Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s best bets at Royal Ascot on Thursday

It's Gold Cup day Mick's got you covered with his fine fancies.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 2 years ago

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

We’re into day three of Royal Ascot action on Thursday and it’s the turn of the stayers to take centre stage. They don’t have it all their own way as we kick off with the Norfolk Stakes over 5f.

14:30 – Walbank

I was at Ascot when Walbank got beaten by Noble Style and there was a lot of long faces on connections afterwards. Walbank had been purchased at the ‘breeze up’ sales for 525,000 guineas! He ran a nice race but got beaten by a smart horse that day in Noble Style. He bolted up at York after. The Antarctic is the obvious one for Ballydoyle but it’s very different ground conditions than his two wins in Ireland.

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15:05 – Newfoundland

When you re-watch the race Newfoundland won at Navan, he was a very comfortable winner even though he had to switch twice. This race has a 105 rating ‘ceiling’ and it wouldn’t surprise me that a few of these are rated much higher than that. Newfoundland is a work in progress and being by Deep Impact, he will handle fast ground conditions. He could still be very well handicapped too.

Mandobi is the first choice of the William Haggas’ runners on jockey bookings. He really impressed when winning at Thirsk and has to be on the short-list. There are a few unexposed types so it’s hard to get a handle on it with any great confidence.

15:40 – Magical Lagoon

Jessie Harrington’s charge Magical Lagoon got beat a short-head in a Listed race at Navan but finished off the race well that day. With that run under her belt, she can take this. History was disappointing in the Irish 1,000 Guineas but has to be feared if bouncing back to her old form.

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16:20 – Stradivarius

I can’t help it and I know I have a soft spot for Stradivarius but he is so much happier on better ground and some of his finishing sectional splits at York were superb. Even though he’s an eight-year-old, I still think he can get it done and win an amazing fourth Ascot Gold Cup.

17:00 – Whoputfiftyinyou

Whoputfiftyinyou did well to win at Haydock but the handicapper has had his say with a 10lb rise. He looked a smart, improving, horse in winning that day and he gets the nod, but only just over King Of Time. Charlie Appleby’s son of Kingman did well to win at Newmarket. He got stopped in the dip but still won cosily!

17:35 – Reach For The Moon

It’s a disappointing turnout for this race. This looks a perfect opportunity for Her Majesty the Queen to get a winner in her Platinum Jubilee year. Plenty of people were hoping Reach For The Moon, the son of Sea The Stars, would be good enough to win an Epsom Derby but this looks a much easier opportunity to get back to winning ways.

18:10 – Vafortino

There was a lot of like about the way Vafortino, a son of New Bay, won over course and distance last time in the Victoria Cup. I was working that day for ITV Racing and you couldn’t help but be impressed with what you saw.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Royal Ascot Day Three Tips

14:30 – Walbank
15:05 – Newfoundland
15:40 – Magical Lagoon
16:20 – Stradivarius
17:00 – Whoputfiftyinyou
17:35 – Reach For The Moon
18:10 – Vafortino

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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