Another seven race card on offer on Gold Cup Day with four Group races and three Class 2 Handicaps.

(3.05) King George V Stakes (11f 211y Handicap)(3yo)

VALIANT KING – This Joseph O’Brien trained colt is at the top of my figures for this event following a (112) performance when easily winning his maiden over 10f by 5.5L on Soft ground at Navan. He looks well treated off a handicap mark of (92) considering he still holds entries in the Irish Derby and Irish St Leger. There is a slight question mark about the distance on pedigree but all he seems to do is stay. While his last two runs are on Soft ground I am hopeful that he should be fine on good ground.

(4.20) Gold Cup (2m 3f 210y)(Group 1)

BROOME – Aidan O’Brien sends two over for this contest, and with sunny weather in the forecast, I am siding with the second string over Emily Dickinson who I feel might prefer slower ground. It was the step up in distance to two miles at Meydan for the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup which seemed to instill a new lease of life in the horse. The course record was broken and the son of Australia recorded a (120) speed figure in the process. It was noticeable how smooth he was travelling approaching the home straight in the race, and it could just be that extreme distances have brought about more improvement. The selection performed admirably in third when dropped back to the extended 13f at York for the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup just beaten 1.5L behind Giavellotto. One can never tell whether a horse will stay this extreme distance until they try it, but at a double figure price he is worth chancing.

(5.00) Britannia Stakes (8f Handicap)(3yo)

QUANTUM IMPACT – Ralph Beckett’s colt comes into this event with the joint top performance on the clock having recorded a (113) speed figure when winning at York over the extended 7f lto. The form has been boosted since by the third horse Saxon King at Chester. The price has collpased a bit the past few days possibly due to the fact that Frankie Dettori takes over the ride from Rossa Ryan. He won going away nicely at the finish by a length that day and it will be interesting to see if there is even more improvement to come. The other joint top performance on the clock was put up by the Andrew Oliver trained colt BETTERDAYSRCOMING who won a very strong handicap at The Curragh last month over 7f wearing a first time tongue tie. The fourth horse Canute has since come out and won a Premier Handicap at Navan, and the third horse Aussie Girl was beaten a short head in a 3-y-o handicap recently at Fairyhouse. The draw in stall (1) is a concern as he challenged on the outside of the field the last day, but he looks overpriced at his current odds considering the strength of his recent win. The step up in trip should be fine with his dam Uleavemebreathless having placed over the extended 9f in a Group 3 race at Gowran Park in 2013, added to the fact that he only got on top the last day near the finish.

1pt e/way Valiant King (12/1 6 places Paddy Power, 11/1 5 places Generally) 3.05 Ascot

1pt e/way Broome (12/1 4 places Generally) 4.20 Ascot

1pt e/way Quantum Impact (13/2 4 places William Hill/Unibet, 6/1 Generally) 5.00 Ascot

1pt e/way Betterdaysrcoming (22/1 4 places William Hill/888sport/Betvictor, 20/1 Generally) 5.00 Ascot