GREGORY (4.25, nb) is a safe bet to strengthen the Gosden family’s impressive record in the Gold Cup today.
Father John and son Thady, training in tandem since 2021, provided Frankie Dettori with Royal Ascot win number 81 in last year’s feature contest.
Gosden senior was racing solo when Flat racing’s celebrity jockey plundered a race hat-trick on fan favourite Stradivarius in 2020.
And a year on from their historic achievement with Courage Mon Ami, owners Wathnan Racing can enter the winners’ circle with Gregory.
From a family his stable knows well, with a smart sire and dam, the stayer was steered to success by Dettori in the 2023 Queen’s Vase.
On just his third career outing, Gregory pushed the pace and kept on purposefully for the first prize at 1m 6f.
After such rapid early progress, my selection was unable to match the form later on – but he returned to action with an encouraging third in the Yorkshire Cup.
My selection has age on his side to bridge a 6lb gap with 2022 champion Kyprios, whose odds do not reflect his current rating in an interesting edition.
The favourite’s partnership are after the first gold medal with Norfolk Stakes hotpot WHISTLEJACKET (2.30, trb).
Out to emulate sire No Nay Never, Coolmore’s juvenile sprinter is going places fast based on his Listed Curragh exploits.
Punters will fancy their chances of winning more cash with DIAMOND RAIN (3.45) in the Ribblesdale Stakes.
Unbeaten in two appearances, Charlie Appleby’s sizeable filly was merely nudged out by William Buick to collect on her first Listed venture.
On pedigree, a new distance of 1m 4f is a catalyst for further improvement and a Group Two result on day three.
Horses rated 90-95 with an unexposed profile regularly scoop the Britannia Stakes, which has 32 runners going to post.
Smooth last-time out scorers Qirat and Volterra are in the right bracket, but there is more juice in CRACKING GOLD’s (5.05, Nap) price.
Clive Cox’s chestnut is from the same family as Crack On Crack On, sent off favourite for its 2018 running.
He subsequently took a mile handicap at Berkshire’s circuit and my handicap pick has had just one turf start at the trip.
One of a select number kept in training by owners Paul and Clare Rooney, the colt began life on the all-weather at Lingfield and Kempton – form which has often been built upon at Ascot.
After just four outings, a 52-break and with top jockey Rossa Ryan in charge, there are persuading factors to have an interest at 25-1.
Another ride on his books, GOING THE DISTANCE (3.05), tops a lengthy King George V Stakes shortlist after his ready Kempton success 71 days ago.
Hampton Court Stakes hope BRACKEN’S LAUGH (5.40) has a solid profile, while Ed Walker’s ENGLISH OAK can send punters home happy from the Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.15) finale.
ROYAL ASCOT TIPS – DAY THREE
2.30 Whistlejacket (trb)
3.05 Going The Distance
3.45 Diamond Rain
4.25 Gregory (nb)
5.05 Cracking Gold (Nap)
5.40 Bracken’s Laugh
6.15 English Oak
