Former Talksport man Charlie McCann previews the runners and riders and marks your card on day three of Royal Ascot. View Selections below
Rain is forecast for Ladies Day at Royal Ascot and the highlight is the Gold Cup which sees last year’s impressive winner Fame And Glory bid to follow up as nine go to post for the feature race.
Aidan O’Brien trained Yeats to land the prize in four successive years from 2006-09 inclusive and I would be surprised if Fame And Glory did not give Ballydoyle their fifth win in the race in the last six years. The selection ran a cracker on his reappearance when giving 10lbs and a beating to Unaccompanied at Navan, has winning form on soft ground and is the one to beat.
Saddler’s Rock was receiving 17lbs when beating Opinion Poll in the Doncaster Cup back in September and the pair meet at level weights on Thursday; Frankie Dettori rides Colour Vision rather than Opinion Poll on this occasion and you just wonder whose decision it was for the Italian to jump ship to the former Mark Johnston runner who impressed at Kempton on his comeback.
Cay Verde caught the eye when winning a decent Ascot maiden before crossing the Irish Sea to win a Listed contest at the Curragh last month and he can maintain his progression in the opening Norfolk Stakes for Mick Channon.
Her Majesty the Queen has a fancied runner with Momentary in the Ribblesdale Stakes arguably the most competitive and eagerly awaited race of the meeting if you take out the extraordinary Frankel and Saturday’s Golden Jubilee featuring Black Caviar. Momentary bypassed the Oaks to wait for the Royal meeting but she must face the second, third and fourth from Epsom in a high-quality renewal.
The Fugue is likely to be all the rage and would be a confident selection on decent ground but, given the inclement forecast, preference is for Epsom runner up Shirocco Star to confirm the form. Do note Momentary finished in front of Shirocco Star at Newbury and trainer Michael Bell is making bullish noises about his Royal runner but I am happy to side with the Classic form.
Ryan Moore takes the mount on Fast Or Free in the Britannia for William Haggas and I am loath to desert him but, after a quiet period, trainer Clive Cox was back amongst the winners at the weekend and Forest Row is held in some regard by the stable and he is given the nod in an ultra-competitive handicap.
Born To Surprise is said to need fast ground by the yard and, if the rains fail to materialise, do keep him in mind given he looked very good at Doncaster on his penultimate start.
Wrotham Heath is drawn poorly in stall 11 in the Tercentenary Stakes but he is taken to confirm Epsom form with Grandeur on 6lb worse terms and in the last Spanish Wedding needs one to come out to get a run but, if making the line up, the Botti runner remains potentially well-treated and one to keep on the right side of going forward.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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