Dave Massey Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips
Back – High Stock (Andrew Balding), 5.35 Ascot, Hampton Court Stakes
One that caught the eye in a major way at Chester, both pre-race and in the race itself, was High Stock, well-named given his size and scope, an eyecatching individual that looked like he might be a stayer in the future; that’s backed up by the pedigree, his half-brother Imperial Cult a winner over 12f and he stayed two miles on a good day. With that, I’m slightly surprised to see they aren’t upping him slightly in trip but this promises to be strongly-run race and that’s going to suit.
There’s plenty of improvement to come from him and he’s one to follow not just today for the Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips, but the rest of the season as he keeps going up in trip.
Lay – Illinois (Aidan O’Brien) – 4:20 Ascot, Gold Cup
Firstly I toyed with the idea of putting Trawlerman up as a bet for the Gold Cup, as I think he ought to be a shorter price than he is (and there’s arguably a case he ought to be favourite), then I thought about Sweet William as an each-way swing to nothing but in the end, laying Illinois and having that pair onside, plus a couple of lively outsiders, just makes the most sense.
There is a slight question marks hanging over Illinois’ chance for me, at present; namely his stamina. He’ll get two miles, of that I’ve little doubt, but 2m4f, with Will Buick likely to be winding it up on the copper-bottomed stayer that is Trawlerman from halfway? That will ask some searching questions and if comes down to a scrap with Trawlerman late, I know which way I’d want my money to go.
Trawlerman looked as good as ever when Buick dictated terms in the Henry II at Sandown last time, and he’s got no Kyprios to deal with this year. As I say, I’d argue his body of overall form at this trip entitles him to be closer to Illinois in the market than he is; throw in last year’s third, Sweet William, who has improved in the meantime, and you’ve two good chances of getting the favourite defeated here. This might be lacking one or two of the key contenders of previous years, but it makes for a fascinating contest, with one of the front three likely to have the first taste of Group 1 success.
Each-Way – Billyjoh, 6:10 Ascot, Buckingham Palace Stakes
I was really hoping Billyjoh would get a better draw than stall 3, my wish was for him to be drawn middle/high to get a bit more cover than he’s likely to get out wide, as I thought he was the ideal type for this. Well, in truth, we know this test suits him, as he was second to English Oak in this last year (similar weights today) and although there’s no way he’d have beaten the winner that day, he didn’t get the best of runs and shaped better than a three-length defeat would suggest.
His record in big-field handicaps over the last couple of years reads very well, these sort of tests suit his style down to the ground, and I’ll still back him each-way as long as the draw isn’t proving too disadvantageous as the week progresses.
By Dave Massey
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