Royal Ascot 2022 Day 3 Tips – Preview and Betting Tip for Gold Cup Day on Thursday

Ascot Gold Cup day could give us the story of the season if Stradivarius can reclaim his crown in the feature race of the week and Henry has once again been through the card and given us his best bet for each of the seven contests.

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2:30 Ascot

The opener on Day 3 is the Norfolk Stakes, another tricky 2 year-old contest, this time of Group 2 class over 5f.

The one for me is WALBANK (15/8) here. She was a good second on her racecourse debut behind the best Godolphin 2 year-old Noble Style in a race that has been working out well with the 4th that day Royal Scotsman, running a huge race in the Coventry on Tuesday. Walbank then went to York on her next start and bolted up by 7L albeit in a weaker race. However, that was a good effort backed up on the clock too and she looks a proper 2 year-old for the David Loughnane team who’s having a fine year with his youngsters.

 

3:05 Ascot

The 3:05 race is the King George V Stakes, a heritage handicap over 1m4f.

I like POST IMPRESSIONIST (4/1) here for the William Haggas team. She stepped forward nicely from her debut run to win well at Ayr on her second start where she pulled clear like a useful sort. She then went to Newcastle last month and ran another cracker to finish second in a race that is working out well. This step up in trip is likely to bring out further improvement and jockey Daniel Tudhope is in great form this week which is an added bonus.

 

3:40 Ascot

Next up we have the Ribblesdale Stakes, a Group 2 for the fillies over 1m4f.

I think SEA SILK ROAD (2/1) NB will be be very tough to beat here. A typical William Haggas improver who I was really taken with at Goodwood last time out. Out of Sea The Stars, I think she’ll only get better and on breeding and how she ran through the line last time out, I’m sure she will enjoy this step up in trip to 1m4f. This isn’t a deep renewal and there should be no hard luck stories with only six runners set to go to post. I think she’s the best horse in this race with the most improvement to come.

 

4:20 Ascot

The feature of the day and for some the feature of the week, the Ascot Gold Cup, a Group 1 over 2m4f.

Not the deepest renewal by any stretch of the imagination, I think KYPRIOS (7/4) NAP is the real improver and will relish this test. A winner on his two starts this season including a 14L success last time out he looks to have wintered really well. Stradivarius isn’t getting any younger and I think it’s his class that has won him three Gold Cups as I believe he’s better away from Ascot and over shorter. Trueshan won’t run and there’s nothing else that should trouble the favourite here.

 

5:00 Ascot

It’s a trappy handicap at 5:00, the Britannia Stakes over the famous straight mile.

I’ve landed on SAGA (12/1) EW here. If you draw a line through his last run here at Ascot, he’d be much closer to the front of the market here and I’m always happy to forgive one bad effort. He has won here at Ascot so I wouldn’t be concerned about the track. He is very well handicapped off 97 based on his two year-old form and he appears to be drawn on the right side of the track here… albeit only just. John Gosden reaches for first-time blinkers and a tongue tie so hopefully that sharpens him up and he can run a career best for the Queen.

 

5:35 Ascot

The 5:35 race is the Hampton Court Stakes, a Group 3 over 1m2f and this year’s renewal isn’t the deepest of races.

Pretty poor race truth be told and it’s hard to oppose REACH FOR THE MOON (8/13) for the Queen again. Second last time out behind My Prospero who ran a cracker in the Group 1 St James Palace on Tuesday, he is expected to come on for that seasonal return and there is nothing here that should trouble him if that is the case. Meh race.

 

6:10 Ascot 

The finale on Day 3 is the Buckingham Palace Stakes, a wide-open 7f handicap.

I’ve landed on ABOVE (20/1) EW here. He stepped forward from his seasonal return to finish second twice at Newmarket on his latest two starts and he was staying on strongly last time out over 6f which suggests this 7f trip won’t be an issue. He’s only up a 1lb for that effort, he’ll enjoy this lightning fast ground and I think this track and trip could will definitely suit him well. In a day where I expect the favourites to go in, hopefully, we can finish with a nice big-priced winner.

 

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