Royal Ascot Day Three Preview - 16/06/22

The first race on the third day of the Racing Ascot is the Group Two Norfolk Stakes and we like the look of the favourite Walbank for David Loughnane.

The colt was a smart second on debut behind a very nice type for Godolphin in Noble Style, with the form of the race also been boosted since with the third and fourth since winning and the fourth since running a cracker on the first day of Royal Ascot in the Group Two Coventry Stakes.

Walbank also franked the form when last seen getting off the mark at York last time out when bolting up by seven lengths and this progressive type looks to be a seriously smart horse for Amo Racing and Omnihorse racing.

A tough event on the card is the King George V Stakes Class 2 Handicap over 1m4f and with plenty of runners going to post we have two each way selections.

Our first pick is the nicely bred son of Dubawi Secret State, who has been seen three times to date and has improved with each start.

Making his debut in April over a mile at Newmarket he was a good second behind the smart Francesco Clemente for John & Thady Gosden and then up in trip to 10.5f at Chester saw off the smart Honiton with ease to get off the mark.

Dropped back to a mile last time out he made it back to back wins in good fashion and now sent handicapping off a mark of 93 I think he could be well in here.

He does go up in trip for this event but we think he will handle that and the form of his last two races have been franked in good style.

A horse on the up.

Another nice horse that could hit the frame is the William Haggas trained Mandobi, who has impressed on all three runs in his career to date and now sent handicapping could be even better.

Finishing second on debut last year at Haydock on soft ground over a mile, he was saved for this season and got off the mark at Ripon over 10f, with him and the second going well clear of the third.

Stepped up in trip again to 12f at Thirsk last time out he hosed up again under a penalty and he could be better than his mark of 95.

One of the big races of the day on Thursday is the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes over 1m4f and Sea Silk Road for William Haggas could be tough to beat.

The three year old daughter of Sea The Stars was a 190,000gns purchase that has been seen three times to date, once as a juvenile when needing the run and then twice this season when winning on both occasions.

Learning a lot for her debut run, she made her seasonal reappearance in May at Nottingham over 8.5f at Nottingham when landing a 14 runner maiden in very taking style.

She was then sent to Goodwood last time out up in class to Listed company and distance to 10f and wanting every yard of the trip saw off the talented Eternal Pearl for Godolphin.

The filly was pulling out more at the line and that makes us think the Ribblesdale trip will massively suit.

The four year old son of Galileo looks a stayer in the making.

Running twice as a juvenile winning on debut over 1m 1/2f at Galway, he then went to Newmarket in the 1m2f Zetland Stakes and found it tough on just his second start.

Only ran twice as a three year old, he again won on seasonal debut at Cork and was then sent to Lingfield in the Listed Derby Trial at Lingfield where he didn't handle the very soft ground conditions.

He seems to have now come into his own as a four year old winning both his starts this term, starting over 1m6f in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan.

Improving again for that run he went to Leopardstown and took the Group Three Levmoss Stakes by 14 lengths, to really put himself in the mix for this event.

Kyprios looks a class horse this year and a likely type to take this race.

One of the toughest races of the week is the Class 2 Britannia Stakes over a mile and with 30 runners going to post we have picked two out at each way prices.

The first is the Charlie Hills trained Wanees who has been seen four times for his trainer during his career, making his debut in August last year when 6th of 14 at Newbury in a decent Maiden, but then in September at Ascot over seven furlongs got off the mark beating a subsequent Group Three winner.

Wanees finished last season by making it back to back wins at Salisbury over seven furlongs in a novice stakes giving weight away.

Seen once this season he bought up the hat-trick in the Esher Cup Handicap at Sandown when seen at a mile for the first time and still only on a mark of 91 he makes big appeal for connections who won the race with a similar horse two years ago.

At a similar price to our first selection the William Haggas trained Yonafis could hit the frame heading into the fight unbeaten and having a big chance of improving again for his first experience on turf.

The son of Golden Horn made his debut at Lingfield over a mile last year in November and he was a decent winner of the Maiden Stakes and then in December he backed it up at Chelmsford under a penalty.

Stepping up slightly in trip at Wolverhampton after five months off he landed a hat-trick of wins seeing off a nice type for Archie Watson on Handicap debut.

Only up 4lb for that win to a mark of 92, he may still have more in the tank.

The Group Three Hampton Stakes is the penultimate event of the afternoon on day three at the Berkshire track and we can't look past the Queen's horse Reach For The Moon.

Extremely smart type for Her Majesty that has shown clear ability as a juvenile and this season having been unlucky at Royal Ascot last season can get his revenge this time around.

Second on his first two starts as a juvenile last term at Yarmouth behind New Science and Point Lonsdale in the Listed Chesham Stake at Ascot, he then got off the mark at Newbury, beating a good field by four lengths.

Seen twice more last term he made it back to back wins when landing the Group Three Solario Stakes with ease and he rounded off the season at Doncaster when beaten by a head in the Group Two Champagne Stakes by Bayside Boy.

Picking up a little setback he returned slightly late then planned this term but went on to finish second behind the smart My Prospero in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown.

Gosden explained he will come on massively for that run and he is the horse to beat in this field.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 2 Handicap Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs and with plenty of runners in the field we have gone dutch.

Our first selection is the Clive Cox trained River Nymph who is a course and distance winner landing the 27 runner Victoria Cup last year and he absolutely loves it round this track.

He lost his way slightly after that win, but last time out back in the race he won last year he got back to form off a mark of 102 when a good third of 27 behind Vafortino and Accidental Agent.

Running off the same mark at a track he runs his best races at, at 16/1 he looks an each way bet in this.

At an even bigger price with a similar form line is the Stuart Williams trained Above with the five year old heading into the event at one of his lowest ratings whilst showing some of his best form.

Needing his seasonal debut at Wolverhampton over 6f, he was upped to 7f at Newmarket two starts ago he was a narrow second behind the smart Accidental Agent who holds Group One winning form.

Dropped back to 6f last time out at the same track he was a superb second of 19 behind the talented Blackrod and having been saved for this off only 1lb higher, he should go well at a double figure price.