Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot Tips Day 3: Thursday’s Best Bets & Predictions

1 hour ago

| BY Steve Mullington

William Hill News tipster Steve Mullington previews each race on Day 3 at the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting, so check out his best bets and tips on Thursday’s action below.

With the runners and riders declared on Tuesday morning, the stage is set and there is a full schedule of action from Tuesday right through to Saturday – it should be an exhilarating week at the Berkshire track.

Who is the NAP of the Day on Thursday? Check out our Royal Ascot Day 3 best bet here!

Lucky Stable is a free-to-play racing game available every day during Royal Ascot. You can find it in the Lucky Stable lobby.

Just enter the Royal Ascot game and select “Reveal Stable” to draw five horses at random. You win a share of the jackpot prize if three (3) or more of their drawn horses win their respective races.

2:30pm – Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f)

The Fozzy Stack-trained NOLA SOUL overcame some early greenness to win a seven furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown, accelerating away in the final 150 yards.

His turn of foot and physical size make him highly suited to the demands of this race and at odds of around 12/1 in our horse racing betting, he’s an each-way play in the opener.

3:05pm – King George V Stakes Handicap (Class 2, 1m3f)

ARC OLE OLE has taken the Yorkshire racecourses by storm in his last couple of runs and can progress again in this Class 2 affair.

Trainer Dylan Cunha has a nice Study Of Man-colt on his hands and he can kick on again from his exploits at York.

3:40pm – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2, 1m4f)

Inis Mor franked the form of EARTH SHOT (NAP) in the Prix de Diane last week, so she is my go to pick in this valuable fillies race.

Last seen in the in Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood on May 23, she lost nothing in defeat that day and will appreciate this trip.

4:15pm – Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1, 2m4f)

As I previously stated in my Royal Ascot Ante-Post article, Yorkshire Cup hero RAHIEBB (NB) can put it up to the big guns in the Thursday showpiece.

The Frankel-colt narrowly missed out to Scandinavia in last season’s St Leger and can turn the tables on him on this better ground.

4:50pm – Britannia Stakes Handicap (Class 2, 1m)

OUTBACK HEAT made an eye-catching winning handicap debut over this exact course and distance on May 8, so is entitled to go well again.

Harry Eustace has a nice record at Ascot and Kaiya Fraser is an up and coming jockey who will give it is all here.

Priced around the 10/1 mark, Jeff Smith’s runner ticks plenty of boxes.

5:35pm – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3, 1m1f)

ENDORSEMENT finally got back to winning ways when comprehensively beating Amadeus Mozart in the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.

Given that he has finished in close proximity to key Classic contenders in major Epsom Derby trials, he has to be the most likely winner of this Group 3 on all known form.

6:10pm – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (Class 2, 7f)

Sporting the famous colours of the famous Shadwell Estate, the Charlie Hills-trained ELARAK, at a very backable each-way price in our sports betting, catches my eye.

The Kingman-gelding fits the right age profile for a Buckingham Palace winner and is sure to come on plenty for his handicap debut at the start of May.

It is also rather interesting that connections decided to run in this race rather than the Royal Hunt Cup.