Jamie Spencer very confident of success on day three of Royal Ascot

The ground was soft again yesterday, just like the first day. It hadn’t improved at all. There were a couple of light showers but I was surprised that it hadn’t changed. It is lifeless on the round course. The Grey Gatsby ran well and he came there travelling two out, but on the soft ground he just doesn’t pick up the way he does on fast ground. It was good to get him racing and will set him up well for the Coral-Eclipse. The first three home all had good soft ground form.

My first ride of the day is Beauly in the 3.40 the Ribblesdale. She ran well in a Listed race the other day. She has plenty to find on the ratings, and she may not even run if they get any rain. Architecture has the strongest form coming into the race and I would be interested to see how she goes.

In the Gold Cup I ride Scotland for Andrew Balding at 4.20. He ran a good prep, when second over a mile and a half. He was sixth in the Gold Cup last year. It looks a strong renewal though and Order Of St George will appreciate the soft ground. He will be hard to beat but it’s an open race aside from him. I hope Scotland can finish in the first three.

In the Britannia at 5.00 I ride Defrocked. I am really looking forward to riding him. The way the draw has been means we are drawn in the right place. He’s off a mark of 95 which seems fair and won’t mind the soft ground. He is coming here off an impressive win. Nothing went right for him the time before at Sandown. He didn’t settle, the ground was too quick, and he still wasn’t beaten far. He could have been coming here unbeaten under different circumstances. I am very confident of a big run. If fortune goes his way I would be disappointed if he doesn’t go close.

The Royal Hunt Cup showed that you want to be drawn low on the far side over a mile on the straight course. The gambled horse Libera Breeze was undone by the draw.

Jamie