Royal Ascot - Day 3 Thursday 22nd June - FULL Coverage
By National Hunt UK (Robin T)
2.30 -: (Sky / WH / Victor / Coral / Unibet / Fred / Boyles / Betway / Lads enhance to 4th - we'll settle to 4th)
For Placepot purposes we'll go with 1 American Rascal and 4 Elite Status. The e/w value for a 50% e/w bet may lie with MON NA SIEVE @ 25/1 who is from the Ryan yard we flagged up on Tuesday and whose form so far has clocked up impressive speed on the clock. I would not put you off a shrapnel e/w bet of Revieller @33/1 , Baheer @ 100/1 or especially THUNDER BLUE 18/1 both on pedigree and on the clock in their runs so far.
3.05-: (Bet 365 / Sky / PP / Betway enhance to 6th so use if at all possible - remainder to 5th - we'll settle to 5th - MAIN TIP RACE - ROBIN)
We'll go with 15 Land Legend and 8 Davideo for the Placepot Perm here and I think 15 LAND LEGEND @ 18/1 is a decent e/w full bet if you want that option. With some enhanced places on offer though I really like STRUTH @ 18/1 ; INQUIRING MINDS @ 33/1 and to a lesser degree Sisyphus Strength @ 50/1 as really good value e/w pokes based on form and pedigree and assured stamina at the distance. (Robin - Feature race)
3.40 -: (Sky / Unibet / Fred - go odds to 4th)
Very much a race to study pedigrees and we'll rely on 2 Blue Stocking and 19 WARM HEART for the placepot with a 50% e/w suggested on WARM HEART @ 17/2. Al Asifah is odds on and will take all the beating but not really a betting option and you'd always like to see odds on shots beaten out of placepot contention. At bigger Odds a small shrapnel e/w on Maman Joon @ 28/1 who is making steady progress and Perfect Profit @ 100/1 whose pedigree suggests improvement and especially UNDERSTATED @ 66/1 whose pedigree and running style suggests a better chance than Odds suggest for an in form yard.
4.20 -: (Sky + Betway go to 5th - remainder to 4th)
You can't beat proven form and stamina in the Gold Cup and for that reason 3 Coltrane and 6 Subjectivist @ 9/1 worth a 50% e/w who won in 2021 are firm fancies. Echoes in the Rain @ 12/1 and Trueshan @ 16/1 may give you a good run for some shrapnel e/w and at bigger odds then TASHKHAN @ 66/1 had a nice sighter in this last year in 5th quite close up and 50-66/1 looks a silly price
5.00 -: Tip Race - THE ADVISOR (All bookies go to 4th place)
A tip race for The Advisor -: We'll go with 19 Quantum Impact and 9 Docklands for the Placepot and together with Racingbreaks Ryder they look to have excellent form chances. You may consider singles e/w BUT there are a few at big odds that we think are well worth some shrapnel e/w too. Just An Hour and Metal Merchant are feared at nice odds but BENACRE @ 28/1 , ROYAL CAPE @ 18/1 , FORCA TIMAO @ 66/1 and FINNS CHARM @ 66/1 (all e/w shrapnel) all look types to outrun their big Odds in a race that can throw up all kinds of apparently strange outcomes.
5.35 -: (Sky to 5th - almost all others to 4th - we'll settle to 4th)
A race for 3 year olds and split between those who have been in the biggest possible races and a few others who have run well in lower Grades so far but shown noticeable improvement. For the Placepot and for 50% each way we'll go with 2 we've tipped in big races and who impressed 15 WAIPIRO @ 10/1 in the Derby and 16 CAERNARVON @ 8/1 (both 50% e/w) in The Oaks. Lots in with chances here like Bold Act, and if you wanted a pair at silly odds based on pedigree rather than proven form so far but who will surely deliver at some point look at Tony Montana @ 50/1 + DEAR MY FRIEND @50/1 who has been very highly tried.
PLACEPOT PERM
4 + 1
15 + 8
2 + 19
3 + 6
19 + 9
15 + 16
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6.10 -: (Sky got to 7th - almost all to6th - we'll settle to 6th - NOT for the faint hearted so feel free to abstain!)
A 29 runner closing race for THE SPECULATOR. (Deep breath time!!)
It's hard to rule out the more progressive types like Lir Speciale, Unforgotten, Kingdom Come , Croupier and Biggles. It's also hard to rule out the likes of The Gatekeeper, whose early pace should really set up the horses drawn middle to high....I'm most keen in preference order on MONTASSIB @ 11/1 , RHOSCOLYN @ 11/1 , NORTHERN EXPRESS @ 16/1 and ACCIDENTAL AGENT @ 40/1 and will have 50% bets on those. I'll have a small shrapnel e/w on Ropey Guest @ 28/1 , Vafortino @ 16/1 and at very big odds on Percys Lad @ 50/1 and Documenting @ 50/1. (perm as many of those as you feel you want to).
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