The Whistling Shrew - Royal Ascot Day 3 Preview

Still thee centrepiece of the Royal Meeting - Can O'Brien

lift another Ascot Gold Cup?

Day 3 hosts the meeting centrepiece The Ascot Gold Cup over 2m4f for which last years emphatic Irish Leger winner Order of St George will be a favourite for Aiden O'Brien. He looked unbeatable that day and will be tough to pass again if the master trainer has brought him along to step up to this trip. Elsewhere, Oaks second Architecture looks to prove herself a top quality filly in the Ribblesdale, there are competitive fields for the Tercentenary and Norfolk stakes and two more handicap cavalry charges in the Britanna and King George V. Not that anyone will be watching until the handicaps as it's England vs Wales!

Shrew's Shrewdies

2:30 - Global Applause 9/4
3:05 - Hawkbill 9/2
3:40 - Even Song 3/1 or The Black Princess 11/1 e/w 
4:20 -I want Order of St. George evs or Pallasator 11/1 e/w
5:00 -  Manson 18/1 e/w or Out and About 9/1
5:35 -   Guy Fawkes 8/1 or Point of View 14/1 e/w

Race-by-Race Guide  

2:30 Norfolk Stakes, Group 2, 5f

There's nothing I hate more than a 2 year old sprint. On what's been achieved so far Ed Dunlops  Global Applause and O'Brien's Peace Envoy seem to be ahead on ratings with Legendary Lunch just behind. It would seem to be between these three with the wild card being American raider Red Lodge who may be blunted by the speed. 

Global Applause clearly has a lot of raw speed but maybe will be stopped on the ground? I'd tentatively go with Peace Envoy on the basis that he has won on soft already.

Godolphin's Silver Line seems well supported in the market but there is no evidence to back that up...yet...

3:05  Tercentenary Stakes, Group 3, 1m2f

Another competitive race wit not much between Blue De Vega, Hawkbill and Steel of Madrid with Long Island Sound, Abdon and Prize Money just behind

In the past the race has rewarded a horse that is match fit with two or more seasonal runs under their belt. That will suit Steel of Madrid and Blue De Vega. Blue De Vega probably has the better form based on a 3rd in the Irish Guineas, whereas Steel of Madrid is proven at the trip after a 1m2f win last time out.

Hawkbill beat Abdon last time out so I'm not sure why Abdon is favourite? That win for Hawkbill was over the right distance in the right ground, whereas Blue De Vega looked at his best on drier ground at the end of last season but his breeding would suggest he'd enjoy a step up in distance.

Long Island Sound is three from three this year, but there are still a lot of unknowns about him.

3:40  Ribblesdale, Group 2 (3yo fillies), 1m4f
Architecture was left in front a long way out in the Oaks whilst Minding struggled through the pack to eventually pick her off. That Oaks form is by far and away the best on offer here alongside her previous defeat to Seventh Heaven, but you have to wonder whether 13 days is enough recovery time in a race notorious for massive improvements.

The Black Princess, Shall We, We Are Ninety and Chicardo all make appeal but the best of the bunch may be Even Song who was left out of the Oaks to facilitate Minding and saved specifically for this; you'd expect her to be strongly in the mix to give the favourite a race.

4:20 Ascot Gold Cup, Group 1, 2m4f

Order of St George blitzes his rivals in the Irish Leger

The way in which Order of St George won last years Irish Leger would've had me backing him to take on Golden Horn in the Arc had he gone there, he was that good and it's no surprise he is a short favourite here. However, he didn't and Aiden O'Brien has taken him down the same route as his legendary superstar and 4 time Gold Cup hero Yeats. He proved last year with Kingfisher's close 2nd that he knows how to get a top staying performance out of horses and if he's worked his magic to squeeze another 6f out of Order of St George he could be an impressive winner.

To do so he will need to beat more proven stayers including Max Dynamite - Willie Mullins' runner was deemed an unlucky third in the Melbourne Cup and should see the distance out. But he was beaten earlier this season by Pallasator who is an absolute lunatic, but seems to be behaving better with age - he could blow his chance before the start or he could be slightly below the form required to win in group 1 company.

Pallasator seeing off Flying Officer -

Can he keep his head at Group 1 level?

Mizzou  has already locked heads this year with Flying Officer and come out the better of the two, Clever Cookie separated the pair in the Sagaro  and followed up nicely with a win just ahead of Curbyourenthusiasm over 1m6f in May with both staying on really well to the line. Curbyourenthusiasm is much the younger horse so could have more improvement in the tank
however Flying Officers course win in the stayers race on champions day last year was very good and I think he'll go well. Mizzou ran here last year in a disappointing 7th, but the stamina test is not beyond him.

5:00 Britannia Stakes, Handicap, 1m

It might be easier next year to have just one 1m handicap with 150 runners? just an idea...

No strong opinion here - Let's go with Manson

Ryan Moore has left his Coolmore rides to ride Out and About for William Haggas which is probably foolish to ignore.

5:40 King George V Stakes, Handicap, 1m4f

The Queen hasn't had a winner in a while... so how about Guy Fawkes