo) 1m4f
2022 aside, John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien have traded blows in the race with each trainer winning four renewals each of this race; both saddle three runners apiece and it could be Team Gosden to the fore again with their LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (13/2), who has hit the crossbar in each of her last two outings. The Night Of Thunder filly was a debut winner over one mile at Kempton late last year on her sole outing and she has progressed this term, finishing runner-up on her reappearance at the same venue but building on the run to fill the same spot in a Listed contest at Newmarket next time. Stepping up in trip there, she shaped as if she’d get further than the ten furlongs of the Pretty Polly Stakes and the form of that run has seen the third win since, so there’s some substance. Likely to have more to offer after just three career starts the further step up in trip could yield another chunk of progress and the choice of Tom Marquand the pair can combine for a big run.4:20 Gold Cup (Group 1) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f
Quite a small and select field for the latest renewal of the Gold Cup where TRAWLERMAN (5/2) might be the answer for the Gosdens, William Buick and Godolphin. The Golden Horn gelding has a decent Ascot record and some history in this race, beating Kyprios to land the 2023 Long Distance Cup on Champions Day and finding only the same rival one length too good in this race twelve months ago. Proper soft ground may have contributed to his defeat by the same rival when defending his Long Distance Cup crown, and he wasn’t seen at his best at Meydan before making a winning return at Sandown last month in the Henry II Stakes. He’s proven over track and trip and on quicker ground, and with no Kyprios in opposition this year, he can land this prize for his trainer, who has a good record in the race.5:00 Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Colts & Geldings) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m
This big field cavalry charge can see TEROOMM (11/1) continue his progression and unbeaten this season Roger Varian’s charge could maintain his sequence. The Iffraaj colt has trained on well since his sole start last campaign, winning all three starts over one mile at Bath, Thirsk and latterly Haydock when readily seeing off Tilted Kilt by three-parts of a length. Strong at the finish, having had a troubled start, he gave the impression that he hadn’t finished progressing and the form of that victory has taken a boost with a couple of those rival horses winning since. This will be his toughest test to date, whilst he’s drawn the highest of the runners in the field, so he’ll have a rail to run against, which can be another positive. He does like to race prominently which over one mile on the straight track at Ascot tends to be a negative; however, he’s one clearly going the right way in terms of progression and he handles the ground as well as being proven at the trip so he could well continue his improvement on the back of his last win where a 6lbs rise in the handicap may not be enough to see him getting competitive again. FREE BET – Bet £20 with a new CopyBet account > get a £20 free bet.5:35 Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo) 1m2f
Team Gosden could land another winner on the card with DETAIN (10/3) who takes a step down in grade having contested in Group One company the last twice and the Wootton Bassett colt can regain winning ways. All his winning has come on the all-weather, scoring twice last term in novice company at Kempton prior to finishing sixth in the Futurity Trophy where he might not have been suited by the soft ground. He did make a winning return though at Chelmsford in April and he wasn’t disgraced behind Henri Matisse at Lopngchamp in May. That represents solid form and trying this trip for the first time at Chantilly at the beginning of the month he finished a close third to Camille Pissarro in the French Derby. A reproduction of that effort in this lower grade would surely see him going close assuming he handles the quicker ground underfoot and every chance he can regain winning ways under Colin Keane.6:10 Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 7f
Another difficult handicap to decipher given the size of the field; but it may pay to side with last year’s winning team of jockey James Doyle and trainer Ed Walker who took top honors with ENGLISH OAK (11/2) who hasn’t been at his best this term but took a step back in the right direction when finishing sixth at Newbury latest. The Wootton Bassett gelding struck twice last term, including taking this race from just 1lb lower than his rating today, having previously won at Haydock, but largely struggled to make his mark in Graded company thereafter, although he did go close at Listed level in September. Form figures this term don’t give a lot of encouragement, but he hinted at a revival when finishing six lengths’ sixth behind My Cloud latest, running on late from the back but never really threatening. The handicapper has relented somewhat, dropping him 3lbs for that last outing which leaves him almost on the mark from which he took this prize last year, and the application of cheekpieces for the first time could spark him back to life. Given his connections, he may be worth chancing to successfully defend the crown he won twelve months ago, despite not being in the same form as twelve months ago, now having dropped to a more manageable rating, while first-time headgear may also help him recapture his best form.Bookies Sign-up Offers for Royal Ascot
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