Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips: Seven tips to follow on Thursday

Just like for the first two days, my main focus is on a couple of the tricky, big-field handicaps instead of the valuable Group races given the better value on offer. Of course, I’ll need plenty of luck, but I’d rather be making a case for horses at bigger prices than tipping up the likes of Palace Pier, Love and Stradivarius.

There are seven bets for the third day of Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot Tips

17:00 – 1m Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2)

With a field of 30 set to go to post, I’ve picked out four runners at big prices that I think can outrun their odds. QAADER (0.5 point win bet at 25/1) has some strong juvenile form in the book with his best performance coming in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at this meeting. Second that day, he went on to run respectable races in defeat behind the likes of Tactical and Supremecy before ending the season with a disappointing effort at Newmarket. He has returned in good form this year with a second-place finish on his reappearance and then a win at Goodwood last time out. A strongly run mile will suit this Mark Johnston-trained colt and a big run is expected.

I also like the chances of the top-weight EMPORIO (0.5 point win bet at 25/1), Richard Hannon’s LONGLAI (0.5 point win bet at 28/1) and the returning ATASER (0.5 point win bet at 28/1).

Emporio is still a maiden but ran well to finish fifth in the Irish 2000 Guineas and would have no problem with the ground if the forecast rain was to get in. He holds a couple of Group 1 entries and, like many of these, is likely to be better than his current official rating.

Longlai made a winning seasonal reappearance at Beverley after being gelded over the winter. He will have to improve on his last two efforts but is nicely weighted and well-drawn. He will have no problem with the stiff mile and Pat Dobbs is 1-1 when riding.

Finally, Ataser did nothing but improve last season and ended the year with consecutive victories at York and Doncaster. He has shaped as though the step up to a mile will suit and ‘good’ ground would be ideal. He is another that will race off a light weight and he also has the added advantage of Ray Dawson’s 3lb claim.

17:35 – 1m4f King George V Stakes (Class 2)

I have picked out three selections for this big field handicap full of unexposed runners: SISKANY (0.5 point win bet at 10/1), LORD PROTECTOR (0.5 point win bet at 14/1) and MILITARY MISSION (0.5 point win bet at 20/1).

Godolphin’s Siskany finished fifth on his racecourse debut but has won all three starts since and has improved with each run. He readily pulled clear of his rivals over 1m2f at Sandown last time out and deservedly steps up in class today. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree and further improvement is likely over this trip. 

Lord Protector is unbeaten in his three career starts and is another that should improve further for the step up to 1m4f. He appears versatile with regard to ground conditions and has a smart turn of foot for a stayer. He also showed a good attitude in his latest run at Salisbury.

Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy was on board Military Mission for his only win to date, an authoritative 8.5-length rout, and gets back on board today. He stayed on well at the end of an extended 1m2f at Chester last time out, suggesting that he would also be suited by today’s longer trip. He is another horse that would benefit from easing ground.