Horse Racing Tips: Our ultimate Royal Ascot Cheat Sheet for Day 3 on Thursday

I can’t get away from Whistlejacket. He will be very hard to beat for Aidan O’Brien. I like the fact he has had two runs despite being beaten on debut. There should be more improvement to come.

The Norfolk Stakes over 5f starts the day and Whistlejacket will be a huge players in this for Aidan O’Brien. He beat the re-opposing Arizona Blue in a Listed Race at the Curragh again and with the quicker ground conditions, now looks the one to beat.

Binadham (each-way) looked really good on debut despite racing keenly. He’s been talked up by his young trainer as an improver.

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 after that when quickening up well.

It’s really hard to escape the claims of WHISTLEJACKET, who is the clear pick on form. His  brother Little Big Bear lost on debut at the Curragh before winning here.

Gallantly is drawn in stall 13. He was impressive when winning at Chester last time and he’s running off a fair mark of 88.

Poniros was a good second in the London Gold Cup this season to King’s Gambit (runs in the 5.40pm today) and still looks reasonably well handicapped. He’s much better off at the weights with the re-opposing Persica (who bolted up at Epsom subsequently) while the third placed Chantilly – who had a run going into the Newbury clash – is among the market leaders.

Gilded Water has taken a step forward on each racecourse run and was impressive at Chepstow. His rating of 92 could prove very lenient for the Haggas yard that won this last year also.

PONIROS (each-way) will be hard to kick out the frame after he stayed on strongly behind the talented King’s Gambit (runs later on this card) at Newbury last time in a race in which Chantilly was third and Persica fourth.

GILDED WATER is improving in leaps and bounds, looking better the further he went when powering clear for an authoritative success at Chepstow three weeks ago.

Danielle was behind You Got To Me and Rubies Are Red last time out at Lingfield. She paid the price for trying to be the one to chase down You Got To Me. I recently spoke with Kieran Shoemark and he really fancies her, so I’ll keep her on side.

Diamond Rain is a worthy favourite but the Lingfield Oaks Trial winner You Got To Me (each-way) – who subsequently finished fourth in the Epsom Oaks – looks a bit of value.

Diamond Rain hasn’t put a foot wrong so far winning over a mile and then 1m 2f. She should take this step up to 1m 4f in her stride also based on her pedigree.

We didn’t see the real FOREST FAIRY in the Oaks at Epsom and she might bounce back to her Chester form. She’s clearly quite good and stays well.

The regally-bred DIAMOND RAIN looked a smart prospect when following up her debut win in a Newbury Listed event last month. Over this 1m 4f trip, she’s a really appealing candidate.

The Gold Cup looks Kyprios‘ to lose when you consider the level of form that he has produced. He just gets the job done.

Kyprios is the most likely winner, but my pick is Vauban (each-way). He should improve from his seasonal re-appearance at York when second to Giavelloto, his first start disappointing in the Melbourne Cup. He was a run-away winner of the Copper Horse Handicap here last season over 1m 6f.

Kyprios has had a stop-start campaign since winning this in 2022 but has returned in style and can regain his Ascot Gold Cup crown.

I have to take Kyrpios on. GREGORY is a great each-way bet for me. He landed last year’s Queen’s Vase on good ground. His comeback effort this season at York was eye catching and he’s sure to stay.

KYPRIOS suffered an interrupted campaign in 2023 but he was a high-class stayer the season before, the first of his four Group 1 wins coming in this race. The way he shaped when winning both starts this term suggests he’s as good as ever.

Follow Me has a really good draw in stall 27 for Ross O’Sullivan and Shane Foley. He’s won on his two starts at the Curragh and his latest victory was really impressive as he was trapped in a pocket and had to be brave to get out and win.

A 1m cavalry charge where connections look to have this in mind for Volterra (each-way) since he won a handicap at Newmarket last month. He’s lightly-raced, has a good draw in stall 21 and can hit the places at least.

Skukuza is held in high regard by trainer Ed Dunlop and looks the ideal type for a big-field contest like this. A strong gallop will help his hold-up tactics.

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. There should be loads more to come despite a 9lb weight hike.

VOLTERRA has had the form of his Newmarket handicap debut success boosted and might prove the answer to a typically wide-open renewal.

King’s Gambit looks to have more potential and has a nice draw in stall seven. He beat Poniros in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last time out and he can build on that.

I would love to see Bracken’s Laugh deliver on his promise but King’s Gambit is the pick. He looked to have improved physically over the winter and won the London Gold Cup impressively. The 15:05 (above) could frank that form again, so he just gets the nod.

Richard Hughes’ charge Brackens Laugh has shown a lot of promise on his two runs to date this season and remains progressive. King’s Gambit looks the main danger based on his Newbury win.

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.

KING’S GAMBIT made a mockery of an opening mark of 93 on return at Newbury last month and is fancied to take the step up to pattern company in his stride at the expense of French-raider First Look.

Fresh (each-way) has won at Ascot over 7f a couple of times and he’s off a mark of 92, which is very workable.

A 29-runner 7f handicap to end the day and Northern Express (each-way) ran very well at York last time over a mile. He’s a little higher in the weights than when placed in this last season but ticks a lot of boxes at a nice price.

Solid course form and the quick ground conditions can help Tacarib Bay (each-way) hit the frame and with a 3lb claimer on board he looks well handicapped.

GORAK (each-way) 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 handicaps this season at Newmarket.

ENGLISH OAK put up a most impressive display at Haydock and he’s comfortably the most progressive sort in this field. Divine Libra is also going the right way.