Horse Racing Tips: Royal Ascot Thursday cheat sheet from Paddy’s pundits

I’ll be putting up BAKEEL as an each-way hope. It was a nice surprise for connections when he won on debut as he’s a big boy who can only improve. 

I love the way Walbank won at York last time out and he quickened over the line which is always a good sign. Rossa Ryan is on board for David Loughnane so he’ll do for me!

Bakeel put up a really smart performance over course and distance on racecourse debut and can take another step forward now.

I was at Ascot when Walbank got beaten by Noble Style and there was a lot of long faces on connections afterwards. He bolted up at York after and can continue in that winning vein.

I was very impressed by Pillow Talk’s attitude when winning the Listed Marygate Stakes at York last time, and she has the raw speed to be reward each-way support.

NEWFOUNDLAND is all about stamina and might have each-way claims at least. Not many of these have run over further than this trip but the selection did when landing the maiden at Navan last time out.

Vina Sena in an each-way punt for Jamie Spencer and Henry de Bromhead. He’s in stall 16 and he’ll be taking his time coming home. I’m not sure he’ll win but he’s definitely a solid each-way shout

Israr is building a pretty impressive profile and hasn’t been out of the first three yet. A good draw should help his hold-up style of racing as he’ll look to finish strongly.

This race has a 105 rating ceiling and Newfoundland could still be very well handicapped. He’ll handle fast ground and is still a work in progress.

I’ll take two against the field in a really tricky handicap. Schmilsson swerved an opportunity at Epsom in favour of this and should be competitive. Inverness has been crying out for this test of stamina  and while disappointing at Epsom that form has worked out.

I’m taking the chance LIFE OF DREAMS is better than her Musidora run suggests for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She has plenty to do on ratings but is open to improvement. 

I thought Magical Lagoon’s run at Navan against Concert Hall was great. She’s stepping up in trip to 1m 4f and that should suit her.

Sea Silk Road took the step up into Listed company in her stride last time and can make another jump forward up into Group 2 company.

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.

Magical Lagoon was game in defeat when just touched off by Concert Hall in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan. The winner was placed in the Irish Guineas, and the third and fourth have both won since. Hard to oppose.

STRADIVARIUS has still got ability and there aren’t many horses who truly stay this extreme distance so the pool of opposition is thin on the ground. He’s got every chance. Maybe it’s heart over head. We’ll see.

Burning Victory could hit the places but Kyprios is the up-and-coming stayer in the division and can beat Stradivarius.

The 2m 4f trip looks sure to squeeze some more improvement from Tashkhan and he can definitely get a slice of the each-way pie at a massive price.

Stradivarius 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.

Kyprios looks a much-improved performer this year, and is just preferred to Stradivarius, who retains most of his ability, but is beginning to look vulnerable at the highest level.

Tranquil Night stayed on really strongly at Newmarket in a big field to defeat Outgate and the form has a very solid loook. He’s up 11lb but might be a Group horse which is probably needed in this contest.

I’m on Amortentia for Joseph O’Brien. She won well at Naas on her last start. She’s drawn in stall 14 in the middle of the track, which is a bonus

Yonafis has only been nudged up 4lb for a third win on the all-weather last time as he makes his turf debut. Tends to just win by a small margin so could be ahead of the handicapper.

Whoputfiftyinyou looked a smart, improving, horse in winning that day and he gets the nod, but only just, over King Of Time.

King Of Time overcame trouble when winning with a fair bit up his sleeve at Newmarket in April, and has been put aside for this since and from stall 29 will take plenty of beating again.

Reach for the Moon should score for The Queen. The one-time leading Derby hope returned with a mighty effort behind My Prospero at Sandown and will enjoy this step up in trip.

It’s impossible to oppose Reach For The Moon. It’s a simple one!

Tactics could play a big part with Reach For The Moon likely to make the running. He could prove a sitting duck though to the late change of gear from Claymore.

Plenty of people were hoping Reach For The Moon, the son of Sea The Stars, would be good enough to win an Epsom Derby for the Queen but this looks a much easier opportunity to get back to winning ways.

Reach For The Moon has very few credible opponents. He’s a skinny price, however, so including  Claymore in a forecast may boost returns.

CHIEFOFCHIEFS has fantastic form at Ascot off higher marks than this and is the perfect Jamie Spencer ride. I expect a late flourish to hit the places from a good, high draw. 

I really fancy Ouzo. He ran well in the Royal Hunt Cup last year and he’s coming down a furlong, which will suit. He’s a massive price too.

Two against the field in Tactical and Total Commitment who are both dropping down in grade and have a bit of class about them on their day.

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. That big-race experience will help again now.

Ascot specialist Chiefofchiefs was stopped multiple times in his run in the Victoria Cup and with Jamie Spencer on board can go close at a nice price.