Royal Ascot: rest of day 3

There are 3 more group races at Ascot today, starting with the Norfolk Stakes for 2yo´s over 5 furlongs at 15.30 CET. Richard Hannon holds a strong hand here and his two runners King of Rooks (Frankie Dettori) and Log Out Island (William Buick) appear to have the best form and could easily fill the first two places.

The Tercentenary Stakes for 3yo´s over 10 furlongs at 16.05 looks miuch more open, though the well-bred Time Test (Roger Charlton/ Dettori) is a clear favourite after easily winning at Newbury last time. However he is up in grade here, and the Queen´s runner Peacock (Hannon/ Richard Hughes) seems to have at least the same chance. Maftool (Saeed bin Suroor/ James Doyle), who won the UAE 2,000 Guineas, and Master Apprentice (Andrew Balding / David Probert), who won the Sandown Classic Trial, are both penalised but certainly not out of it. However the really interesting one could be the only filly in the field, Bocca Baciata (Jessica Harrington/ Fran Berry), 5th in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and getting weight all rlound here.

The form of the Irish 1,000 will be tested again35 minutes later when the winner of that race Pleascach (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) runs in the Ribblesdale Stakes over 1 1/2 miles. If she stays this extra distance, she should win, as that is clearly the best form in the race. Another Irish filly Curvy (David Wachman/ Ryan Moore) - also untested over the trip- could be the one to chase her home.

The card ends with 2 ferociously difficult handicaps. The Britannia for 3yo´s over a mile at 18.00 could go to Mutarakez (Brian Meehan/ Paul Hanagan), who has won his last 3 races in the style of a serious horse, while we are certainly interested in how top-weight Rocky Roder (Balding/ Edsard Greatrex) runs in the King George V at 18.35 as he is still in the German Derby and would have to win this to have any chance at Hamburg.

Note: Master Apprentice non-runner at 16.05.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Log Out Island - Shanghai Glory - Waterloo Bridge
2. Race: Time Test - Peacock - Bocca Baciata
3. Race: Pamona - Curvy - Pandora
4. Race: Forgotten Rules - Mizzou - Vent De Force
5. Race: Mutarakez - Sahaafy - Capel Path
6. Race: Dissolution - King Bolete - Scottish