Royal Ascot Day 3 Accumulator & Tips

ELITE STATUS kicks of our Royal Ascot tips for Day 3. He blitzed his rivals by a whopping five lengths in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown, following an easy debut success at Doncaster. That run arguably cemented his status as the leading two-year-old in the UK. Trainer Karl Burke indicated the horse’s potential after the race: “He has the potential to be a superstar sprinter and has got the scope as well. He does things nice and easy at home and we haven’t forced him at all. He will improve for this.” Although against a bunch of completely unexposed types, the selection is obviously one who carries a huge amount of ability and is likely to prove hard to pass.

NOCHE MAGICA was another first-time-out scorer, prior to an encouraging runner-up position at Curragh. That run came over 6f behind Givemethebeatboys, who boosted that form by finishing an excellent fourth in the Group 1 Coventry Stakes here on Tuesday. The drop in distance is anticipated to help and he could easily be the one to catch at the furlong pole and rates one of the each-way plays.

TAGABAWA is our standout tip for the 3:05 of Day 3 of our Royal Ascot tips 2023. He displayed huge improvement on third career outing at Kempton two months ago. The marked progress may have been due to a rise in trip to this 1m4f distance after a gelding operation. Two of the three horses behind have subsequently scored, emphasising strong form, and the son of Epsom Derby winner New Approach is bred to perform at Group company. He is a half-brother to Group 2 scorer Manobo and could easily be a handicap blot from an official mark of 97.

WONDER LEGEND, like the main selection, will exit from a double-figure draw, which should prove advantageous – there is plenty of time for jockeys to be organised from the stalls over the 1m4f trip. The Sea The Stars colt received a hefty 13lb rise after a wildly impressive five-length win at Doncaster, on handicap bow. He was value for much more than the winning margin that day, ahead of subsequent Sandown maiden scorer Westerton. Connections were just touched off in this contest last season and have likely earmarked going one better with Wonder Legend.

AL ASIFAH arrives as the standout selection in the Group 12 Ribblesdale Stakes. Trained by John & Thady Gosden, who have landed three out of the previous four renewals, she has been supplemented for this prestigious prize after a pair of outstanding victories. Clearly showing plenty at home, the Frankel filly landed a Listed race at Goodwood last time. She is taken to continue her rapid progression.

MIDNIGHT MILE has displayed a high level of ability in four career runs. The daughter of No Nay Never (a Royal Ascot winner on quick ground) won a Group 3 juvenile event prior to a sound fourth at the Breeders’ Cup. She reappeared with a running-on fourth in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York, a short-head behind the reopposing Infinite Cosmos. There is a huge disparity in prices between the two fillies, who could easily improve raised in journey here.

The most logical and solid selection in the line-up is COLTRANE, from the Andrew Balding stable. He ran out an impressive winner of Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes on reappearance, which is often used as a trial for the Gold Cup in June. Travelling sweetly throughout, he pulled well clear of his rivals once asked for maximum effort, suggesting he’s made further progress from five to six. He’s already a Royal Ascot winner, having landed the Ascot Stakes Handicap over 2m4f last season and heads to his big assignment as the one to beat.

SUBJECTIVIST may not have shown his brilliant best since a near-career ending injury but, in what doesn’t appear the strongest of renewals, he is worth a small each-way wager at attractive odds. The 2021 winner of this feature race, he is a thorough stayer who will appreciate the quick surface.

SAXON KING has made a positive start to life in handicaps, winning twice from three attempts, including a smart Chester success from a wide draw. He’s an upwardly mobile colt, who could have more to offer, from a good high draw. The Zoustar offspring has also had a taste of the track, running third in a maiden, ahead of subsequent Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes winner Paddington.

JUST AN HOUR got off the mark on third career outing, keeping-on strongly from an unfavourable position at Killarney. The form seems solid as the runner-up landed a Listowel maiden with ease next time. Just An Hour is closely related to a Group 2 winner over this mile trip and is expected to be suited by a fast tempo. Watch out for a late run into the places.

WAIPIRO didn’t handle the preliminaries with much aplomb earlier in the month, when sweating and exerting energy before the Group 1 Epsom Derby. It was to his credit how he finished as close as he did in the end. Easing back to a 1m2f trip seems ideal, especially if given a more positive ride.

CAERNARFON has been an outstanding filly for trainer Jack Channon and connections, defying huge odds to stay on into a superb fourth in the Group 1 Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The daughter of Cityscape proved that to be no fluke when delivering a place in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks earlier in the month. She is to be taken seriously at this lower level.

A fiendishly difficult puzzle for punters to solve at the end of Ladies Day. SPIRIT OF LIGHT offers each-way hope, with Paddy Power paying a generous five places. The selection caught the eye, finishing well, in a hot York handicap at York last time, indicating the extra furlong on a stiff track here could prove ideal. The grey has the right profile to reach a minor placing at attractive odds.

MONTASSIB bounced back to top form with a comfortable success in a Newmarket handicap over this distance. A rise of 4lb may not be insurmountable, as a horse who has solid Ascot form to draw upon; he ran a creditable fifth in this event last season, following a touch of trouble in-running. With a clear passage, there is every chance of this son of Exceed And Excel proving to be a strong challenger at the business end of the race.