Royal Ascot Day 3

The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes might have been the feature race of Royal Ascot yesterday, however, all the talk was about Lady Aurelia. She put in a jaw dropping performance, I’ve not seen anything so impressive since Frankel won the 2,000gns.

Wesley Ward, her trainer, said she was very special beforehand but I don’t think anybody expected that type of performance. The way she got everything beat whilst still on the bridle was impressive, but when asked to go by Frankie, the gears she showed was incredible. Lady Aurelia looks the real deal and might just be something very special. Her sectional timings were also very impressive.

Ribchester was a nice 8-1 winner for us yesterday whilst Mr Owl should have been much closer than 13^th. The horse was only beaten 5 lengths and doing all his best work at the finish. He was positioned too far back from the word go.

I’ve always found Day 3 of Royal Ascot the most difficult but the below look a bit of value at the prices.

3:05 Prize Money, EW at 5-1. Now back on a softer surface for the first time since his debut win, Prize Money looks to have a good chance as anything in this race. The selection was 2^nd last time out behind Algometer who went on to run a nice race in the Epsom Derby. That was over one mile three and a furlong too far I thought, one mile two on soft going should be ideal. The Godolphin horses are in very good form and Prize Money looks a bit of value at the prices.

The big race on Day 3 and arguably of the week is the Gold Cup. Order Of St George is a short priced favourite and will likely take the beating but I can’t get involved at 4-5. I’ve had few quid EW on two proven stayers, Suegioo at a massive 80-1 and Mizzou 12-1.

Suegioo stays all day long and with the Richard Fahey yard in such good form he looks overpriced. I find it strange horses, that are totally unproven over the distance can be priced so much shorter. This race will be a real slog on the ground, stamina will win the day, not necessarily the best horse. Mizzou was 7^th last year but should have been closer, a slow pace and no luck in running ruined his chance. A more positive ride looks on the cards as he made all last time out, Mizzou will hopefully keep galloping when others have cried enough.

Bit of a stab in the dark but Midhmaar EW at 20-1 might outrun his odds in the 5:35. I’m hoping the extra distance will bring out further improvement. Midhmaar has been staying on at the death in all of his races so far and looks in need of a trip. He was only beat a length behind Primitivo, and he’s the 2^nd favourite in this race. Midhmaar has bags of stamina in the family, one mile four could be right up his street.