Royal Ascot Thursday tips: Day three selections

Elite Status lived up to his name with a fine National Stakes win and can again show his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Norfolk Stakes.

A three-length winner on debut for Karl Burke at Doncaster, he rocketed home by five lengths at Sandown in what was a quick time on the night.

This Group Two is obviously another notch up the ladder, but this Havana Grey colt has looked a pretty striking runner.

Al Asifah made short work of an admittedly average Listed contest at Goodwood, but it was impossible not to be impressed with the manner of her six-and-a-half-length verdict.

She quickly went clear when asked over a mile and a quarter and the extra two furlongs of the Ribblesdale Stakes should hold few fears.

Owner Shadwell and trainers John and Thady Gosden felt she merited supplementing for this Group Two contest and while a relatively swift return is an unknown factor, she looked a filly out of the top drawer.

Performance of the day 👀

Al Asifah laughs at her rivals in the Listed Agnes Keyser Fillies' Stakes @Goodwood_Races earlier under @JimCrowley1978.

Lofty targets surely await the unbeaten @ShadwellStud daughter of Frankel.pic.twitter.com/ZFv71qNyXn

— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) June 11, 2023

Caernarfon steps back to Group Three company in the Hampton Court Stakes following two fine efforts in Classics.

Fourth in the 1000 Guineas, albeit beaten 10 lengths, was supplemented by an excellent effort to be beaten just two lengths by Soul Sister when third in the Oaks.

It looked as though Jack Channon’s filly might even win the Epsom Classic at one point before she was collared in the final two furlongs, so it may be the mile and a quarter she faces here is actually her ideal trip.

Taking on the colts is clearly a big ask, but her fillies’ allowance puts her well ahead once her top rating of 112 is also taken into account.

There are some fiendishly difficult handicap contests to get stuck into at the Berkshire venue, with the King George V Stakes possibly heading home with the Gosdens.

They field two for owner Anthony Oppenheimer and preference is for Burglar, who has won two of his three outings, most recently scoring at Redcar.

Docklands hacked up over the Britannia course and distance last month and even a 14lb hike might not stop him here, while Croupier returned to form at York on his latest appearance and can go close again in the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes.

Royal Ascot day three selections

2.30 – Elite Status

3.05 – Burglar

3.40 – Al Asifah

4.20 – SUBJECTIVIST (nap)

5.00 – Docklands

5.35 – Caernarfon

6.10 – Croupier

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