Royal Ascot 2019 Day 3, 4 & 5 Preview
As we get to the back end of the week, and the close of Royal Ascot, the big races keep on coming.
Ascot Gold Cup Preview
The feature on Thursday, and some would argue the feature of the entire meeting is the Ascot Gold Cup. A staying race over the gruelling test of two and a half miles, you have to be a special horse to win this one. Last year, Stradivarius claimed the title on his way to also landing the stayers £1 million bonus. He is back again for more, and appears to have an exceptional chance of doubling up. He won over 1m6f at York in preparation for this, but needed every inch of that trip. Now a little older, he is a definite stayer and needs two miles or more to be seen in his best light.
The field assembled to take him on is very impressive, and the biggest danger could well be Cross Counter, who won the Melbourne Cup at the end of 2018 and impressed when winning at Meydan to start this year off. Another with a chance is Dee Ex Bee, a four year old who has been a revelation since stepping up to these kind of distances, although he does have to prove his stamina over this trip, which will be the longest he has ever tried.
Stradivarius sets the standard though, and although he’s the obvious pick he looks as though he is primed for another Ascot Gold Cup.
Coronation Stakes Preview
Many people have looked through the cards across the five days and spotted what looks like the banker of the meeting in the big race on Friday. Hermosa, trained by Aidan O’Brien comes here on the back of winning both the English and Irish guineas, and her comfortable success in the Irish version last time out is easily the best piece of form in this field.
There are a handful of these who are unexposed and could prove to be better than what we have seen already, but even if they do improve it is going to need a huge leap for them to get to the kind of standard that Hermosa has shown this season. She looks to be the star three year old filly this year, and rightfully is seen as the banker of the meeting by many people.
French horse Castle Lady has certainly done nothing wrong so far in her career, winning on all three starts including when taking the French Guineas last time out. She has to handle the travel across the UK, and if she does she should run well although the form of the wins by Hermosa looks to be a step above the French form.
Golden Jubilee Preview
Surprisingly it looks as though the front of the market for this race will have an international feel to it, with horses close to the head of the betting from both France and the USA. Inns Of Court and City Light are the two French runners, with the first named beating the later when they met last time out. That took Inns Of Court up to having two wins from his first two starts this season and he looks to be a sprinter on the up.
City Light finished second in this race last season, so has shown a liking for the course and the ability to travel well which is a positive. Just behind was Bound For Nowhere, who is the American challenger for Wesley Ward.
However, it may be an up and coming British challenger that they all have to beat, in the shape of Invincible Army. He is two from two this season, winning a listed contest with ease before stepping up to Group Two company and winning at York last time out. If there is a British sprinter out there who can go on to be one of the best in the world I think it is this lad. He is a serious animal, and improving at a rapid rate now he is a four year old. If he proves his worth in Group One company and wins this then the sky really is the limit for him.
Royal Ascot Betting Tips
- Stradivarius (Gold Cup) @ 1/1 with Betfair
- Hermosa (Coronation) @ 1/1 with Betfair
- Invincible Army (Golden Jubilee ) @ 7/2 with Betfair
Royal Ascot Betting Offer
Betfair – Free Bet Upto £25 with 3/1+ Winners
This is a great offer from Betfair, giving you the chance to win twice when you back a big priced winner. Simply back a horse with them, and if the horse wins with an SP of 3/1 or greater, alongside your winnings you will get a free bet to the value of your stake, up to a maximum of £25.
For example, a winning bet on a horse with an SP of 4/1 will give you back your winnings, plus the value of your stake as a free bet. This is a great way to cash in at Royal Ascot this week, with every race of the meeting covered by this offer.
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