William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is back with her best bets for Thursday at Royal Ascot, including a tip in the Group One Ascot Gold Cup.
Ascot, Thursday
In the Norfolk Stakes (2:30pm), Aidan O’Brien’s Charles Darwin looks very hard to beat, although he’s quite short in the market. I’m interested in Naval Light for Karl Burke, who shaped with great promise in defeat at Beverley on debut despite showing serious greenness. It’s a real vote of confidence that James Doyle has elected to ride Naval Light ahead of the American raider Sandal’s Song. With that in mind, I think he represents value against the favourite.
The King George V Handicap (3:05pm) is full of unexposed three-year-olds making their handicap debuts. I like Gunship for James Ferguson and Oisin Murphy. He made quite the impression on debut at Newcastle, and I thought he was a good winner back at the same course last time, for which he received a six-pound rise in the handicap. I don’t think that’s too harsh. He’s a brother to Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain, and I think there’s more to come from Gunship off his mark of 89.
The Ribblesdale Stakes (3:40pm) is next. Paddy Twomey is blessed with a strong crop of middle-distance fillies, and I think the best of the bunch is Catalina Delcarpio. She made such an impression on debut at Leopardstown that she went straight into the Oaks market. They opted to skip Epsom and come here instead, favouring the flatter track. She was an unlucky second in the Salsabil Stakes, and I think she should have won that day, track position didn’t suit. I know connections are very hopeful of a big run. I believe she’s a top-class Group One filly, and she should be taking this out on Thursday.
The Ascot Gold Cup (4:20pm) is the feature of the day. Before Kyprios retired, no one considered Illinois a top-class horse. Suddenly, he’s a hot favourite for the Gold Cup in his stablemate’s absence. But was he ever really thought good enough to compete with Kyprios? I like the French raider, Candelari. He’s an unexposed four-year-old with just five starts to his name, and he’s only been beaten once. I was very impressed with him last time at Longchamp in Group One company. The distance is a question mark, but Francis-Henri Graffard is the champion French trainer for a reason. Candelari has already beaten good French stayers, and I think he might just steal the Gold Cup.
The Britannia Stakes (5:00pm) is always a lottery. Over the straight mile, the draw is crucial. I think Joseph O’Brien’s Tribal Nation has a strong chance. He won a maiden at Galway, beating Mississippi River, and was an eye-catching third behind Shiota in a handicap at Naas last time. He remains on a mark of 93, and for me, he must be better than that. He’s by Wootton Bassett and drawn in stall 12, giving jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle options on positioning. I think Tribal Nation is set to run a big race in the Britannia.
The Hampton Court Stakes (5:35pm) is a fascinating contest, with the two horses from the French Derby, Detain and Trinity College, reopposing. I believe Detain will be better suited here. He was well off the pace in France and should be better placed this time. The Gosden yard is in brilliant form, and I think this brother to Arrest can give Juddmonte another Royal Ascot winner.
