3 minute read
It's Gold Cup day and Ladies' Day and the sun is supposed to make an appearance.
The Norfolk Stakes over the 1000m straight sees 15 2yos lined up with Sunday Sovereign on 2/1 looking good having beaten Tuesday's Coventry Stakes winner Arizona at their last meeting. There's a bit of space in the market to A'Ali on 6/1 for Simon Crisford and Frankie Dettori, Air Force Jet on 8/1 for Joseph O'Brien and the same quote for his father's Mount Fuji. We like the French raider here Real Appeal by the Aussie sire Sidestep plus he's won three from four to date – Antoine Hamelin riding for Matthieu Palussière. Should be around 12/1.
The Hampton Court G3 has another representative from King Power Racing in Fox Chairman for Andrew Balding and their retained jockey Silvester de Souza on 7/2. Next in the market Cape of Good Hope comes off a 4th in the Prix de Jockey Club for A P O'Brien and Ryan Moore but could be a question mark on the soft ground so 5/1 is available. King Ottokar is 11/2 for Charlie Fellowes and James Doyle with a win in the wet already in his CV. Our roughie here is Arthur Kitt with the son of Camelot on 22/1 for Richard Kingscote and Tom Dascombe. The Queen has a runner here in Eightsome Reel on 33/1 for Michael Bell and James McDonald.
The Ribblesdale G2 for the 3yo fillies is over 2400m and has 11 starters. The O'Brien-Moore runner is Fleeting on 13/8 after finishing third in the Oaks. King Power Racing also has a runner here in Queen Power 3/1 and she's with Sir Michael Stoute, with de Souza riding.
We are waiting for Frankellina to fulfil her potential so maybe today could be the day – she's on 15/2.
The Ascot Gold Cup G1 is over 4000m and is the highlight of the week. The question here is if last year's winner Stradivarius can repeat the performance on the soft ground. There is a school of thought which thinks that as he's such a champion stayer he will be able to cope so he's 6/5. Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter for Appleby-Doyle is on 4/1 and Dee Ex Bee for the in-form Mark Johnston stable will have de Souza on board and is 6/1. They are the ones in single-figures and our roughie here is the Willie Mullins trained Thomas Hobson as the 9yo is one tough stayer.