Royal Ascot - Day 3 - Team Inittowinit (22nd June)

Day 2 was a whitewash, personally my selection was slow away and that was that, we move on.

Day 3

CraigNewton 

14.30 Ascot 22 June 

Yes the favourite Elite Status is decent after winning the National Stakes but at 7/4  I'd rather continue looking for value. Dominic French Davis is having a blinder of a season, goes to show you what he can do with the right horses, Amo Racing have given him a chance and he's taken advantage in style. THUNDER BLUE is a £180,000 breeze-up and certainly looks the business after winning his maiden at Goodwood when driven clear, could have improvement in him. The Blue Point colt was beaten by the Camden Colt on debut. Thunder Blue has two group entries so hopefully they are justified here, around 28s I'll chance an each way in what looks a good field. 

Thunder Blue 28/1 5th

Prohorseracing

5.00 Ascot: Britannia Stakes - Physique

As competitive as it gets, yet I feel quite strongly about Physique, who looks seriously overpriced if he could settle in the early stages. 

That's the key question as he moves up in trip again. There's enough to believe the trip won't be an issue stamina wise, especially the way he finished last time out. But he can be keen early on, and that would be a deadly sin in this race. His young rider doesn't have all that much experience, either. There is a clear risk.

On the other hand, plenty of pace looks to be present in this field. It should be a fast race, and that will suit Physique, who should have a solid chance from the #8 draw to get into a prominent position, as he likes to be, normally. 

I hope connections don't opt for an experiment where they hold him up, in the hope to preserve his stamina. If that is the case you can turn off the TV after the first two furlongs. It's another risk, worth taking at the price, though.

Physique couldn't have been more impressive earlier this month at Goodwood, which was a superb follow-up from an already excellent performance a month earlier over the same course and distance. He got caught wide and without cover from the highest draw and as a consequence struggled to  find cover pretty much for the majority of the race.

The gelding was clearly lit up and his chances decimated by the halfway mark. He also was ever so slightly impeded by a tiering front-runner from 2 furlongs out before he finished extremely strongly - in fact, he ran home the fastest over the last two furlongs, regardless. 

It's fair to say with a better draw and a little bit more in-running luck, he would have won. Still lightly raced, Physique has the scope to continue his progress, especially off his current 91 handicap mark.

He has shown to handle fast ground without a problem, so drying conditions aren't a worry. He looks ideally suited to this type of test, if the pace is on and is most likely well-handicapped.

Physique 40/1 10th

Racingtictac

15.05 King George V Stakes WONDER LEGEND

One of the easiest winners that I have seen for some time when winning on his handicap debut at Doncaster back in April when merely nursed home in a canter and no surprise to see him wrapped up since for a tilt at something like this even up 13lb.

Form of the above race has worked out extremely well and I would be surprised if he is not able to keep progressing even accounting for the different ground conditions he will face here.

He also interestingly holds a G2 entry at HQ next month over this distance so hopefully the step up will negate the difference.

Connections are up and coming and have some serious ammunition in the middle distance ranks, they also went close in this race last year with Deauville Legend and will be hoping to go one better with this exciting prospect who could turn out to be group class in time which is likely what is required to nab this prize.

Wonder Legend 17/2 8th  

Advised bet Each way Trixie

Finishing positions 5/0/8

Thanks for reading and good luck.