Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald's best bets for Thursday's racing at Royal Ascot

Mick Fitzgerald’s Horse Racing Tips

14:30 – Elite Status
15:05 – Bertinelli
15:40 – Al Asifah
16:20 – Eldar Eldarov
17:00 – Bless (Each-Way)
17:35 – Caernarfon
18:10 – Ropey Guest

*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.

14:30 – Elite Status

I spoke to trainer Karl Burke at Royal Ascot and his face lights up when he talks about Elite Status. This son of Havana Grey looked the real deal when winning the National Stakes at Sandown. Karl thinks there is more to come. American Rascal is the talking horse and his trainer Wesley Ward is very bullish. She looked good when winning by 10 lengths at Keeneland. I fancy the home runner though.

15:05 – Bertinelli

Aidan O’Brien is having another good week and Bertinelli arrives on the back of a good win in the London Gold Cup at Newbury that always throws up plenty of winners throughout the season. He can make the step up in trip to 1m 4f comfortably as he was only getting going late on at Newbury to win in a blanket finish.

15:40 – Al Asifah

This daughter of Frankel has been so impressive in her two wins from two starts and was very impressive at Goodwood last time. She is related to Awtaad who was placed at Group 1 level. Al Asifah is from a very good family and sets a good standard.

16:20 – Eldar Eldarov

Last year’s St Leger winner also won the Queen’s Vase at this meeting before that Classic success. Eldar Eldarov stayed on really well at York on his seasonal reappearance and would have won if the race had been over a longer trip. This prestigious Gold Cup over 2m 4f looks a good fit. Former winner Subjectivist was nearly the selection and he’s a good price. He was so impressive when winning this contest two years ago before injury struck and might be worth a saver each-way to hit those heights again.

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17:00 – Bless (Each-way)

The French challenger Bless was just beaten a nose by Marhaba Ya Sanafi at Chantilly off level weights who went on to win a Group 1. Bless is rated 93 and could be underestimated. He is drawn in stall 10 so his French jockey has options on where to go. Ryan Moore is drawn two stalls away from him in stall 12 on Carracci so he has good horses and riders to follow before pouncing.

17:35 – Caernarfon

The Jack Channon-trained runner comes in on the back of a third-place finish in the Epsom Oaks behind Soul Sister and that’s an unusual route to take. The now retired Mick Channon was never afraid to aim high and it’s great to see his son Jack inherit that attitude. Caernarfon has a great chance but keep an eye in the market for a move on Drumroll as he falls into the ‘could be anything bracket’ for Ballydoyle.

18:10 – Ropey Guest (each-way)

He’s so consistent and never runs a bad race. Ropey Guest loves Ascot and handles conditions in what is a very tough 7f puzzle to solve. I’ll take his consistency to pay off with an each-way pick.