AGE OF AQUARIUS has the chance to follow in the hoofprints of his illustrious stable-mate Yeats with victory in today’s Gold Cup. For the past four years the exploits of Aidan O’Brien’s Yeats have lit up the Royal meeting as he won four Gold Cups.
Age Of Aquarius has a long way to go to even think about emulating his former stable-mate. But he is capable of landing one of the most open renewals of the 2m4f Group One contest for a long time.
Henry Cecil’s Yorkshire Cup hero Manifest, French trainer Francois Doumen’s dual-purpose performer Kasbah Bliss and the John Dunlop-trained Akmal have claims. But Age of Aquarius can repel them to keep the Gold Cup in Ireland at Ballydoyle.
Several runners who disappointed in the Investec Oaks behind Snow Fairy will bid for compensation in the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.05pm). But it may pay to side with Henry Cecil’s PRINCIPAL ROLE, who bypassed Epsom for this.
The Empire Maker filly just landed the Sweetenham Stud Fillies race by a short head from Fatanah, who reopposes. But the step up to a mile and a half should bring out more improvement. and
Liverpool jockey Martin Dwyer gets the leg up on the interesting BLACK MOTH in the opener, the Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm).
The two-year-old got off the mark on his second start at Bath and has chances of at least making the frame for trainer Brian Meehan, who won this with Radiohead last year.
Trainer Andrew Balding’s looks to hold two good chances in the Brittania Stakes (4.25pm) with Haydock winner BALDUCCI and Fireback.
Both arrive on the back of decent wins and preference is just for Lingfield scorer Balducci who won at Haydock last time but he will obviously need luck in running in the 30-strong field. He is in form and should be in the firing line at the finish.
FILM SCORE and land the Hampton Court Stakes (5pm), while Middleham handler Mark Johnston has won the King George V Stakes (5.35pm) four times.
He saddles four runners tomorrow and BAY WILLOW looks the pick of those.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY THREE PREDICTIONS: 2.30pm Black Moth 3.05pm (Ribblesdale Stakes) Principal Role 3.45pm (Gold Cup) 1 Age Of Aquarius 2 Manifest 3 Kite Wood 4.25pm Balducci 5pm Film Score 5.35pm Bay Willow (NAP)
