22/6/2023 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Royal Ascot, Gold Cup day

Royal Ascot 2023 continues this Thursday night, headlined by the Gold Cup (4014m), one of the great staying events on the world racing calendar.

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4 Elite Status (Bet Now:  $SP.00) does look extremely hard to beat here. 2/2 to start his career, winning on debut at Doncaster before heading to Sandown for the National Stakes, a race which has been a good form reference for Royal Ascot, and he made an absolute mess of them, winning by five lengths and doing it with something in hand. He’s a very exciting prospect and I don’t see the Ascot 1000m being an issue for him at all.

You have to respect 1 American Rascal (Bet Now:  $SP.00). Wesley Ward trains this colt and he is always going to have a wrap on him given he is the first foal of Ward’s former champion mare Lady Aurelia, who herself was a star at Royal Ascot. He beat nothing on debut at Keeneland but the win was just arrogant, going through his gears under a hold and running time. The end of 1000m will be the knock but he’s potentially top shelf.

3 Devious (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is in with a shout for Donnacha O’Brien. He debuted over this trip at Naas and was an impressive winner, settling midfield before going through the gears under Ryan and was very strong to the line in getting the job done. Form out of that race hasn’t been too bad and I think he will be stronger than most at the end.

Siding with 3 Tagabawa (Bet Now:  $SP.00) for Charlie Appleby. He resumes after three career outings, all on Synthetic. His last run was April 17 at Kempton when just behind the speed before Buick angled him into clear air and he made a mess of them late, winning by a space. Form out of all three races has been strong and is proven at the trip whereas some of these are looking at it for the first time.

1 Bertinelli (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is racing like 2400m will suit. Aidan O’Brien trained colt that comes here off the back of a win over 2000m at Newbury. He tracked the speed and was full of running when Ryan Moore pushed the button and he kept finding the line under pressure to score. The form out of that race has been rank but has the O’Brien/Moore combination and has good upside.

11 Valiant King (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a well bred type that is another that is racing like 2400m will be no issue. Got the maiden kill out of the way last start at Navan, winning like a barrier trial essentially by under six lengths without really being fully extended. Has shown promise right throughout his career and off a dominant win, I wouldn’t be dismissing him.

1 Al Asifah (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has panels on these IMO. Team Gosden trained mare that ran over 2000m at Goodwood last time and it was pretty much like a barrier trial win. The arrogance and the ease of the way she went through her gears and did it without Jim Crowley asking for any effort for her. Off that effort, 2400m should be fine, and with enormous upside/potential, she’s clearly the one to beat.

7 Infinite Cosmos (Bet Now:  $SP.00) commands respect. She resumed with a pretty dominant win over 2000m at Newmarket before going to the Musidora at York where she was on speed throughout and gave a strong kick but just couldn’t quite see it through when third to Soul Sister. I think 2400m will be okay for her and the depth, overall, isn’t overly deep IMO.

10 Lumiere Rock (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is one to include in wider multiples. Irish raider for Joseph O’Brien that ran very well at Naas last time over 2000m, closing off with purpose late in the piece to run second in her first look at the trip for the prep. With that run under the belt, a rise to 2400m should be fine and she has always looked a mare that will appreciate it. Knockout hope.

12 Eldar Eldarov (Bet Now:  $SP.00) was potentially heading down under for the Melbourne Cup last year but they stayed home and will likely stay there. He’s a very good horse for Roger Varian that resumed in the Yorkshire Cup and was very good in defeat, working home with purpose when second. He does give every impression that 4000m will be no issue and class wise, I think he’s just about #1 seed.

3 Coltrane (Bet Now:  $SP.00) seems the most obvious. He won at Royal Ascot last year when winning the Ascot Stakes at this trip so that is no issue and he comes here in form after winning the Sagaro over two miles last time, the traditional lead up to this race. He seems to be getting better with racing and age and with that in mind, he clearly has to be respected.

11 Courage Mon Ami… (Bet Now:  $SP.00) just how good is he? 3/3 for Team Gosden, the latest win being an absolute romp over 2800m at Goodwood. Yes, it was a moderate race, but the manner in which he put them away was impressive and you have to stand up and take notice when the stable throw them in the deep end like this. A win wouldn’t shock at all.

9 Docklands (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a great each way gamble here. Harry Eustace trains this three year old, that has shown good versatility his past couple, sitting on speed and winning impressively at Kempton two back before going to this track/distance where he sat back in the small field but moved up with purpose inside the pack and drew clear late to win by a space. I think he only has to hold his form to be around the mark.

19 Quantum Impact (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has returned in really good order. He just looked in need of the run on the wet ground fresh at Goodwood but bounced back to winning form at York when finding firmer footing and making a mess of them over the mile, proving strong to the line. Frankie takes over, he draws to get a sweet run in transit and with that mile run under the belt, it should hold him in good stead.

15 Just An Hour (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is bred to be strong at the end of the mile and comes here off a win, which was a maiden win over this trip at Killarney where he led throughout and what I liked about the win is that he was there to be run down but found under pressure to fend them off and win. Clearly harder here, but will be near the front and giving a bold sight.

2 Drumroll (Bet Now:  $SP.00) looks hard to beat for Aidan O’Brien. Some form guides say he ran second at Curragh last time but actually, he won the race, getting the verdict in the Stewards Room after getting checked late in the race when looming to win. That was his first look at 2000m and he passed with flying colours so with that under the belt, he’ll take beating.

14 Torito (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has returned in super order for Team Gosden and is one of the easiest to beat. He has done little wrong in a four start career, the latest run seeing him bolt up at Epsom over this trip where he gave them a start and a beating, coming with a well timed run under Sayette to win impressively with something in hand. Sayette sticks and confident he measures up.

All you can do is win and that is what 4 Bolster (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has done in two career outings. Lot to like about his debut win at Leicester back in October before being spelled. He resumed over this trip at Windsor where he sat on speed throughout and albeit he wasn’t up again much, he spanked them, winning by over six lengths. Beware the unbeaten horse and Doyle sticks from first up.

6 Montassib (Bet Now:  $SP.00) has returned in pretty good order for William Haggas with the key to that seemingly finding firmer footing. He found a bog fresh at Doncaster and struggled to pick his feet up. He then got back and ran on well at Haydock two back before last start, he got the job done nicely over 1400m at Newmarket after tracking the speed. Hard fit now, he commands respect IMO.

21 Northern Express (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is one of the key chances. He ran over the mile at York last start where he got back in the run and while he was never really a winning threat, he found the line well enough I thought when third to Croupier. He has run well at Ascot before and while the form out of that York race is on the suspect side, he’ll be strong at the end.

13 Silent Film (Bet Now:  $SP.00) is a very interesting runner. Formerly with Charlie Appleby, he now finds himself with Ian Williams. He hasn’t raced since the Dubai Season back in January/February where he ran well in some tidy races without winning. Tailed off in this race last year but first up into this for the new stable signals some level of intent, so I wouldn’t be dismissing him.

BEST BET: Race Three Number 1 Al Asifah

NEXT BEST: Race One Number 4 Elite Status

LONG SHOT: Race Five Number 9 Docklands