Order Of St George, a general 15/8, won the Ascot Gold Cup in 2016 and only found a tenacious Big Orange too strong 12 months ago. He later beat old rival Torcedor (a best 10/1) twice, once in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh and then over 2m at Ascot in October, and two wins this season have suggested he is as good as ever.
However, STRADIVARIUS was only beaten a length when running up against the O’Brien stayer as a three-year-old in the Long Distance Cup in the autumn and a convincing win at York on his reappearance suggests he’s improved again over the winter.
John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have already teamed up to good effect at the Royal meeting and Stradivarius easily beat Desert Skyline and Max Dynamite at York. That was over 1m6f but there is every indication that the colt will stay the extra at Ascot on his runs over 2m last year, which included a victory in the Group Goodwood Cup. Though only a general 2/1, he is the one with most scope in the field of nine.
Vazaribad has won the Dubai Gold Cup for the past three years and is also a prolific winner in his native France. He is having his first run in the UK but Alain De Royer-Dupre’s six-year-old can’t be underestimated and looks a bet to nothing for each-way punters at Betbright’s 11/2.
Ascot Gold Cup Current Best Odds
Order Of St George 15/8, Stradivarius 2/1, Vazirabad 11/2, Torcedor 10/1, Desert Skyline 14/1, Sheikhzayedroad and Max Dynamite 28/1, Mount Moriah 50/1, Scotland 100/1
American trainer Wesley Ward has already had a couple of favourites well beaten at the meeting this year so Shang Shang Shang is probably best treated with caution in the Norfolk Stakes, despite showing a lot of speed when making a winning start at Keeneland and being a stand-out 7/2 with William Hill.
Clive Cox went close in the Queen Mary yesterday with Shades Of Blue and will be confident of a big run from Konchek in the Norfolk Stakes as he looked a little unlucky when third behind VINTAGE BRUT in the National Stakes. He is a general 9/2 but the value lies with his Sandown conqueror at 6/1 with Betbright.
Tim Easterby’s colt had to brave to squeeze through last time and he wouldn’t be running here if his shrewd trainer didn’t think he had a good chance of completing the hat-trick.
Norfolk Stakes Current Best Odds
Shang Shang Shang 7/2, Konchek 9/2, Vintage Brut 6/1, Kinks 10/1, The Paddocks and Charming Kid and Land Force 12/1, Rumble Inthejungle 16/1, Glory Fighter 18/1, Pocket Dynamo 20/1
The Ribblesdale Stakes is often viewed as a consolation for those that ran in the Oaks and three of this year’s field ran in the Epsom classic just under three weeks ago. That’s quite a quick turnaround for three-year-old fillies trying to recover from a run on soft going and Wild Illusion, second at Epsom, has to carry a small penalty courtesy of a win last year in the Prix Marcel Boussac – she is only a best 5/2.
MAGIC WAND was only fourth in the Oaks, beaten 11 lengths. However, she wasn’t enjoying the conditions and was also knocked off her stride in the closing stages. The beautifully-bred Galileo filly had earlier beaten Epson winner Forever Together on good ground in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester and is well drawn at Ascot if Ryan Moore decides he wants to adopt front-running tactics again. There is 5/1 available with several bookmakers and that’s worth an interest.
Salisbury maiden winner Sun Maiden has been well backed and is now only a best 3/1 but Sir Michael Stoute has had several fancied runners in this in the past and none have won, though Mori went close last year.
Ribblesdale Stakes Current Best Odds
Wild Illusion 5/2, Sun Maiden 3/1, Magic Wand 5/1, Athena and Dancing Brave Bear 11/1, Perfect Clarity 12/1, Highgarden 20/1, Lady of Shalott and Sarrocchi 33/1, Sizzling 40/1
Thursday’s Tip Of The Day: STRADIVARIUS
