The action at Royal Ascot continues through this week and there are some ultra-competitive races on Thursday’s card to get stuck into.
There is one Group 1 contest, the Gold Cup, as well as two Group 2 races to look forward to on Day Three.
We have picked out three value selections for Thursday’s seven-race meeting.
3.05 Ascot - 1m4f King George V Stakes
The King George V Stakes has been won by some smart types down the years including the likes of Hukum and Desert Hero in recent times.
Chantilly is prominent in the market and it’s easy to see why with the likelihood of the step up in trip sure to suit this son of Galileo. However, at much bigger odds, it may be worth taking a chance on Neski Sherelski who may represent some each-way value.
This son of Churchill was well backed to win on debut in a Dundalk maiden at the start of the year and he’s run well in defeat on soft ground twice since, conditions that are probably against him given most of the sire’s progeny prefer a quicker surface.
There’s also a decent chance a step up in trip will suit given that his dam is a half-sister to Snippet, who was a one mile four furlong Listed winner and an outside draw in stall 19 is often an advantage over middle distances on Ascot’s round course.
The booking of top French jockey, Maxime Guyon, is certainly eye-catching and his mount here has still looked green in recent starts, so there’s a fair chance that there’s more to come on just his fourth career start and a mark of 87 could underestimate his ability.
3.45 Ascot - 1m4f Ribblesdale Stakes
Diamond Rain looks short enough in the betting for the Ribblesdale over the same course and distance and there’s a bit of juice in the price of Rubies Are Red, who seems to have been forgotten about.
She made a really encouraging start to her career in maidens before running a very impressive race in the Lingfield Oaks trial last month, seemingly not handling the tight track but finishing her race off really well to be beaten just half a length.
It was a similar story in the Oaks itself three weeks later where she was unable to show anything like what she can do.
However, a return to a more conventional track should help her resume progress here given that she’s a full-sister to Found who appreciated a quick surface.
This daughter of Galileo is the forgotten horse, helped by the fact that stable jockey Ryan Moore rides her stablemate and she should be able to outrun her odds with plenty in her favour.
5.05 Ascot - 1m Britannia Stakes
The Britannia Handicap is always one of the most competitive races of the entire week at Royal Ascot, but there are a few reasons to think that Volterra can go well.
This son of Farhh progressed nicely as a juvenile, getting off the mark at the end of the campaign in a Redcar novice, but it was his return run at Newmarket that was particularly likeable.
That looked like a really competitive race on paper and the runner-up has boosted the form by winning another Newmarket handicap since.
Volterra travelled really strongly through that race and had no issues seeing the race out, accelerating into the dip and putting the race to bed in the style of a good horse.
There’s every chance he will come on for that run, particularly if he settles better in the early stages and a 9lb rise might not be enough to stop him going in again.
