ROYAL ASCOT - DAY 3 (THURSDAY)

It's the halfway point of the 'Royal Meeting' with the premier showpiece race of the entire five-day event The Ascot Gold Cup taking centre stage.

14:30 ASCOT A listed race for horses whose sires have won over 10f and Aix La Chapelle heads the market for Aiden O’Brien and must be respected. The colt was the stable’s second string in winning a six-runner maiden that hasn’t been franked yet and looked to be full of stamina, getting up late on good to yielding. Conversely Aperoll put up the best speed performance on offer here in winning over 6.5f at Newbury after being well-backed on debut. The filly gets a 5lb allowance that has helped the two recent winners and the stable have gone close in two Group races for 2yo’s this week. Revels can also prove a threat to the market leaders.

(written by Alan Morris)

15.05 ASCOT

A very competitive 3yo handicap with some well-bred horses with pretensions beyond their marks, in a race where a high draw hasn’t been a hindrance in recent years. Into The Light looks sure to improve for this step up in trip and stronger pace and appears to have been held back for this race. Joseph O’Brien has a mob of unexposed improving entries with Cannes and Enceladus looking the best. Heyzoom is another promising type and can exploit a mark of 85 for a trainer in good form.

(written by Alan Morris)

15:40 ASCOT

The big question surrounding this contest is just how much Legacy Link’s Epsom Oaks run has taken out of her. We saw Team Gosden land the big race yesterday with Ombudsman and, although this stablemate may not be in the same league, she appears to have the strongest form on offer. The concern is whether she still has enough left in the tank after her latest outing.

French raider Gilded Prize disappointed last time out but can be forgiven that effort on softer ground. She should relish a return to a quicker surface and is expected to fare much better than she did last month.

The lightly raced Earth Shot went close in a Listed contest recently and deserves her chance at this level. However, she will need to improve again to feature prominently and may find one or two too strong unless the principals underperform.

With the Joseph O’Brien stable having landed the Oaks at Epsom, an each-way chance is taken on Johanna Walsh, who shed her maiden tag at the third attempt with an impressive display at Leopardstown. Although this represents a significant step up in class, she looks to offer fair value at the current prices.

Elsewhere, any market support for Composing, Dark Lucinda and Venetia should be noted.

(written by Rory Paddock)

16:15 ASCOT

Much like Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, we could see a Godolphin and Ballydoyle representative battling it out in the closing stages, with reigning champion Trawlerman taking on the younger pretender Scandinavia. There are a few concerns regarding Trawlerman’s race preparations but, unlike his chief rival, he has already proven himself on this stage at Ascot.

The pair look a class apart from the remainder and it’s difficult to envisage either of them finishing outside the first two. It may be the obvious play, but they look the most likely horses to fill the top two positions. The only real question is in which order they cross the line.

Of the rest, the consistent Sweet William and the not especially prolific Al Riffa appear the most likely to challenge the market leaders.

(written by Rory Paddock)

16:50 ASCOT

A fiendishly difficult handicap to unravel, packed with improving three-year-olds.

Three horses who filled the places in the rearranged Silver Bowl bring strong claims into this contest. The Clive Cox-trained pair Blue Courvoisier and Langstone finished first and second that day, with Crest Of Fire taking third.

Although Blue Courvoisier arguably enjoyed the run of the race on that occasion, this stiffer test could give the other two every chance of reversing the form, with Langstone perhaps the pick of the trio.

A chance is taken on Wise Prince. He has faced some stiff assignments so far this season and this represents a drop in class that could help get his career back on track. Toby Moore claims some valuable weight and he looks capable of producing a big performance.

(written by Matt Polley)

17:35 ASCOT

The surprise declaration of Endorsement caused quite a stir in the market after declarations, with Ryan Moore taking the ride and Wayne Lordan switching to Italy. Endorsement boasts strong form alongside the first and third from the Derby and fully deserves his place at the head of the betting. He won with plenty in hand just two weeks ago, but at the prices he looks worth taking on.

Oxagon ran with credit in the 2,000 Guineas without ever seriously threatening before disappointing in the French equivalent. A return to quicker ground should suit much better and, if able to dictate matters from the front this time around, he could prove a danger to all.

My Love Is King finished a close second behind eventual Derby runner-up Maltese Cross and now sports first-time cheekpieces. They would need to make a significant difference for him to become competitive on the ratings, but the fact connections have been willing to throw him in at the deep end has to count for something.

(written by Toby Darby)

18:10 ASCOT

A highly competitive renewal of the Buckingham Palace Stakes. Dance In The Storm has been a model of consistency this season, with his fifth-place finish at Epsom easily forgiven following a commanding victory at Chester. Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy combine once again and another bold showing looks likely.

River King arrives with a solid profile of wins and placed efforts, including a front-running success at Newbury last time out. Pat Dobbs knows how to deliver on a quality horse for Richard Hannon and his overall profile makes plenty of appeal for a race of this nature.

(written by John Arnold)