Royal Ascot Day Three Preview 2024

After a fantastic two days of racing so far, Day 3 gets underway with the Norfolk Stakes, a two year old sprint over five furlongs. The last two renewals of this Group 2 contest have seen a 50/1 winner in The Ridler, whilst Valiant Force caused a stir at 150/1 last time out.

Punters will be hoping for far more of a certainty this year, and the Aidan O’Brien trained WHISTLEJACKET looks to offer exactly that. The long term antepost favourite for this race, WHISTLEJACKET commands respect after dismantling Arizona Blaze by nearly four lengths at the Curragh LTO. This prompted the Ballydoyle team to draw comparisons with his full brother Little Big Bear, stating that “His full-brother Little Big Bear was beaten on debut and went on to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and we think this fella will go there (Ascot) with a big chance”. Beaten by Cowardofthecounty, who ran a respectable 7th in the Coventry on Day 1, WHISTLEJACKET heads to the Norfolk with every chance.

Eight of the last ten winners of this race won within their last two starts and came top three on their last run, whilst even more interestingly seven of the last ten winners of this race were beaten on debut. WHISTLEJACKET ticks all of these boxes and the eye-catching progeny of No Nay Never looks set to bring another Royal Ascot trophy back to Ireland.

The first handicap of the day comes in the shape of the King George V Stakes, ran over a trip of 1m4f exclusively for three year old horses. A race that John Gosden has won four times in the last ten years, it is the Roger Varian trained FRENCH DUKE who grabs the attention here.

A horse with massive potential, FRENCH DUKEs main weakness has been his inability to settle, which is why his maiden tag is still intact. This was seen to be the case when going down by a shoulder LTO at Doncaster. If FRENCH DUKE settles better, the trip looks to be no problem and an OR of 88, leaves him as the only single figure horse in the betting rated under 90 at the time of writing. Roger Varian clearly retains belief in the horse, and the booking of champion jockey William Buick is a positive sign.

Most appealing, FRENCH DUKE meets several of the key trends of past winners. Ten of the last ten winners were rated 88-95, eight carried no more than 9st1lb, and seven of the last ten were drawn in double figures. This makes his draw of 12 look appealing, and he looks to be well ahead of the handicapper if he has put his ailments behind him.

If William Buick can unlock the potential that the Varian team very clearly see in this horse, the FRENCH DUKE should be a serious danger to those at the top of the market. Holds some each way value.

The third race of Day 3, it is the turn of the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes ran over 1m4f for three year old horses. A race that has been traditionally dominated by the big hitters on both sides of the Irish Sea, Team Gosden and Team Ballydoyle have combined to win eight of the last ten renewals of this race. The British fans in attendance will hope the trophy ends back in Newmarket, with the John and Thady Gosden trained DANIELLE the horse of choice.

Finishing behind the Irish hope Rubies Are Red in the Lingfield Derby trial, who then flattered to deceive in the Oaks, DANIELLE remains the chosen mount of Kieran Shoemark who favours her over other runners from this stable including Siyola and Queens Fort. Skipping the Epsom Oaks meeting, DANIELLE previously destroyed a Wetherby race by a staggering twelve lengths. Being by Cracksman and a distant relation to Courage Mon Ami, the trip should if anything bring about more improvement. Although going down on seasonal reappearance to a race fit rival, DANIELLE started promisingly and Robert Havlin can be quoted as saying “She’ll stay a mile and a half, no problem. I think that’s probably where the boss will be looking to go the next day and let’s hope she can keep improving”.

For several key players in the Gosden stable seemingly confident about trip and the ability of this horse, DANIELLE looks a very good bet at a bigger price – potentially due to fears over Kieran Shoemark and the Gosden start to the season. Punters rest assured, that when Royal Ascot comes around John and Thady Gosden are always primed and ready to go.

The feature race of Day 3, the Ascot Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious meetings in the sport of horse racing attracting the eyes of all the equine world. With a staggering £368,000 being awarded to the winner, it is sure to take one of the world’s finest horses to land this prize.

Potentially the best horse on display in the whole meeting, and one of the shortest prices around, KYPRIOS rightfully heads the Gold Cup market. This horse needs no introduction, a four-time Group 1 winner for Ballydoyle, KYPRIOS overcame a life-threatening injury to place in Group 2/3 company, picking up another Group 3 and Listed contest this season in the process. Rated a staggering 122 at his peak, KYPRIOS was barely pressured last time out scoring as a 1/12 favourite with his OR creeping back up to 117. His main dangers appear to be Gregory and Vauban, both tough competitors however the pair couldn’t land a blow in the Yorkshire Cup when beaten soundly. On this evidence if retaining anywhere close to the best of his ability, KYPRIOS should comfortably win here.

One of the only horses competing for odds on favouritism across the whole meeting, this is a clear indication of the respect that KYPRIOS commands and is a strong and clear favourite for the Ballydoyle team.

On winning price alone, the Britannia Stakes is one of the most competitive fields in the entirety of the British horse racing calendar. With the favourite being 10/1 at the time of writing, and only two single figure winners in the past ten iterations of the race (one favourite), each way value is guaranteed.

BLUE LEMONS is the horse of interest here, for the Richard Hannon and Jamie Spencer combination. Already tasting Group 1 success on day one of the meeting with Rosallion, Hannon will be hoping this three year old by Blue Point will bring more success at the royal meeting. BLUE LEMONS best performance in handicap company was over this trip at Sandown, just beaten by Hand of God who was receiving five pounds. A poorer run at Haydock LTO can be excused due to the weight on his back, although to his credit he stayed on to come a battling fourth.

Dropped one by the handicapper, BLUE LEMONS meets most of the key race trends. With nine of the last ten winners placing in the top three in one of their last three starts, eight out of ten being rated between 90 and 99 and seven out of ten being within 6lbs of the top-rated horse, this gives BLUE LEMONS every chance in the race.

As with any race of this nature proceed with caution, as a single figure draw (stall 8) and a weight of 9st 5lbs potentially acting as negatives BLUE LEMONS should be backed each way. Look for extra places if possible.

The sixth race of Day 3 sees the first Group 3 contest of the day, with the Hampton Court Stakes being ran over 1m2f. Usually a race associated with horses who may have flattered to deceive at a higher Grade or in a Derby trial, the Hampton Court has boasted derby runners as past winners like Waipiro in 2023.

BRACKEN’S LAUGH is the horse of interest here, for the combination of Richard Hughes and Danny Tudhope. Hughes has made it clear since May that this was the plan all along for his charge, finishing a half-length down in second to the Aidan O’Brien trained Capulet in the Dee Stakes at Chester. The winner of that race still holds a Group 1 Curragh entry, whilst replays will show young Finlay Marsh had enough horse underneath him to win, but the genius of Ryan Moore proved too much.

Danny Tudhope on board brings more confidence this time and boasts an OR mark of 108 which would be enough to win at this level. Interestingly, ten of the last ten winners of this race have failed to win at Group class, whilst eight out of ten have won in the current season. Richard Hughes’ bullishness is plain for all to see, quoted as saying “Bracken’s Laugh has done nothing wrong all year and this has always been the plan. He’s had two lovely prep races and goes there in great form”.

Given the trainers confidence and performance LTO, BRACKEN’S LAUGH looks overpriced and a fantastic each way bet.

The final race of Day 3 at Royal Ascot 2024 is the Buckingham Palace Stakes, a handicap run over a stiff seven furlongs. Another Ascot handicap that does not favour short prices, the last ten winners of this race have all been at double figures with the shortest price being 12/1.

This year is no different, with FRESH being the horse of choice here. On his best form, FRESH is a three-time course winner, one of only three holding entries in the field, which highlights how much he loves this track. Favouring a stiffer test, FRESH should get the conditions to suit and given the run of the race comes here with every chance. Now officially rated 10 lbs lower than his last winning mark at this track over course and distance, a return to his favourite track could reignite an upturn in form.

Four of the last five winners of this race were rated between 92 and 99, whilst four of the last five also carried no more than 9st 4lbs. Interestingly, all five winners of this race in its new form were priced between 12 and 50/1, with FRESH falling into all of these categories with an OR of 92, weight of 9st 1lb and odds of 20/1. Hayley Turner is a canny and cunning booking, and her experience at this level will see FRESH run well for his money. A definite each way player.