Free tips for every race on day three of Royal Ascot 2023
The Ascot Gold Cup headlines the card at Ascot on Thursday 22nd June
Noche Magica, Perfuse and Waipiro feature in our Ascot day 3 selections
Expired
Royal Ascot day three. (Getty)
The middle day at Royal Ascot is all about the Gold Cup, the longest Group One staged in Britain during the flat season. Around our feature race, Thursday's viewers have got three more Group races to enjoy, along with a trio of large-field handicaps.
We had a fantastic day two with our selections, which featured three winners in Crimson Advocate, Rogue Millennium and Gregory, along with 14/1, 25/1, 28/1 and 33/1 placers 🤑
Here are our best betting tips for every race on day three at Royal Ascot.
Royal Ascot 2023 Day 3 Schedule
Time
Track
2:30pm
Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 5f
3:05pm
King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 1m4f
Elite Status looked like a potential superstar when winning the National Stakes at Sandown and I'd love to see Karl Burke's colt make it three from three. 7/4 is, however, an extremely short price in a race that, on paper, looks extremely competitive.
Billy Lee and Paddy Twomey team up with NOCHE MAGICA (7/1), who bolted up by four lengths on debut at Cork in April. Twomey's colt was then the last off the bridle in the six-furlong Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh, but was marginally outstayed by Givemethebeatboys, who claimed victory by a head.
Givemethebeatboys was sold for over £1m prior to Royal Ascot and ran well to finish fourth in the Coventry Stakes on day one. Noche Magica should enjoy this drop back to the minimum distance and Twomey's horses are going well at the moment.
Race 2 - King George V Stakes Tips
This handicap isn't a race that Sir Michael Stoute usually targets, but in PERFUSE (8/1) he arrives with a leading contender in 2023.
An emphatic eight-length victor over a future winner on his second start at Nottingham, Perfuse was last seen winning a maiden over this trip at Doncaster, beating fellow entrant Inquiring Minds by two easy lengths. Richard Kingscote's mount ran up to an RPR of 101 that day, but will make his handicap debut off an official mark of just 94. Following a kind draw up in stall ten, Perfuse looks to be the one to side with.
Race 3 - Ribblesdale Stakes Tips
Al Asifah was instantly installed as the odds-on favourite for the Ribblesdale after Shadwell stumped up the supplementary fee. Yes, Jim Crowley's mount looked hugely impressive when scoring at Goodwood, but this is far from a penalty kick. Al Asifah has 18 rivals to beat, many of whom have shown they have plenty of ability during their short careers.
Bluestocking is a filly I'm keen to follow and Infinite Cosmos' defeat in the Musidora is easily forgiven. Warm Heart, Midnight Mile and Maman Joon aren't without each-way chances, and I could see Lumiere Rock running well on decent ground.
I can't decide between the runners at the head of the market, so I'm just going to have a small bet on UNDERSTATED (50/1). Ralph Beckett's supposed third-string has progressed with each of her three starts and ran well to place second in a Listed contest at Goodwood last time out. Understated is by Nathaniel and out of a Makfi mare, so she should have no trouble seeing out this mile-and-a-half distance. 50/1 is a nice price, especially if you can get four places.
Check out our Ascot Gold Cup Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Thursday's races via a mobile or tablet.
Vafortino (centre) winning at Goodwood last season. (Getty)
Race 5 - Britannia Stakes Tips
I'm going to back two at each-way prices and both have been drawn on the high side of the track. THEORYOFEVERYTHING (20/1) was mentioned as a potential 2000 Guineas runner earlier this season, following a hugely impressive debut victory at Doncaster.
John and Thady Gosden's charge then got stuck in the mud when third in the Fred Darling at Newbury and clearly hated the track when last on his handicap debut at Chester last time out. Benoit De La Sayette's mount could still progress into a stakes performer this season and that opening handicap mark of 94 is there to be exploited.
Given Jamie Spencer's fantastic record on the straight track here at Ascot and Charlie Johnston's excellent recent form, I'm surprised to see BENACRE (28/1) sitting down at 28/1.
Having won his final two handicap starts as a juvenile, Benacre kicked off this season with fourth and second-place finishes in high-profile Listed events. Spencer's mount returns to the UK gaving finished fourth in the German 2000 Guineas last time out and he too could be very well handicapped running off 96.
Race 6 - Hampton Court Stakes Tips
Yet another capacity field to sift through and the bookmakers currently seem none-the-wiser, going 5/1 the field. Clearly, this is an incredibly difficult puzzle to solve, but I do feel that WAIPIRO (12/1) has been a little overlooked in the market.
Ed Walker's star went into the Epsom Derby on the back of an impressive win at Newmarket and a smart second in the Lingfield Trial. Tom Marquand's mount was slowest away at Epsom and forced wide to try and make up some ground, so he must be commended for that eventual sixth-place finish.
I feel bad for deserting Caernarfon, who I tipped at 50/1 when she placed in the Oaks last month, but on this occasion I'd rather side with Waipiro, who represents better each-way value at his current price.
Race 7 - Buckingham Palace Stakes Tips
A very tricky day ends with a straightforward task - finding the winner of a 29-runner seven furlong sprint. Like with most of the handicaps this week, I'll be picking two against the field, starting here with course specialist VAFORTINO (16/1).
Benoit De La Sayette's mount won the Victoria Cup over this course-and-distance last season and met with traffic twice when beaten four lengths in this race 12 months ago. Vafortino has bumped into Rebel Territory the last twice, but has still managed to register career-best RPRs on both occasions. Kevin Philippart De Foy's charge is clearly in excellent heart and he's been drawn nicely up in stall 19.
Another runner who's been in cracking form this season is SPANISH STAR (33/1), drawn three stalls on Vafortino's outside. Patrick Chamings' eight-year-old has won two of his last three starts, finishing a close second at Windsor in-between.
Spanish Star ran out a ready winner of a seven-furlong handicap on Epsom Derby day last time out and a mere four-pound hike for that victory doesn't seem harsh. David Probert's mount hasn't finished outside the places in three starts here at Ascot and the quickening ground will certainly suit.
Verdict
Royal Ascot day three best bets:
1: Noche Magica Norfolk Stakes Tips @7/1 at QuinnBet - 10 Units
2: Perfuse King George V Stakes Tips @8/1 at Hollywood bets - 10 Units
3: Waipiro Hampton Court Stakes Tips @12/1 at QuinnBet - 5 Units
4: Buckingham Palace Stak Vafortino @16/1 at Hollywood bets - 5 Units
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