Royal Ascot Tips: Classy Cannes set to continue O'Brien success with King George triumph

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King George V Stakes, Ascot, 15.05 - Back Cannes each-way @ 11/112.00

Aidan O'Brien may be verging on a notable milestone of Royal Ascot winners, but it might not be long before son Joseph is well on his way to an impressive number of Royal Ascot winners.

O'Brien's oldest son is certainly cut from the same cloth as his father and with a 1-2 on day one and strong contenders throughout the week, junior looks set for another profitable meeting.

I was fortunate to see Cannes in the flesh at Leopardstown before his smooth success in a maiden back in May and was taken by his demeanour and attitude, not to mention physicality.

He strode out well on fast ground that day to beat a talented rival and, given he has a number of Group 1 entries including the Irish Derby, there looks a lot more to come from a well-bred, talented colt.

An outside stall has been no barrier (excuse the pun) to success in recent years and a mark of 95 looks exploitable.

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King George V Stakes, Ascot, 15.05 - Back Heyzoom @ 6/17.00

The handicapper gave Heyzoom a mark of 85 for his Newbury success and he might regret that rating if he could have his time again.

Runner-up Besieged, beaten a shade cosily at the Berkshire venue last month, has won by a huge margin at Salisbury subsequently and fourth-home Echo Of Stars has also won to enhance the form.

There has even been a subsequent victory for 10th home Brocklesby Bill at a huge price so Heyzoom looks a very well-handicapped horse here and, although the bigger prices have gone, he is still worth playing for an operation that won this race with Hukum.  

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Ribblesdale Stakes, Ascot, 15.40 - Back Johanna Walsh each-way @ 13/27.50

Oaks runner-up Legacy Link clearly sets a strong standard in this event, but it looks an interesting move by the aforementioned Joseph O'Brien to pitch Johanna Walsh into this race on the back of a maiden success at Leopardstown.

O'Brien turned over the Gosden filly at Epsom with the talented Thundering On who sauntered past her rival to run out one of the most impressive Oaks winners in recent memory.

The selection's handler must have more than an idea he can again trouble today's market leader with his lightly-raced and unexposed filly who has reportedly always gone well at home and looked a revelation when making all of the running at Leopardstown.

She thumped the talented Believe that day and, given her rival bolted up by eight lengths next time out at Dundalk, the form may be better than it looked at first glance.  

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Britannia Stakes, Ascot, 16.50 - Back Pathein each-way @ 25/126.00

The decision to drop Pathein back to seven furlongs was far from a hopeless experiment at Goodwood last time, but Ed Dunlop's should appreciate today's return to a mile and can outrun his odds in a typically competitive renewal.

The selection couldn't match the turn of foot displayed by the classy Catallus last time, but he stuck to his task gamely to snatch third and connections clearly believe he is a colt of immense promise as he held a Group 1 St James's Palace entry earlier in the week.

Hopefully, Pathein learned plenty from his first dip into handicap company and can make an impact here.  

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BEST BET: Britannia Stakes, Ascot, 16.50 - Back Wechaad each-way @ 15/28.50

Wechaad was poorly drawn in that Goodwood handicap and, in the circumstances, did extremely well to take fourth from an uncompromising position.

The son of Oasis Dream was an excellent third in maiden company at this venue last summer and also acquitted himself well in the Horris Hill on unsuitably soft ground at the backed of last season.

Dropped by the handicapper for the Goodwood reverse, Wechaad represents a stable to be feared in straight mile handicaps at this meeting.

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Sam Turner's Royal Ascot Day 3 Double

Back Caballo De Mar (16:15 Royal Ascot) and My Love Is King (17:35 Royal Ascot) in an each-way double

Betfair is offering Bet £10 Get £10 on Multis, and the multi that makes the most appeal is an each-way double featuring Caballa De Mar in the Gold Cup and My Love Is King in the Hampton Court Stakes. You can read Alan Dudman's Big Race Verdict on the day's feature race here.

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Now read more Royal Ascot tips here!

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