3 minute read
Racing and Sports preview day three from the Royal Meeting at Ascot.
Day three of the Royal Meeting features the Gold Cup and Stradivarius' shot at history as he looks to win the race for the fourth time.
We hardly need the Racing and Sports Pricing Model to tell us that Stradivarius is a good stayer with a strong chance here. That much is obvious, but what is also apparent is that the task in front of him is no snack.
Click here for free form, ratings and speed maps for Royal Ascot tonight
Trueshan has developed into a strong stayer and had Stradivarius in behind when winning the Long Distance Cup at the back of last season. Subjectivist goes from strength to strength and looked ominous winning the Dubai Gold Cup in March. The Derby winner Serpentine turns up to join his Irish Derby-winning stablemate Santiago and the winners of the Melbourne and Yorkshire Cups. It's a real race!
And for all of those named, the one that appeals as a decent shot at the stumps is the less accomplished, less established, Emperor Of The Sun.
There are obvious knocks on one that is 25/1 but there is a positive and that is that he turned a corner winning the Saval Beg last start, putting up a good overall time in beating a string of good stayers (Group One winners in second and third) and he runs here for a stable that sees horses improve for the first two runs back as a general rule. They strike at 7%-17%-21%.
At 25/1 you don't need a lot of positives, or a big plausible narrative, to have a bet.
The best bet on the card can come in the race prior where again third up looks a nice spot for one, this time much higher up in the betting. Noon Star chased Snowfall gamely enough at York having started clear favourite to beat her.
That was a result of having run sharp figures at Wetherby prior and she's bred in the purple for a trendy yard, so she is likely to be popular again tonight. In fact, she already has been a touch warm in betting, but the Pricing Model sees 5/2 as a bet with Dubai Fountain rated the nearest danger.
Recommended bets: Back Noon Star in the Ribblesdale. Back Emperor Of The Sun in the Gold Cup.
