The PP traders cam very close to knocking it out of the ball park on Wednesday with two winners (12/1, 3/1) and two seconds (8/1, 4/1) and have put up their 6 best bets today to hopefully do the same.
Paddy Desmond – 13:15 Acquitted
Acquitted ran into a group 1 horse in Newcastle last time having looked the likely winner for most of the race. Trainer is quoted as saying he will come on a ton for that and having won over 1m on heavy ground as a 2 year old the extra 2f should suit. Ryan Moore booked and any rain that comes won’t be a disadvantage. Hopefully will knock the Frankie accas out of kilter too and will end up being rated 100+ later in the year.
James Ryan – 13:15 HMS President
I believe HMS President is being completely overlooked for this competitive handicap. He ran in a really strong Yarmouth hcp last time out when the form was franked by the 2nd and 4th running really strong races in the King George V Stakes. He didn’t settle great that day with a lack of pace. That won’t be an issue today as everyone guns for position. Derby winning jockey Martin Dwyer takes the ride who has already won over course and distance this week.
Allan Byrne – 13.50 Fox Tal
Only has 7 runs in his career but Fox Tal has shown plenty of improvement in quite a stop start career. His best run was on his final run last season when running a cracker in the Champion Stakes over C&D behind Magical & Addeybb. A repeat of that run should be good enough to win here with credible opposition light on the ground.
Niall O’Reilly – 15:00 Battleground
Battleground was extremely eye-catching on debut recently in a typically strong looking big field maiden at Naas last week and he looks sure to improve massively for the run, while he’ll also benefit from the step up to 7 furlongs. He’s by War Front, out of Found, so he’s bred to be top class, and the stable have targeted this race with some of their best horses in recent years.
Find a full range of odds on Royal Ascot over on paddypower.comI don’t really like anything against him here, with negatives on times for Modern News and for First Prophet, while Bright Devil seemed to benefit from a bias when winning at Newmarket last time. So it will all leave me very keen on Battleground.
Frank Hickey – 16.10 Finest Sound
There are bound to be plenty of well treated horses in this big field handicap but it is doubtful that any are as well treated as Finest Sound. He ran well in three maidens last season, finishing third three times behind nice horses like Palace Pier, Via De Vega and Kinross. He started off in handicaps last week at Haydock off a lenient looking mark of 82 and he was extremely impressive when winning by over five lengths.
The clock says that his closing sectional was exceptional and he only has to carry a five pound penalty here. The handicapper has raised him twelve pounds, so he is seven pounds ahead of his mark and in reality, he could have far more in hand. He has bagged a lovely high draw, which has been important this week in the straight track races and while Paddy are paying 6 places, I think we won’t need them and that Finest Sound can just get the bog done for the same connections that won this race in 2018.
Conor Magner – 16:40 African Dream
One of my favourite adages in racing is “The bigger the field, the bigger the certainty”. African Dream looks extremely well weighted here off a mark of 80. They have an ideal high draw with several horses drawn in close proximity likely to go forward to give them a lead into the race. If she turns up in the same form as her Newbury second last week it will be a case of battling for minor honours for the rest of the field.
Our traders’ NAPS for Day 3 at Royal Ascot
Paddy Desmond: 13.15 Acquitted
James Ryan: 13.15 HMS President
Allan Byrne: 13.50 Fox Tal
Niall O’ Reilly: 15:00 Battleground
Frank Hickey: 16.10 Finest Sound
Conor Magner: 16:40 African Dream
Essential reading for Thursday’s racing at Royal Ascot:
- Matt Chapman’s Super 7 For Thursday’s Racing At Royal Ascot
- Jason Weaver’s Best Royal Ascot Bets On Thursday
- Royal Ascot Live Stream: How To Watch The Racing For Free With Paddy Power
