Preview - Royal Ascot - Day Three

More action-packed entertainment guaranteed on Day Three after two days of high-class racing. The feature race of the day is the Ascot Gold Cup, where Yeats is bidding to become the first horse in history to win the race for the fourth time. This is sandwiched in between two Group 2s, a Listed race and two very trappy handicaps.

Opening Day Three is the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, run over 5f. Likely favourite is Monsieur Chevalier from the in-form yard of Richard Hannon. He is unbeaten in four starts, lately winning the National Stakes at Sandown in impressive fashion and it will take a seriously good horse to lower his colours here. He is well fancied by his connections and the better the class of opposition, the better he looks. After Wesley Ward's heroics on the first two days, his Yogaroo deserves huge respect. A massive flood of money came in for this speedy individual after his stablemate won the Queen Mary Stakes yesterday and caused some bookmakers to cut his price to as short as 2/1. Radiohead would be a good each-way bet after winning very easily at Bath last time, as would Tawaabb, even though they would have to improve a good deal to trouble Monsieur Chevalier.

The second race is the Ribblesdale Stakes and Sir Michael Stoute's Leocorno is likely to take all the beating over a mile and a half. She is unbeaten in two starts and was due to go for the Oaks at Epsom but connections changed tact and decided to come here. She was exceptional last time out, pulling well clear of her field at Sandown before being eased down in the last half furlong to score by five lengths. She is expected to go well for Ryan Moore and even though inexperienced, looks a very classy filly. Take The Hint won the Pretty Polly Stakes in good style last time out and has a live chance. She has solid form but lacks the potential of Leocorno. July Jasmine, runner-up to subsequent Oaks second Midday in the Lingfield Oaks Trial, has good each-way possibilities. She will appreciate this step up in trip but her stable look to have a better chance with the favourite.

As mentioned earlier, Yeats is bidding to win his fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup, ran over 2m4f, and has been well supported to achieve this historic feat. He was bitterly disappointing on his seasonal debut at Navan and has not been seen since, but trainer Aidan O'Brien is bound to have him spot on for this and he will give it his best shot. He was mightily impressive in this race last year and now an eight-year-old, will have to be in peak condition to fight off some dogged rivals. The revitalised Geordieland, twice runner-up in this behind Yeats, will aim to turn the tables on his old enemy as he comes into the race fresh from a win over Patkai at Sandown. He stayed on dourly that day to score by five lengths and his trainer believes he will go close. Patkai was a long-time favourite for this race after Yeats' disappointment at Navan but he was soundly beaten last time out. He stays all day and is very classy but will have to be at his very best to overcome the battle-hardened Yeats.

Shortly after comes the 30-runner Britannia Stakes, over a mile. It looks very tough to solve and runners will need luck in running. Desert Creek won easily at Haydock on his last start but has gone up 10lbs for that and it will be no easy task for him here. He looks very progressive but his price looks too short for a race like this. Roman Republic, held in high regard by Mark Johnston, was entered in the Listed contest, to be ran 30 minutes after this, but connections have decided to go for this. He won nicely up at Doncaster on his last start, and even though that was on soft ground, he has solid each-way claims. Brief Encounter ran on late to snatch victory at York in May and improvement should be expected now he is upped in trip to a mile. He has gone up 7lbs in the weights but is just one of many who may feature here. Invisible Man finally shed his maiden tag last time out and has been given a mark of 85, which looks stiff based on his previous efforts. Mirrored has improved as a three-year-old and has landed two handicaps already this season. He is progressive and should go well at a big price.

The penultimate race on the card is the Listed Hampton Court Palace Stakes and Aidan O'Brien has hot favourite Freemantle in the line-up. He was only just beaten by Black Bear Island in the Dante Stakes at York on his last start and that piece of form is the best in the race. His trainer resisted the temptation to go for the Derby with him and his patience may pay dividends, he is likely to make all under Johnny Murtagh and if he stays on as well as he did last time, he should win. Four Winds has run well in two starts this year and he got his head in front at Newmarket last time in good style. The Queen-owned runner is a nice type and should run into a place. Glass Harmonium was once touted as a Derby horse but his connections have chosen to go here instead. He ran behind Delegator in the Craven Stakes on his seasonal debut but found the longer trip much more to his liking when finishing a close-up sixth in the Dante last time. He is bred to appreciate middle-distances and he will go well for Ryan Moore. Monitor Closely has ran two good races in defeat this season, in the 2,000 Guineas in May and then in the Dante. He is improving with each race and with his stable now in better form, he may make the frame.

The final race of the day looks very tricky and contains eight last-time-out winners. Ran over 1m 4f, the King George V Stakes often throws up some big-priced winners and this year's race may do the same. John Oxx enters Zarinski, who won his first race over this trip last time out on the all-weather in Ireland and it is very interesting that his shrewd trainer sends him here. He looks sure to go well. Aidan O'Brien enters Johann Zoffany, a recent Derby entry, and he may feature after winning nicely last time. O'Brien hands the ride to his son Joseph and his 7lb claim will be a big advantage. Opinion Poll, up 7lbs for his recent win at Haydock over this trip, has sound claims for Michael Jarvis and Frankie Dettori. Mark Johnston and Sir Michael Stoute have both won this race three times during the past 10 years and they have entries with chances. Johnston enters four, but Quai D'Orsay looks his first-string and under Joe Fanning may improve on his win last time out. Stoute has Highland Glen, a lightly-raced colt who flopped on heavy ground at Haydock on his previous start. There are many each-way alternatives but Barwell Bridge looks interesting after staying on well to win a competitive York handicap in May. He is up two furlongs here and that may bring out more improvement so looks a good each-way bet at a good price.

Ascot Day Three - Selections:

- 2:30 - Monsieur Chevalier, 11/8.

- 3:05 - Leocorno, 7/4.

- 3:45 - Yeats, 2/1.

- 4:20 - Roman Republic, e/w at 9/1.
- Mirrored, e/w at 18/1.

- 4:55 - Freemantle, 6/5.

- 5:30 - Johann Zofanny, 8/1.
- Barwell Bridge, e/w at 14/1.

Ascot Day Three - Results:

- 2:30 - 1st - Radiohead, 10/1, 2nd - Reignier, 50/1, 3rd - Tawaabb.

Radiohead improved significantly from his win in maiden company last time out to win comfortably for Jamie Spencer. He overcame serious trouble in running as Wesley Ward's Yogaroo gave a hefty bump to both the winner and Monsieur Chevalier with two furlongs to go. Spencer went for a run up the rail on Brian Meehan's colt and found his passage blocked as the American horse veered across, but his calm jockey did not flinch and he ran on strongly to score by an easy two lengths, he is a smart prospect. Reignier ran a huge race in second and Tawaabb ran on in to take third. The well-fancied market leaders struggled to land a blow. Monsieur Chevalier came to win his race but was bumped by Yogaroo, who weakened out of it, and could not go on as the leader surged clear.

- 3:05 - 1st - Flying Cloud, 5/1, 2nd - Flame Of Gibraltar, 12/1, 3rd - Uvinza.

Flying Cloud maintained her unbeaten record and scored on her first start for Goldophin since moving from France. As big as 10/1 in the morning, she was well backed and won in the style of a very good filly, powering away to win by four lengths under Frankie Dettori. Flame Of Gibraltar stepped up to the mark on only her third career start. She shed her maiden tag last time out and was up in class here, but ran a huge race in second and looks up to winning a Group race. Uvinza was another to bely her big odds to run a superb race. She has been a credit to her connections and kept plugging away to get third. Favourite Leocorno was uneasy in the betting and she failed to show her true ability. She didn't seem to stay this trip and is sure to be dropped in distance.

- 3:45 - 1st - Yeats, 6/4 fav, 2nd - Patkai, 9/2, 3rd - Geordieland, 11/4.

Yeats rewrote the history books and won his fourth consecutive Ascot Gold Cup, putting up a tremendous performance. He came into the race without a run, after disappointing on his seasonal debut, but there were no signs of any doubt as he stormed to a three length success. Under the exceptional Johnny Murtagh, he took the lead with three furlongs to run and took four lengths out the field. He galloped on relentlessly to score for Aidan O'Brien and has to be one of the best stayers ever to grace the game. Patkai ran well in second, pulling 10 lengths clear of Geordieland, but could not match the winner's superior stamina. Geordieland ran a laboured race in third and did not build on win against the runner-up last time out.

- 4:20 - 1st - Fareer, 20/1, 2nd - Secret Society, 22/1, 3rd - Mirrored, 16/1, 4th, Espiritu, 20/1.

A thrilling finish with the first four being covered by half a length as the runners spread across the track. Fareer came with a late run to collar Secret Society to win by a head. He challenged late down the outside under Richard Hills to score for trainer Ed Dunlop. Secret Society ran on gamely after taking the lead a furlong out but he could not hold on. Mirrored stepped up on his previous form to run a huge race under Mick Kinane. He ran on gallantly and was only a short-head behind the runner-up. Espiritu improved from his maiden win last time out and the application of headgear seemed to help him. Brief Encounter, Roman Republic and Desert Creek all struggled to land a blow and finished down the field.

- 4:55 - 1st - Glass Harmonium, 8/1, 2nd - Cashelgar, 20/1, 3rd - Monitor Closely, 15/2.

Glass Harmonium stayed on powerfully for Ryan Moore to wear down Cashelgar and win going away. He had good form coming into the race and his connections decision to skip the Derby were vindicated as he gained his Listed win. Cashelgar took the lead in the final furlong after travelling strongly but was passed by the winner, however, he dug in and rallied, but found the winner too good. Monitor Closely ran a good race in third and he is a model of consistency, having ran creditably on all his starts this term. He deserves compensation. Freemantle was disappointing in the circumstances and did not improve from his Dante run as expected. He was well-backed but did not produce the goods for his strong connections. Four Winds finished down the field and did not stay convincingly.

- 5:30 - 1st - Cosmic Sun, 66/1, 2nd - Chiberta King, 8/1, 3rd - Barwell Bridge, 12/1, 4th, Zarinski, 9/2 fav.

A real turn up for the books as Cosmic Sun produced a real shock to hold off all challengers. He approached the race after a poor run last time but improved considerably. He was 3lbs out the handicap but he won well in the end, taking the lead inside the final furlong and staying on well. Chiberta King came into the race chasing a hat-trick but could not find more for pressure to overcome Cosmic Sun. He ran a good race for William Buick and is obviously on the upgrade. Barwell Bridge handled the step in trip well and stayed on well for James Doyle. He looked likely to challenge the winner but he could only muster the one pace, he is another on the improve. Zarinski was well backed for this but he could not sustain a serious effort to trouble the first three. This was his first start in a handicap so he did well and may win a nice race in the future. Highland Glen and Opinion Poll were too far back to land a blow and plugged on in the straight. Johann Zoffany was on the outside for most of the way so when he moved sweetly into contention, it was no suprise to see him weaken with three furlongs to go as his earlier exertions took their toll.