Royal Ascot 2015 ~ Thursday 18th June

[BillyHills]

Thursdays Action; [TABLE=class: views-table cols-5, width: 650]

[TR=class: even] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]2:30pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]2 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£80000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]Five furlongs [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: odd, bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]3:05pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]3 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£75000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]One and a quarter miles [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: even] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]3:45pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]3 Fillies [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£160000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]One and a half miles [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: odd, bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]4:25pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The Gold Cup (Group 1) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]4+ [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£375000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]Two and a half miles [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: even] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]5:00pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]3 Colts & Geldings [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£120000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]One mile [/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: odd, bgcolor: #EEEEEE] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-time]5:35pm[/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-display-title-1]The King George V Stakes (Handicap) [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-age]3 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-prizefund]£75000 [/TD] [TD=class: views-field views-field-field-race-distance]One and a half miles[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

[Custom Cut]

3.40 Ribblesdale Stakes Judging by Jim Bolger's comments, and by the fact he made sure that her 1000 Guineas win was strongly run, I absolutely think this horse can benefit from the 4 furlong step up. My only concern is that this is somewhat of a diversion from the original Bolger plan to bring her straight to the Irish derby but this is by far the most likely winner. Curvy downed Canaletto last time, but Canaletto flattered that form by improving significantly for Epsom. Indeed AOB said after the defeat to Curvy it was very unlikely Canaletto would go for the derby. Wedding Vow ran a cracker to finish second to Legatissimo (and thrashing subsequent g3 runner up Carla Bianca) but a shocker not to win the Lingfield Oaks trial. Given Moore has chosen Curvy I can't fancy this horse, JOB has done very little on the second string this year. Of the shorter priced British horses Pandora seems OK but they all seem a bit average. Entertainment is the big priced alternative for me. Finished 7 and a half behind Crystal Zvezda (or 4 behind the runner up) but you can add around a length and a half to that defeat as Doyle weighed in 2 pounds light. However, the horse was well supported in the betting that day and hung all over the place, and never really got settled. Going up 2 furlongs can only help as she stayed on really well at the finish. Her previous run was 6L down to Diamondsandrubies on ground softer than ideal, form which I felt was very much franked by Diamondsandrubies's outrageously unlucky 4th in the Oaks, who had a tough job to simply remain on her feet. Pleascach 5/6 win BetVictor, Entertainment 33/1 e/w William Hill 4.20 Gold Cup Whether or not Forgotten Rules runs I don't see him being value on the ground he'll encounter. While I think he's a class act I didn't really like his reappearance, most of the horses there needed the run and his only challenger, Answered, found the trip 2 furlongs too far. Don't think there's any star in the rest of the field so I'm going to look to Aidan O'Brien. He's won this 6 of the last 9 runnings so knows what it takes. Ryan Moore likely had a choice and chose Kingfisher over Simenon, who's not a bad animal himself. I thought it was telling that immediately after his Leopardstown win the Gold Cup was identified as the target for Kingfisher. Largely used as a pacemaker last year, Kingfisher needed his first run back before scoring in listed company at Leopardstown. Only won by half a length but travelled like an absolute dream, with less than 2 furlongs left and several lengths to make up the inexperienced Donnacha O'Brien finally popped the question and once he got going he absolutely ate up the ground and probably had more in hand than shown in the bare result. With Moore on and reaching his seasonal target, I think he can pull plenty of improvement out and has a good shot of landing this race. Kingfisher 12/1 e/w Paddy Power