Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Thursday including 40/1 Chesham Stakes fancy

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A thrilling Gold Cup day

The Gold Cup at 16:15 is one of the most prestigious races in the calendar and this year's renewal is one of the most intriguing in recent memory. It's a race that has been won by many fantastic stayers over the years, including my personal favourite Stradivarius, and a new name could be added to the illustrious roll of honour.

Scandinavia leads the younger brigade who will attempt to beat the experienced Trawlerman, with the likes of Rahiebb, Al Riffa and Cabello De Mar all bringing good form into the contest. Sweet William is a familiar name in the line-up - could he finally land a Group One victory on the biggest stage of all?

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Chesham Stakes, 14:30, Royal Ascot - Back Romanza E/W @ 40/141.00

Despite managing only fourth on debut, Romanza gained some valuable course experience in the process and the form has been subsequently franked. The winner, Night In Vegas, put in an excellent performance to finish fifth in the Coventry Stakes on Tuesday, and had won at Goodwood prior to that outing, whilst fifth-placed Alfred Wallace then beat Pikachu to shed his maiden at Thirsk.

The Frankel colt, who fetched 160,000gns as a Tatts October Book 1 yearling, was outpaced over the 6f trip on that occasion, but stuck to the task late on which would suggest this extra furlong will suit. He's out of Con Te Partiro, a Group One winner over a mile and half-sister to black-type achiever Donworth, who showed form over around a mile.

Whilst significant improvement is required, Romanza is completely unexposed and could have plenty of further progression to come. James McDonald takes the ride aboard the colt, who may be capable of outrunning his odds.

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King George V Stakes, 15:05, Royal Ascot - Back Golden Knight E/W @ 14/115.00

Ed Walker-trained Golden Knight could put in a bold bid on handicap debut with the benefit of a recent run this season in his favour having finished sixth to Talk Of New York in a Listed Sandown contest on reappearance.

The yard is currently in good form, having already saddled a Group One winner at this meeting this week, and there could be plenty more to come from this Camelot colt, who could well relish this step up in distance.

On debut, Golden Knight finished a creditable fourth to Lost Boys, now rated 96 and purchased by Wathnan Racing following his London Gold Cup success, with now 108-rated Poseidon's Warrior, second in Listed company since, filling the runner-up spot.

In his subsequent run, the colt shed his maiden tag by beating recent Sandown winner Turty Tree, with subsequent dual winner Poetry Of Time in third, Superior Choice, a maiden winner since, in fourth, and subsequent three-time winner Arc Ole Ole in fifth.

There's plenty of substance to his form and an opening mark of 87 may underestimate his level of ability considering some of the rivals he has faced so far.

Out of Group Three-winning sprinter Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Knight is a half-brother to Irish St Leger Trial winner Delphi, who also won a Group Two handicap and Listed contest over a mile-and-a-half, as well as Credenza, who placed in a mile-and-a-quarter Group Two won by Tarnawa, and the staying Matchless.

He's from a family that has produced Hong Kong Cup winner Eagle Mountain, once second to Authorized in the Derby, as well as dual Grade One winner Dank, and Prix Marcel Boussac winner Sulk, who placed in the Prix Royal-Oak and Yorkshire Oaks.

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King George V Stakes, 15:05, Royal Ascot - Back Joulany E/W @ 8/19.00

Equipped with a first-time tongue-tie on handicap debut, in his first run as a gelding, Joulany is an interesting contender for Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch. He could be well treated from a mark of 91, having shown some good form against tough opposition in four starts to date, and he's entitled to keep on improving, completely unexposed in this sphere.

The son of Sea The Stars was only beaten half-a-length when third to subsequent Listed winner and Derby runner-up Maltese Cross on seasonal reappearance in April, before chasing home Galiyan when the 10/111.91 favourite in a hot Chester maiden.

There are plenty of reasons to suggest Joulany may show improvement in this contest and he should be capable of faring better over this distance being by Sea The Stars out of a mile-winning Shamardal mare in Kitcara, who has also produced multiple Group Three-winning mile-and-a-half performer Al Aasy, as well as strong stayer Align The Stars and 1m2f Listed-placed Sea Karats.

There's stamina and class in the pedigree and Joulany could have plenty more to give, making each-way appeal in this competitive handicap.

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Ribblesdale Stakes, 15:40, Royal Ascot - Back Lady Roisia E/W @ 14/115.00

Likeable chestnut Lady Roisia caught the eye in the paddock ahead of her third-placed effort at Newbury in Listed company last month. She was no match for the front two on that occasion, but did race enthusiastically on her return to action following a 226-day break, and could take a significant step forward for the outing.

Whilst she'll need to show plenty of further improvement stepping into this company, up against some formidable rivals, she remains unexposed having made only three career starts to date.

On debut, she finished third to Touleen, who is currently rated 105 following a close defeat in Group Three level and a creditable sixth in the 1,000 Guineas, with subsequent Group Two winner Zanthos, now rated 111, in second. She then won a Nottingham maiden which has produced a couple of subsequent winners.

The St Mark's Basilica filly is out of Oaks winner Talent, who has also produced 1m3f Group Two-winning Ambition, therefore this further step up in trip, with the benefit of a recent run, could see her in much better light.

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Gold Cup, 16:15, Royal Ascot - Back Al Riffa E/W @ 17/29.50

Although he has stamina to prove over this extra distance, Al Riffa remains unexposed over the staying trips and brings top class form into the race.

The hugely talented performer, who has earned over £1.3m in prize money during his career to date, has three top level successes to his name, most recently in the Irish St Leger when a dominant four-length winner, and finished a length-and-a-half fourth to Sosie in the valuable Hong Kong Vase in December following a seventh-placed effort in the Melbourne Cup.

The globetrotting son of Wootton Bassett is out of a Galileo daughter to Moments Of Joy, Love On My Mind, whose dam won a Listed race over a mile-and-three-quarters before producing 2016 Gold Cup runner-up Mizzou, and black-type achievers in Unity and Eternal Bounty, too.

Al Riffa is from the family of Pato, who produced multiple strong stayers including Gold Cup winner Classic Cliche and Ebor winner Mediterranean. He has a stamina-laden pedigree which includes proven performers in this prestigious race, which gives hope to his capabilities of seeing out this extra distance and, if he is able to, he has the talent and class to win.

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BET OF THE DAY: Britannia Stakes, 16:50, Royal Ascot - Back Wechaad E/W @ 15/28.50

Roger Varian-trained Wechaad could prove better than his current rating of 95 and remains unexposed in this sphere having made only two previous handicap appearances.

He was successful on handicap debut at Doncaster last year when beating the promising, sadly ill-fated Gold Dawn in convincing fashion, following on from a second-placed effort to the talented Venetian Prince and a third behind subsequent Group Two and Listed-winning Words Of Truth. 

In his latest outing at Goodwood, on reappearance following a 210-day break, the Oasis Dream colt caught the eye as he was able to run on well late on to finish fourth. He's entitled to improve for his return to action and, from a 1lb lower mark, holds solid claims.

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Britannia Stakes, 16:50, Royal Ascot - Back Moonfall E/W @ 15/28.50

Moonfall is another unexposed contender who warrants consideration in this hugely competitive 30-runner race. He made his handicap debut at Chester when last seen but was drawn wide and didn't get the run of things.

It was a pleasing return and he could be worth keeping onside considering he shaped with promise and appears potentially well treated from a rating of 90. 

Last year, the gelded son of Starman showed some potential with creditable performances behind the likes of now 104-rated Military Code, the unbeaten Rising Power, and Sovereign Spell, before getting off the mark when beating New Monarch by two-lengths at Newbury.

There could be plenty of further progression to come from him and the 200,000gns purchase may be worth keeping the faith in.

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Britannia Stakes, 16:50, Royal Ascot - Back Exclusive Code E/W @ 16/117.00

A case can be made for plenty in this Britannia Stakes and another unexposed contender to consider in Exclusive Code for Archie Watson. He won a 25-runner maiden on his return at Newbury in April, narrowly denying Lighting Thunder to get off the mark at the third time of asking.

The Blue Point gelding had previously finished fourth in novice and maiden appearances behind Gewan and Isaac Newton respectively, running in deep company as a juvenile. His maiden win has produced four subsequent winners so far, with many of the other beaten horses running very well since too, including Decade Of Time, who has won twice since earning himself an opening mark of 92.

With his form having worked out well to date, Exclusive Code could be dangerous on handicap debut from an opening mark of 90. He is capable of showing any amount of improvement and the €280,000 breeze-up buy is one to note.

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Hampton Court Stakes, 17:35, Royal Ascot - Back Glacius E/W @ 22/123.00

Hugo Palmer-trained Glacius is making his seasonal return therefore lacks the benefit of a recent run in comparison with his rivals, but did win on debut last term, beating Del Maro, before featuring in hot Stakes-level contests won by Bow Echo and Hankelow respectively.

The form has been working out well, with two subsequent winners emerging from his maiden success, most runners from the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock going on to boost that formline, and Autumn Stakes winner Hankelow placing in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains this term.

There's plenty to like about the form shown already by Glacius, and he has made the frame in a Group Three previously. The step up to a mile-and-a-quarter could suit as he's out of Predawn, a daughter to Galileo mare Perihelion who placed in the Park Hill Stakes before producing Oaks winner Qualify, dam of Prix du Jockey Club runner-up and Group Two mile-and-a-half winner Cualificar.

With a likeable profile and stamina as well as class in the pedigree, this could perfectly suit Glacius, who remains unexposed and capable of further improvement. If ready on his return, the son of Too Darn Hot could outrun his odds under Billy Loughnane.

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Buckingham Palace Stakes, 18:10, Royal Ascot - Back Great Acclaim E/W @ 16/117.00

Five-year-old gelding Great Acclaim could be dangerous from a mark of 100, upped 2lb for his second to The Wizard Of Eye over course-and-distance last month. He was previously only just denied by Cosi Bello at Haydock, improving on his reappearance in the Lincoln and previous run in the Balmoral.

Last season, he performed generally consistently well through the summer months into September, winning twice whilst placing on multiple other occasions. His last win was from a 6lb lower mark at Chepstow when he doubled up after winning a 20-runner race at Goodwood, defying odds of 18/119.00 in the process.

From a similar rating in the past, the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained contender has been able to emerge with great credit and has plenty of course experience in his favour. There's a lot to like about his chances in this competitive race, and, with a favourable run, he should go well.

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Buckingham Palace Stakes, 18:10, Royal Ascot - Back Golden Mind E/W @ 30/131.00

Likeable gelding Golden Mind has been performing well recently in handicaps, improving plenty for his return to action at Kempton earlier in the year. He was only narrowly denied by the hugely progressive Bellarchi at Musselburgh, when giving 18lb to the winner now rated 101, before making the frame when fourth over course-and-distance in the Victoria Cup. 

The son of Galileo Gold wasn't able to make any impression in a Group Three at Epsom on Derby Day, but should feel more comfortable back in a familiar set up, with a huge amount of valuable experience in big field handicaps, including at Ascot, in his favour.

Trained by Richard and Peter Fahey, Golden Mind is 4lb higher than when winning at Doncaster in the autumn, but has shown his capabilities from a high rating in the past and warrants each-way consideration under Oisin Orr.

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Katie Midwinter's Day 3 Royal Ascot double

Back Golden Knight (15.05 Ascot) and Wechaad (16.50 Ascot) in an each-way double

Betfair is offering Bet £10 Get £10 on Racing Multis, and the multi that makes the most appeal on the third day of Royal Ascot is an each-way double including Golden Knight and Wechaad.

Both horses hold solid each-way claims in their respective competitive contests and appear at decent prices, making appeal. With favourable runs, they could both make the frame and come into their races unexposed with the scope for further improvement.

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Now read more Royal Ascot tips here!

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