Royal Ascot - Day 3

Day three of Royal Ascot and overcast weather greets racegoers as they stream on to the course for ladies Day.

In the 5 furlongs Norfolk stakes, Cay Verde is the 3/1 favourite and is trained by my mate Mick Channon. Leading Australian jockey, Craig Williams gets a chance to ride his first Royal Ascot winner. It will not be easy for them because Richard Hannon who is a master with young horses has two interesting runners in Annunciation and Mister Marc. Son in law Richard Hughes has elected to ride Annunciation and I believe that he is on the wrong one. Mister Marc gave Tuesday 's Coventry Stakes winner, Dawn Approach a good race in a listed race in Ireland. Another with big chance is Reckless Abandon who soundly beat Annunciation.

The Ribblesdale looks a tricky race and the John Gosden trained, The Fugue, looks to be a leading light. She had way too much to do in the Investec Oaks, when coming from way off in a slow run race. The Stable is in good nick with Joviality having won yesterday. The Queen has a runner in the race with a filly called Momentary and Hayley Turner gets to ride her. Dermot Weld the Irish trainer has a very good filly in Princess Highway who defeated Oaks winner, Was, in the Blue Wind Stakes. It does look competitive but I feel that The Fugue could be the girl to beat.

The big race of the afternoon is the Gold Cup, a marathon run over 3600 mts and last years winner Fame And Glory is even money favourite to reprise the success of last year. He is from the powerful O Brien stable whose superstar, Yeats, won this race four years in a row and his statue adorns the parade ring at ascot. Fame and Glory looks as if he is another wonderful stayer and most pundits are confidently tipping him to win again. After the stable's Excellent day yesterday it is difficult to see him getting beaten. If there is to be a different result then Godolphin might be able to come up with the winner as they have two talented stayers in Colour Vision and Opinion Poll. The mercurial, Frankie Dettori has decided to ride Colour Vision who was originally trained up north by Mark Johnston. Colour Vision had run a progressive third behind Fame And Glory and stable mate Opinion Poll in Ascot's Long Distance Cup. Opinion Poll Had won the Dubai Gold Cup under Frankie and it must have been a tough decision to elect to ride Colour Vision. I believe that Fame and Glory will be able to win his second Gold Cup.

Until later when the champagne kicks in .... again