FAME AND GLORY bids to follow in the hoof prints of legendary stable-mate Yeats with victory in the Ascot Gold Cup (3.45pm).
Aidan O’Brien’s five-year-old has a long way to go to match the exploits of the mighty Yeats, who landed a record-breaking four successive wins in the Gold Cup and had a statue unveiled in his honour at Ascot this week.
Ballydoyle’s Age Of Aquarius couldn’t quite pick up the baton last year, when just beaten by Dermot Weld’s Rite Of Passage. But with Dermot Weld’s Gold star out with an injury, the way is clear for Fame And Glory to strike.
Like Yeats, Fame And Glory is a top class middle distance performer, who won the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
There are no guarantees the Galileo colt will stay the 2m4f trip, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t. And he is a class above the rest of the field and if his stamina does hold out he should be hard to beat.
Lucy Wadham’s DORCAS LANE is an interesting filly at bigger odds in the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.05pm).
Warrington’s champion jockey Paul Hanagan takes the ride as he did at Newmarket when she won the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes in decent style at the start of last month.
The Norse Dancer filly has run just four times and has not been out of the first two. This will be her toughest test to date but she looks progressive and should run a big race in the Group Two contest. On her win at Newmarket she must have a chance of upsetting better-fancied rivals Rumh and Banimpire.
O’Brien’s MARKSMANSHIP and Brian Meehan’s Happy Today should both run big races in the Tercentary Stakes (5pm) with preference for the former.
PYMAN’S THEORY went down as one to watch when landing a decent Listed event at Sandown in May.
Cheshire-based handler Tom Dascombe has been in good form in the early part of the season and had his first Royal winner yesterday with Rhythm Of Light.
And his Exceed And Excel filly looks to hold a big chance of making it two in the Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm).
Others of interest include Richard Fahey’s COMMON TOUCH in the Britannia Handicap (4.25pm) and Mark Johnston’s ETERNAL HEART in the finale, the King George V Stakes (5.35pm).
Johnston has won the 1m4f handicap four times in the past and Eternal Heart has a good chance to follow up his two wins at Musselburgh and one at Sandown.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY THREE PREDICTIONS: 2.30pm (Norfolk Stakes) Pyman’s Theory 3.05pm (Ribblesdale Stakes) Dorcas Lane 3.45pm (Ascot Gold Cup) 1 FAME AND GLORY 2 Askar Tau 3 Geordieland 4.25pm Common Touch 5pm Marksmanship 5.35pm Eternal Heart (NAP).
