Thursday 18th June 2015 - Royal Ascot Day 3

The Irish trained Free Eagle won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes by the tightest of margins on day 2 of Royal Ascot. It was a great training performance by Dermot Weld, not just winning the race but getting the horse to Royal Ascot in the first place after plenty of problems.

Trainer Kevin Ryan of the second placed horse The Grey Gatsby likely had a sleepless night as he should have won. Ridden by Jamie Spencer The Grey Gatsby couldn’t get out in time and had to sit and suffer, if the partnership found the gap one stride earlier the result would have been different.

David O’Meara proved again what a fantastic trainer he is when sending out Amazing Maria to win the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, the hot favourite Integral didn’t perform but nevertheless Mr O’Meara has done an outstanding job turning the horse round and improving it by stones.

No joy with the selections yesterday, Ivawood was horrible and didn’t let himself down on the firm going Richard Hughes reported.

Day 3 doesn’t get any easier in fact it looks the hardest day yet.

I’ve had two bets at decent prices, Trip To Paris EW 12-1 in the Gold Cup & King Bolete EW 15-2 in the final race.

The Gold Cup revolves around Forgotten Rules, he looks the genuine Group 1 contender and a classy individual, the ground though is a concern. Forgotten Rules prefers a bit of dig in the going and he’s not going to get that today, if the horse does cope with the quick surface he’s the likely winner but at the price of 11-4 I’m looking elsewhere.

Mizzou looks sure to go well and Simenon could be a live player, however I’m going with the improving Trip To Paris trained by Ed Dunlop. This horse has been a revelation since stepped up in trip and was unlucky not to complete a 4 timer last time out when short of room.

The trip and going will be no problem something that can’t be said for a lot of the shorter priced runners whilst the extra couple of furlongs could bring out further improvement. On the form book the selection does need to find a few more pounds but a few of these might not give their running due to the conditions. Trip To Paris looks a sporting EW selection at a price.

Despite a good word around for Dissolution in the 5:35 King Bolete is the pick who was impressive when winning at Newbury last time out. The horse showed a good turn of foot and just looked better than his rating whilst the extra furlong can only help. His draw in stall 2 might be on the wrong side but if getting away with that he should go well.