Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s best bets on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot

Matt is taking on Kyprios and siding with Gregory in the Gold Cup (16:25).

Royal Ascot Tips

14:30 Whistlejacket
15:05 Poniros (each-way)
15:45 Forest Fairy
16:25 Gregory (each-way)
17:05 Volterra
17:40 First Look
18:15 Gorak (each-way)

*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 Whistlejacket

Day 3 of Royal Ascot 2024 on ITV Racing gets under way here with the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for juveniles over five furlongs. Very boring I know but surely WHISTLEJACKET will take all the beating for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. I like the fact he has had two runs and while beaten on debut in desperate conditions he showed what he can do at the Curragh in Listed company quickening up well. He was still a little green that day so should have more to come and better ground might well help as a son of No Nay Never.

15:05 Poniros (each-way)

Now the King George V Handicap for three-year-olds over a mile and a half. Many of these stepping up in trip and the question is who will improve the most. My guess is that PONIROS will be hard to kick out the frame after he stayed on strongly behind the talented King’s Gambit at Newbury last time in a race in which Chantilly was third and Persica fourth. My selection still looked as though he was learning on the job that day and might improve a bundle for David Egan and Ralph Beckett. Made his debut on heavy but should go on this ground.

 

15:45 Forest Fairy

The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a half. My gut feeling is that we didn’t see the real FOREST FAIRY in the Oaks at Epsom and she might bounce back to her Chester form here from Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett. A few of these are questionable on the ground but Forest Fairy won the Cheshire Oaks on good and should get away with it. She’s clearly quite good and stays well.

16:25 Gregory (each-way)

The big one of the day in the Group 1 Gold Cup over two and a half miles. I have to take Kyrpios on even though he can obviously win as a former outstanding stayer and winner of this race. The issue is a long time off with injury and since his return he’s been beaten twice and been unimpressive in two wins. He can of course score. But he’s not an odds on shot for me. GREGORY is a great each-way bet for me. The John & Thady Gosden runner, ridden by James Doyle, landed last year’s Queen’s Vase on good ground and ran all right at York on good to firm even though a beaten favourite. His comeback effort this season at York was eye catching and he’s sure to stay.

 

17:05 Volterra

Back to handicap company for the Britannia Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile. Wow this is wide open. I loved VOLTERRA when he won at Newmarket last time and the fact he was well backed suggested the team thought he was well handicapped. Fourth in the Convivial as a juvenile he’s always shown promise and there should be loads more to come. He’s up 9lb but has loads of room for improvement after just four races. Neil Callan rides for Kevin Ryan off a decent racing weight.

17:40 First Look

Up in class for the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes for three-year-olds over a mile and a quarter. King’s Gambit will be all the rage after his romp at Newbury and he could be a snip. That said, I see no reason why French raider FIRST LOOK won’t run huge for Andre Fabre and James Doyle. The French Derby runner-up stays well and is lightly raced so should be still getting better with racing. He’s untested on ground this fast but if he likes it there’s every chance his turn of speed will count for much.

18:15 Gorak (each-way)

The finale is another handicap in the Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs. GORAK was far from disgraced at this meeting last year off a high rating when 12th in this race rated 105. He’s now down to 96 and has run really well in two big handicap this season at Newmarket when second to Carrytheone and fourth to Poet Master. On his last start he kept on really well and provided the low draw is not a huge issue he should have an each-way chance.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Royal Ascot Tips

14:30 Whistlejacket
15:05 Poniros (each-way)
15:45 Forest Fairy
16:25 Gregory (each-way)
17:05 Volterra
17:40 First Look
18:15 Gorak (each-way)

*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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