Royal Ascot Day Three Preview & Odds
Here at betting.bet we’ll preview all seven races scheduled for Thursday afternoon, offering race insights and exclusive tips as well as the latest Royal Ascot horse racing odds
Day three of Royal Ascot and Ladies’ Day promises to be a cracker this year. There are seven more races set to take place with the Gold Cup the day’s feature race. Here at betting.bet we’ll preview all seven races scheduled for Thursday afternoon, offering race insights and exclusive tips as well as the latest Royal Ascot horse racing odds from our partners at bet365.
2:30 - Norfolk Stakes
The first race on Ladies’ Day is the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes. Contested over a straight 5f and open to two-year-olds, the Norfolk Stakes was established way back in 1843 and has held Group 2 status since 2006.
Adrian Murray trained the race winner twelve months ago and this year he is represented by Arizona Blaze. Arizona Blaze has won two of his three runs so far including an impressive win in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh last time out. Only defeat from three runs came at the hands of Whistlejacket and that Aidan O’Brien-trained prospect is the red-hot favourite for Thursday’s opener. O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore teamed up as winners of the Norfolk Stakes in both 2015 and 2017.
Trainers Richard Fahey and Wesley Ward both have a solid record in this race and are well-represented this year. Fahey has two outsiders entered and preference is for Loom over Moving Force following his classy win at Ripon two weeks ago. American trainer Wesley Ward has won the Norfolk Stakes twice in the past eleven years and he brings Saturday Flirt over for Thursday's renewal. Saturday Flirt has once previous run, running on nicely to land a maiden fillies race at Keeneland.
Wathnan Racing have offered a considerable presence already at Royal Ascot this year and the Norfolk Stakes will see two more major players adorning their striking blue and gold silks. Shareholder runs for trainer Karl Burke and after edging our Moving Force at Beverley on debut last week, he is now pushed up 7lbs. Aesterius is weaker in the betting but could be a more attractive option. William Buick rides for Archie Watson and after winning with ease at Bath last month he should offer more again on Thursday.
| Norfolk Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Whistlejacket | 6/5 |
| Shareholder | 6/1 |
| Arizona Blaze, Saturday Flirt | 9/1 |
| Aesterius | 10/1 |
| Loom, Milford | 20/1 |
| Moving Force, Rock Hunter, Tropical Storm | 25/1 |
| The Man | 33/1 |
| Binadham, Blinky | 50/1 |
3:05 - King George V Stakes
The second race on day three is an exciting looking handicap that looks wide-open with 19 runners confirmed for this year’s renewal of the King George V Stakes. The handicap race is contested over 1m4f and open to three-year-olds and last year’s renewal was won by Desert Crown, owned by His Majesty The King. Those iconic royal silks are represented again this year as King Charles III owns the well-supported Gilded Water. Trained by William Haggas, Gilded Water charged to a comfortable win at Chepstow over 1m2f and is certainly bred for further.
The current race favourite is Chantilly for 2019 winning trainer Aidan O’Brien. Ryan Moore will be in the saddle once more just as he was when landing a handicap at Leopardstown in April before finishing third in last month’s London Gold Cup at Newbury. Plenty to like about the Galileo colt and easy to see why he’s so well-supported in the betting despite a 3lbs rise. Ralph Beckett trained the winner of this race in 2021 and he is also represented by one of the major players on Thursday. Going The Distance completed a hat-trick on the AW at Kempton in April having previously won on turf at both Nottingham and Ffos Las last year. He’s now up 7lbs but retains an excellent chance.
The step up in class proved too much for Kamboo as he was well-beaten in the Derby at Epsom but he has been a considerable market mover over the past couple of days as he continues to attract support. Comfortably won a novice race at Kempton in December and has to be respected for a top yard. The same could be said of French Duke for trainer Roger Varian. French Duke was just edged out by Hosaamm at Newbury and now the Sea The Stars colt makes his handicap debut in the Wathnan Racing silks.
| King George V Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Chantilly | 6/1 |
| Going The Distance, Poniros | 7/1 |
| Gilded Water | 8/1 |
| Kamboo, French Duke | 9/1 |
| Persica | 11/1 |
| Fouroneohfever, Gallantly | 12/1 |
| City Burglar, Neski Sherelski, Autumn Winter | 20/1 |
| East India Dock | 22/1 |
| Gasper De Lemos, Highland Bling, Assailant | 25/1 |
| Naval Force, Warda Jamila | 33/1 |
| Go Daddy | 40/1 |
3:45 - Ribblesdale Stakes
It’s the turn of the fillies in the day’s third race as we look forward to the 1m4f Ribblesdale Stakes. Open to three-year-old fillies, the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes was first contested back in 1919.
The Ribblesdale Stakes often offers another opportunity to see some of the year's Oaks entries and there are three runners from Epsom set to line up for this year’s renewal. You Got To Me is the best-performing Oaks horse set to contest this having finished fourth at Epsom. You Got To Me landed the Lingfield Oaks Trial and has every chance of bouncing back on Ascot. Forest Fairy and Rubies Are Red are the other Oaks entries confirmed for the Ribblesdale Stakes but both are well-held by You Got To Me on recent form.
The bookies’ favourite for this year’s Ribblesdale is Diamond Rain for trainer Charlie Appleby. Won a novice stakes at Ascot on debut before following up by winning a Listed contest over 1m2f at Newbury last month. Dam, Dancing Rain won the Oaks in 2011 and she is the one to beat on Thursday.
Aidan O’Brien trained his third winner of this race in 2023 and he is represented by both Rubies Are Red and Port Fairy this year. The latter certainly looks the better prospect having gone close in the Cheshire Oaks last time out. However, Cheshire Oaks winner Forest Fairy was subsequently a well-beaten seventh in the Oaks at Epsom.
John Gosden is eyeing a record-breaking sixth race win this year and he and son Thady head to Ascot with a three-strong team for the Ribblesdale Stakes. Queens Fort is the outsider of the three whilst Siyola is a major drifter with work to do to reverse the form with Diamond Rain. The leading Gosden hope looks to be Danielle despite finishing third in the Lingfield Oaks Trial behind You Got To Me and Rubies Are Red. Won at Wetherby with such ease two runs ago that she has to be given another chance for a stable with such a good record in this race.
| Ribblesdale Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Diamond Rain | 13/8 |
| Kalpana | 11/2 |
| Port Fairy, You Got To Me | 8/1 |
| Danielle, Forest Fairy | 10/1 |
| Siyola | 14/1 |
| Rubies Are Red | 16/1 |
| Queens Fort | 20/1 |
| Lava Stream | 25/1 |
| Je Zous | 40/1 |
| Higher Leaves, Sheema's Rose | 50/1 |
4:25 - Gold Cup
The feature race on day three is probably the most prestigious race of the entire week. The Group 1 Gold Cup is the first leg of the ‘Stayers’ Triple Crown’ and Britain’s most prestigious race for stayers. Established way back in 1804, the Gold Cup is contested over 2m4f by horses aged four years and older. Recent winners of this famous race are some of the most iconic names in British racing. The Likes of Fame and Glory, Estimate, Order Of St George and Stradivarius have all won the race since the turn of the century whilst Yates won a record-breaking four successive Gold Cups between 2006 and 2009.
Yates’ trainer Aidan O’Brien is the most successful trainer in Gold Cup history with eight previous race wins. O’Brien has been tipped to land a ninth Gold Cup this year as Kyprios bids to regain the trophy he won in 2022. Kyprios enjoyed a superb 2022 but missed last year’s Royal Ascot meeting through injury. Failed to win on either of his subsequent runs in 2023, finishing second in both the Irish St Leger and Long Distance Cup. Kyprios has since bounced back with two wins from two this year, winning a Listed race at Navan in April before landing a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month. Needs to take another major step forward on Thursday but based on his 2022 form, Kyprios is certainly the one to beat.
Behind Kyprios, the Gold Cup betting is wide-open. Last year’s winning connections return this year with the lightly-raced Gregory. In the absence of last year’s winning jockey Frankie Dettori, James Doyle will ride Gregory for the Gosden team and he has every chance of landing a second successive Gold Cup for Wathnan Racing. Could only manage third in the Yorkshire Cup last month but last year’s Queen’s Vase winner cannot be ruled out on Thursday.
Trawlerman got the better of Kyprios to win the Long Distance Cup over 2m here at Ascot in October and followed up with a solid third behind Tower Of London in the Dubai Gold Cup. A major player on Thursday.
Vauban is a fascinating entry for leading jumps trainer Willie Mullins. Vauban won the Copper Horse Handicap over 1m6f at last year’s Royal Ascot meeting and Mullins is confident of another big run on Thursday. With Grade 1 hurdles success over 2m, it's reasonable to believe that Vauban is capable of seeing out Thursday's longer trip. Mullins has already bagged a Royal Ascot winner this week as he claimed a second successive Copper Horse with Belloccio.
| Gold Cup | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kyprios | 10/11 |
| Gregory | 6/1 |
| Vauban | 13/2 |
| Trawlerman | 8/1 |
| Caius Chorister | 12/1 |
| Coltrane | 14/1 |
| Sweet William | 18/1 |
| Trueshan | 33/1 |
| Prydwen | 50/1 |
| Enemy | 100/1 |
5:05 - Britannia Stakes
We have another big field handicap up next with 29 runners confirmed for the Britannia Stakes. The race was established back in 1928 and is open to three-year-old colts and geldings. The Britannia Stakes is quite the spectacle with such a large field set to contest a straight one mile sprint.
Qirat is the current market leader of this wide-open contest for trainer Ralph Beckett. Beckett won this race in 2019 with Biometric and Qirat may well give him a second Britannia Stakes win. Qirat won at Goodwood on his handicap debut last month and should cope with a modest 4lbs rise since.
Volterra and Involvement are also well-supported despite hikes in the weights. Volterra is up 9lbs following an impressive win at Newmarket last month whilst Involvement is up 6lbs despite only finishing second on his handicap debut in the Silver Bowl at Haydock.
Native Warrior makes his handicap debut for in-form trainer Karl Burke on the back of a dominant win at Nottingham last month. He finished just 3 ¼ lengths adrift of 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech at Kempton two runs ago and brings bags of potential into this.
Trainer Richard Hannon landed the feature race on day one of Royal Ascot as Rosallion charged to victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes and on Thursday he teams up with jockey Sean Levey once more with the consistent The Camden Colt. Plenty of miles on the clock for a three-year-old but he has been consistent without winning in handicap races over one mile. Last seen when third behind Volterra at Newmarket but could appreciate the step up in trip.
Sir Les Patterson could be a fascinating each-way option for last year’s winning trainer Harry Eustace. Man of the moment Billy Loughnane rides the race outsider but the 18-year-old jockey has already landed a superb 80/1 Royal Ascot winner this week with Rashabar in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.
| Britannia Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| Qirat | 10/1 |
| Volterra, Air Commander, Native Warrior | 12/1 |
| Follow Me, Starlore, Involvement, Cogitate, Dashing Darcey, Skukuza | 14/1 |
| Mission To Moon, Mickley, Lautrec | 16/1 |
| King's Gamble, Whip Cracker | 20/1 |
| Blue Lemons, Watcha Matey, Cracking Gold, Arctic Thunder, Safwan, The Camden Colt | 25/1 |
| Monkey Island | 28/1 |
| Dragon Leader, Son Of Man, Vercors | 33/1 |
| Cuban Tiger, Watch My Tracer, Sir Les Patterson | 40/1 |
| Bobsleigh, Grey Cuban | 50/1 |
5:40 - Hampton Court Stakes
The penultimate race on Ladies’ Day is a competitive looking Group 3 race with 12 runners confirmed for the Hampton Court Stakes. The Hampden Court Stakes was contested under various guises until it was added to Royal Ascot when the meeting was extended to five days in 2002.
The race has held Group 3 status since 2011 and in that year it was renamed as the Tercentenary Stakes to mark 300 years of horse racing at Ascot Racecourse before reverting back to the Hampton Court Stakes from 2017. The Hampton Court Stakes is contested over 1m2f and whilst open to three-year-olds, previous Group 1 and Group 2 winners are excluded from entering.
The market leader ahead of this year’s renewal is King’s Gambit for trainer Harry Charlton. Impressive winner of the London Gold Cup last time out and that top handicap race at Newbury often churns out future Group-race winners. William Buick will ride King’s Gambit just as he did in the London Gold Cup.
Ryan Moore has ridden a record four Hampton Court Stakes winners, most recently on Russian Emperor in 2020. Moore saddles Portland for Aidan O’Brien in the famous Tabor silks this year. Winner of a Listed race at Leopardstown two weeks ago and despite others looking better on paper, you have to respect the sole Ballydoyle entry in the race.
Al Musmak is the only entry with a previous Ascot win behind him having landed a novice race over 7f on debut last summer. Very good record as a two-year-old but he was poor in the Dante, finishing 7/7, 19 lengths adrift of race winner Economics. Needs to bounce back from that but has a chance based on juvenile form.
Only three of these have won over Thursday’s trip; King’s Gambit won the London Gold Cup over 1m2f whilst the other two entries with form over the distance are unfancied Caviar Height and Bellum Justum. The latter won a Listed contest at Epsom in April and was far from disgraced when seventh in the Derby earlier this month. Bellum Justum could prove the real dark horse in this field.
| Hampton Court Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| King's Gambit | 5/2 |
| First Look | 9/2 |
| Bracken's Laugh | 13/2 |
| Jayarebe, Portland | 8/1 |
| Caviar Heights, Sons And Lovers, Taraj | 14/1 |
| Al Musmak, Bellum Justum | 16/1 |
| Stromberg | 33/1 |
| Under The Sun | 50/1 |
6:15 - Buckingham Palace Stakes
The Buckingham Palace Stakes is one of the newest additions to the Royal Ascot calendar having been introduced in 2002 when the meeting expanded to five days. The race was dropped from the meeting in 2015 but further expansion to the Royal Ascot schedule saw the return of the race from 2020 onwards.
The Buckingham Palace Stakes is a handicap race contested over a straight 7f. Open to horses aged three years and over, Notable former race winners include Regal Parade and Highfield Princess. Last year’s winner finished fourth in Tuesday’s opening race, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.
This year’s field is headed by English Oak for in-form trainer Ed Walker. English Oak was second over 6f at Ascot in the Iron Stand Handicap last October before going on to win convincingly at Haydock last time out.
Last year’s winning jockey Jamie Spencer rides Rhoscolyn for trainer David O’Meara this year and Rhoscolyn cannot be disregarded after an impressive win at Epsom last time out. Third in the race in 2022 but finished well down the field twelve months ago. Stablemate Bopedro was sixth last year and he looks capable of another strong run this year. Has been running over 1m / 1m1f but should welcome the step back to 7f.
Awaal could be interesting as he returns from a 243-day break. Beaten favourite in the Balmoral Handicap here last October and now returns with a first time tongue-tie. Has not won since October 2022 but cannot be disregarded with Oisin Murphy on board.
| Buckingham Palace Stakes | Odds |
|---|---|
| English Oak | 5/1 |
| Divine Libra | 10/1 |
| Northern Express, Mostabshir | 12/1 |
| Awaal, King's Time | 14/1 |
| Carrytheone, Percy's Lad, Fresh | 16/1 |
| Rhoscolyn, Ropey Guest, Bopedro, Gorak, Koy Koy | 20/1 |
| Make Me King, Baradar, Finn's Charm, Alzahir, The X O, Billyjoh, Summerghand | 25/1 |
| Tacarib Bay, Mr Professor, Dark Thirty, Sous La Neige, Greatgadian, Sterling Knight, Mustajaab | 33/1 |
| Maywake | 50/1 |
Royal Ascot Day Three Predictions
- 2:30 - Saturday Flirt (9/1)
- 3:05 - Gilded Water (8/1)
- 3:45 - You Got To Me (8/1)
- 4:25 - Vauban (13/2)
- 5:05 - Native Warrior (12/1)
- 5:40 - Bellum Justum (16/1)
- 6:15 - Bopedro (20/1)
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