We had another superb day at Royal Ascot yesterday.
Our NAP once again landed courtesy of Qemah in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, with Highland Reel's impressive victory in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes also boosting the bank balance.
Here are our man Danny Archer's selections for day three of the Royal Meeting...
2.30pm G2 Norfolk Stakes
McErin 5/1, Santry 13/2 Each Way and Frozen Angel 10/1 Each Way.
Bet365 are 1/4 for 4 places, Betway and SkyBet are offering money back if you lose.
McErin represents a trainer in flying form at the Royal Meeting, Wesley Ward and he looks a speedy type well up to making his presence felt here.
The two-year-old son of Trappe Shot won on his debut at Keeneland when quickening up well to score by seven and a half-lengths and did rally tenaciously once headed when third at Churchill Downs last time. He looks all about speed and whilst the form is hard to quantify, he looks an exciting prospect.
Santry could also give Declan Carroll a first Royal Ascot winner. He won one division of the Brocklesby by a head on debut before following up under a penalty at York last time. I was impressed with the way he knuckled down that day and he remains an exciting prospect.
Frozen Angel is also very interesting based on his facile success at this track in a conditions event in May. He was quite disappointing on the face of things last time, where under a quiet ride, he could only finish second in the Listed National Stakes.
The form of that race has been boosted by Sound And Silence, who was fourth that day, landing the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes last time and he remains the type to improve.
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3.05pm G3 Hampton Court Stakes
Mirage Dancer 4/1, Tamleek 9/1 Each Way and Orderofthegarter 13/2 Each Way.
Ladbrokes are 1/5 for 4 places.
Mirage Dancer battled on well to land the spoils on debut at Doncaster last time and was a real eyecatcher when fourth in the Dee Stakes at Chester in May.
That form has been boosted by Cliffs Of Moher's second in the Derby and Sir Michael Stoute deliberately bypassed Epsom with the son of Frankel for this meeting. He remains open to plenty of potential and is an exciting middle-distance prospect for the year ahead.
Tamleek brings rock solid form to the table as he finished a creditable fourth in the G3 Chester Vase last time, with the second that day, Wings Of Eagles, going on to win the Derby.
The Godolphin colt looked as if he would relish the return to this trip and that makes 10 furlongs a major positive today. He should handle the ground and looks another intriguing prospect.
Orderofthegarter was a fine sixth in the G1 Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly last time and whilst there is a worry that this race may come too quick, he made steady headway from the back of the field that day and may enjoy the slight drop back in trip.
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3.40pm G2 Ribblesdale Stakes
Mori 5/2 NAP and Alluringly 7/2.
I am a huge fan of Mori and think she will take some stopping in this event. A daughter of the top-class Frankel and the imperious Midday, she wasn't seen to best effect on her debut but made no mistake at this track next time out when justifying favouritism to land plenty of bets in maiden company.
The three-year-old won a Listed event at Goodwood last time and I was taken with the way she put that race to bed. Always handy, Mori found plenty for pressure that day and looked really strong at the line. I think she is a very exciting filly with a massive future ahead of her and she is probably my best bet of the meeting.
However, I am slightly wary of Alluringly as she finished second to Enable at Chester in the Chester Oaks before chasing that filly home again when third in the Oaks at Epsom. That is very strong form which she is bringing to the table and she rates as the chief threat which makes a saver bet a wise move.
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4.20pm Ascot Gold Cup
Order Of St George evens and Big Orange 8/1 Each Way
Bet365 are 1/4 for 3 places.
The Ascot Gold Cup takes centre stage tomorrow and I'm finding it hard to look past the warm favourite Order Of St George. A decisive three length winner of this event last year, he roared back to form in the Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last time, registering an easy two and a quarter-length success.
That should have left him spot on for this event as he seems to need his first run of the season to regain full fitness. Being a horse of significant stature, Aidan O'Brien would have looked to bring him on with every start and he will be fully prepared for this event. He should cope fine with the ground and I fancy him to land a second Ascot Gold Cup.
Big Orange should get a solid lead out in front and will absolutely love the ground. I was very impressed with his victory in the G3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown last time.
He was always comfortable up front, went a decent gallop and then stayed on dourly to register victory. He remains a horse open to further potential and looks the definite each-way play.
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5.00pm Britannia Stakes
Son Of The Stars 7/1 Each Way, City Of Joy 9/1 Each Way and Colibri 14/1 Each Way.
SkyBet are 1/5 for 6 places.
This is an absolute humdinger of a renewal of the Britannia and Richard Hannon looks to have a live chance with Son Of The Stars. A head second at Newmarket last time, he didn't seem to handle the track that well and he stayed on again that day once headed.
I think there is plenty of improvement still to come from the three-year-old son of Delegator and he should play a leading role in this event.
I've advised City Of Joy in both of his starts this term and he has not disappointed with two excellent performances. It's a major positive that Ryan Moore is once again in the plate as he gave the three-year-old son of Elusive City a wonderful ride at Chelmsford last time.
He stayed on really well that day having cruised into contention and I think he could be very smart.
Colibri was an eye-catching fourth in the Esher Cup at Sandown last time as he made up good ground late on to only be narrowly beaten. He looks the type who will continue to improve with experience the booking of Pat Smullen is another positive.
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5.35pm King George V Stakes
Atty Persse 11/2 (1/4), Utah 16/1 Each Way and First Nation 16/1 Each Way
Bet365 are 1/4 for 4 places. SkyBet are 1/5 for 5 places.
I think there is more to come from Atty Persse despite his wide draw. Second at Haydock last time, he took a lively drift in the betting that day which hinted at defeat.
Despite that, there remains further improvement to come from the son of Frankel who should handle this slight step up in trip. He is going the right way and has to be a leading fancy here.
Utah was sixth on his return to action last time but looks the type who will appreciate the step up to 12 furlongs. Winner of a Curragh maiden in August 2016 on good to firm ground, his breeding suggests that he is a top of the ground horse and with conditions to suit, he does look interesting.
First Nation has run with credit in three starts this season over shorter trips and the step up in distance looks to be a major plus. He ran well at Sandown last time when second but that was probably not enough of a stamina test and this track and the stiff test if offers, should play to his strengths.
6/1 Win Double
3:40: Ascot - Mori
4:20: Ascot - Order Of St George
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