Mouthwatering Gold Cup in prospect at Royal Ascot The centrepiece of Day 3 at Royal Ascot is the £500,000 Gold Cup over the marathon trip of two miles three furlongs and 210 yards. This year’s renewal promises to be a classic with a stellar line up that includes three-time race winner Stradivarius and the popular grey Princess Zoe. Stradivarius, now in his seventh season of racing, won this contest in 2018, 2019 and 2020 but could only finish fourth in the race last year when sent off the odds-on favourite. This time around he will have to contend with regular adversaries Trueshan and Princess Zoe as well as the exciting Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old Kyprios. Kyprios is yet to race over this extreme distance but has been most impressive on his two starts over one mile and six furlongs in Ireland this season and comes here with the favourite’s mantle. He is yet to taste victory in three previous visits to Britain, including his withdrawal from the Queen’s Vase at this meeting last year when he got upset in the stalls, which is a slight worry. The Tony Mullins-trained Princess Zoe would be a very popular winner and comes here with a solid chance of winning having finished second in this race last year and warmed up for today’s assignment with a victory over the course in April when landing the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. Bookmakers LiveScore Bet are offering new clients a sign up bonus: Bet €5 Get €20 In Free Bets. New members. Sportsbook only. €5 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable €10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for full rules and exclusions. Dunlewey.org Elsewhere on today’s card Aidan O’Brien will look to win the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for the first time in five seasons when he sends out the unbeaten Dark Angel colt The Antarctic. The grey juvenile won twice in the early part of the season and as a brother to Battaash is not lacking in speed for this five furlong dash. Curragh trainer Michael O’Callaghan looks to have an each-way shout here with Crispy Cat. The son of Ardad is very quick and can be expected to be in the front rank throughout and if his stamina reserves hold out he should be there or thereabouts at the finish. O’Callaghan will also fancy the chances of Fasnet Crown in the concluding Buckingham Palace Stakes. The five-year-old hasn’t been beaten far in three outings so far this season and will appreciate the expected quicker ground. He finished a creditable fifth in last season’s Cambridgeshire at Newmarket on his only previous trip to England and while this seven furlongs distance is possibly short of ideal he should run a decent race. There are Irish-trained contenders dotted throughout today’s Royal Ascot card and another likely to run well is Amortentia in the Britannia Stakes at 5.00pm. This Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding landed a gamble on his seasonal debut at Naas in May and could prove to be still well-treated off a seven pounds higher mark here. History and Magical Lagoon are two more Irish contenders in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes for fillies at 3.40pm but they may have to settle for minor honours behind the William Haggas-trained Sea Silk Road. The daughter of Sea The Stars is stepping up to Group company for the first time but there has been a lot to like about her two victories this season and she can continue the good recent run of her stable here.
