Royal Ascot Day Three

Good evening/morning everyone, today marks the halfway point of Royal Ascot and we are doing well to be ahead of the bookmakers so far. Yesterday was a good day as Integral and Muteela both won with Ayaar placing in the Hunt Cup as long as you backed him with a bookmaker offering first five places. We also managed to find the first two home in the last race as Queen Catrine was narrowly denied by the selection Muteela. But today is a new day and we must be fit and ready to do the same again this afternoon.

As always we have a video preview prepared for you as we mark your card for the third day of Royal Ascot. Joining me on the panel today are @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell with the latter having a winning nap today and the two agreeing on today's nap. Find the video via the link below and we hope you enjoy the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qg3xjYZxMM

Now onto today's racing!

Norfolk Stakes - Mukhmal

All the hype in today's opener will be surround Ballydoyle's representative The Great War, who has been impressive in two starts to date. He was also scheduled to run in the Coventry on day one but has been diverted to here which seems an odd move to many including myself. Nothing about him screams that he is a genuine five furlong horse as he doesn't lack any size but is clearly not short on any speed as shown so far. However today's race will be a different experience for him as he will be running against genuine five furlong horses and may be vulnerable to something with a bit more toe.

That 'something' may be Mukhmal who is also undefeated after two starts and was mightily impressive on debut, when winning a conditions race without being fully extended. He built on that in good style when winning nicely from an impossible draw at Chester and once again showed an fantastic cruising speed before quickening away turning for home. The runner up in that race was a good seventh in Tuesday's Windsor Castle Stakes and with the form taking a minor boost we side with Mukhmal to land the opener.

1st - Mukhmal
2nd - The Great War
3rd - Snap Shots

Tercentenary Stakes - Cannock Chase

It was hard not to be impressed with Cannock Chase last time out at Newbury when beating Windshear by a length and a quarter which could be strong form. That was only a handicap whereas today is a big step up in class as it is his first try in a Group Three, but he is full of potential. Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute teamed up to win with Integral yesterday and they won this race with Glass Harmonium in 2009. Cannock Chase was fairly keen early on that day but the stronger pace promised today will suit and should help him settle. Cannock Chase to land the Tercentenary.

1st - Cannock Chase
2nd - Mutakayyef
3rd - Barley Mow

Ribblesdale Stakes - Bright Approach

No prizes for guessing the sire of Bright Approach but she has a way to go if she is to be as good as him after a poorer performance at Chester. Upon further inspection she didn't like the course at all and she will likely improve for faster ground as it was rather testing last time out. She also faces a step up in trip today which looks to be in her favour on breeding and after staying on in good style last time out. Before that she beat a useful field in her maiden including the more than capable Marsh Daisy and was impressive when quickening twice over a shorter trip and looking a class horse. Bright Approach to get her career back on track and win the Ribblesdale.

1st - Bright Approach
2nd - Inchila
3rd - Wonderstruck

Ascot Gold Cup - Brown Panther

Tom Dascombe and Richard Kingscote have struggled a little bit so far this Royal Ascot but confidence will be high with Brown Panther after winning at Sandown. That was in a Group Three so he takes a big step up in class as well as a step up in trip, but in all honesty neither should be too much for him. He has won twice over two miles at Group level and he hasn't looked like stopping on either occasion which bodes well for any stamina doubts. There are also a few doubts about his ability to handle the ground after his two wins this season have come on soft ground, he has won on good to firm and good ground twice each though so that should be no problem for him. Brown Panther to stake his claims on being Europe's top stayer.

1st - Brown Panther
2nd - Leading Light
3rd - Ahzeemah

Britannia Stakes - First Flight

After the way things have played out on the first few days, First Flight could not be worse drawn as he must come out of stall one on the far side. However they are watering overnight which may soften the ground up slightly and he looks to have more than enough class to overcome the bias. As you will probably know by now I actually backed him for the 2000 Guineas this year after his impressive debut at Newbury, but he has turned out to be a horse who needs a bit of time. We haven't seen him to best effect so far this season as he has encountered bottomless ground on each occasion but has still ran well in spite of that. Today he will finally get his fast ground which should see him show his true ability and the jockey booking of Kieren Fallon is a very strong one. First Flight to bounce back to winning ways on faster ground.

1st - First Flight
2nd - Hunters Creek
3rd - Idea
4th - Zarwaan

King George V Stakes - Windshear

We will be hoping that Cannock Chase can win earlier on to boost the form of Windshear who chased him home at Newbury in the London Gold Cup. He ran well that day off a four pound lower mark and the step up to twelve furlongs looks a very positive one after staying on late last time. Before that he tore apart a competitive handicap at Sandown on bottomless ground but has since proved that he can handle faster ground. On the back of that it seems that he is a very versatile horse and one that we still haven't seen the best of, for that reason he is taken to land the closer on day three with Arab Dawn the big danger.

1st - Windshear
2nd - Arab Dawn
3rd - Stars Over The Sea
4th - Elite Army


NAP - Cannock Chase
Nb - Mukhmal

Good luck tomorrow guys and as always, happy punting!!