Royal Ascot 2024 Day Three: The Panel’s Selections And Betting Tips For Thursday

Royal Ascot 2024 Day Three Preview

• Donn McClean's Angle For The Hampton Court Stakes
• Tanya Stevenson's Tips For The Britannia Stakes & Buckingham Palace Stakes
• The Panel Tips: Three Selections for Thursday At Royal Ascot

For today's horse racing tips, our knowledgeable tipsters on The Panel, stacked with experts from Gambling.com, focus their attention on Day Three of the Royal Ascot Festival which features tips and analysis from Donn McClean and Tanya Stevenson.

As always, you’ll find the most up-to-date odds at the best horse racing betting sites. 

Please remember, The Panel's predictions are researched early in the day and prices could change but odds stated are correct at the time of publishing.

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Donn McClean's Angle

King’s Gambit Big Player In Hampton Court Stakes  (17:40)

It’s not surprising that King’s Gambit has been put in at a short price for the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

A talented and progressive juvenile last season, Harry Charlton’s horse made his debut this year in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last month, and he duly ran out an impressive winner.  

That is a race that the Charltons have won three times in the previous 10 years, it is a race that they obviously target with good horses.  

The have won it with subsequent multiple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem, and with Group race winners Time Test and Headman, and the roll of honour also includes Cannock Chase, Defoe, Bay Bridge and Israr.  It is a race that is often won by a horse who can on to be successful at a much higher level.

King’s Gambit is a big player in Thursday’s race, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to morph into a Group horse or even a Group 1 horse.  

But all of that potential has been factored into his odds for Thursday’s race.  Also, he has never run at Ascot, all his four runs have actually been at Newbury.  

He may win well on Thursday, but he is going to have to progress again, and he is going to have to prove that he can be as effective on fast ground at Ascot as he is on good or easy ground at Newbury.

Bracken’s Laugh actually beat King’s Gambit in a good novice stakes at Newbury last September.  It was a good tussle between the pair of them, but Bracken’s Laugh prevailed by a head.

Richard Hughes’ horse was receiving 6lb from King’s Gambit that day, and that perhaps is partly at the root of the disparity in their respective odds for Thursday’s race.

But that was Bracken’s Laugh’s racecourse debut, whereas King’s Gambit had run twice, both runs at Newbury.  It was always likely that Bracken’s Laugh would progress from that.

Connections thought enough of him to allow him take his chance in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last October on just his second run, and he ran well there to finish fifth behind this year’s Derby third Los Angeles, with Wednesday’s Queen’s Vase winner Illinois two places ahead of him in third.

On his debut this season, Bracken’s Laugh ran out an impressive winner of a conditions stakes at Chelmsford and, last time, in the Dee Stakes at Chester, he was a little unlucky not to get closer than he did to the winner Capulet, who was the beneficiary of a master front-running ride from Ryan Moore.

The Zoffany colt has to prove that he can handle good to firm ground, but he handled good ground well in the Dee Stakes, and he won well on all-weather at Chelmsford in April and, if he can be as effective on slightly faster turf, he could go very well.  

It looks like trainer Richard Hughes has had this race in mind for him for a little while, so he could be set for a career-best performance on Thursday.  

Tanya Stevenson's Tip For The Britannia Stakes (17:05) - Son Of Man 

The Britannia Stakes over the years has not been favourite friendly, it may be worth unearthing a bit of value at a price.  

This often turns out a mile sprint with a relentless pace from the off.  The ability to lay up with the pace from the off, have a fortuitous draw and some strength coming home is a massive advantage. 

Son Of Man has already dabbled in Group 3 class at two, no sooner had he won his racecourse debut at York in September, he was whisked off nine days later to Newmarket to run in the Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes, he was only beaten four lengths by Alynaabi who ran in the St James’s Palace on Tuesday.  

He was then thrust in to the Group 3 Horris Hill at Newmarket on Heavy where he raced too keenly yet still managed to be third.  

He was kept busy as two weeks later he was in Saint-Cloud in a Listed event on heavy.  Four big races at two and surefire indication a mile wouldn’t be an issue.  

He made his seasonal debut in the Silver Bowl at Haydock carrying a big weight and two furlongs out it was apparent he was never going to get a clear run.  

His only subsequent run was at Goodwood where over 7 furlongs he was ridden along from three out only to be going best in the last half a furlong finishing second behind Finn’s Charm.  

I don’t think the course or distance suited.  He needs a strong pace.  David Egan was on him at Goodwood and rides him again.  

Jane Chapple-Hyam has done well with her runners at Royal Ascot, with three winners and the brilliant second by Intellogent in the 2022 Royal Hunt Cup.  Son of Man will race up with the leaders and hopefully sneak a place.   

Tanya Stevenson's Tip for the 17:05 At Royal Ascot - Son Of Man

Tanya Stevenson's Tip For The Buckingham Palace Stakes (18:15) - Koy Koy 

Billy Loughnane has already experienced success at the meeting and his confidence will be in the next stratosphere.  

He's formed a brilliant partnership with George Boughey with 44 winners at an 18% strike rate already.  He has a huge chance in the last race on Thursday in another cavalry charge.  He is aboard Koy Koy who is no doubt waiting for the right opportunity and after his last two runs will have a better time of things. 

Back in 2022 he was tenth in the Britannia Stakes over a mile and last year he only beat one home when eased in the Royal Hunt Cup.  

Today its seven furlongs which will suit better.  He showed glimpses of form over various distances from six furlongs to nine furlongs in Meydan in the early part of the year with his best run over seven furlongs.

When he returned to these shores he had no luck in the closing stages at Newmarket on penultimate start with Billy just having to ease him out of the congestion.  

He was still only 2 ½ lengths behind.  Then last time out he was at Epsom, he hated the camber and although reducing the deficit he had to do it from the middle of the course and hung badly.  

Over this seven furlongs and drawn in stall 31, he could be clear of trouble and in charge of his own destiny. 

Tanya Stevenson's Tip for the 18:15 At Royal Ascot - Koy Koy

15:05 Ascot: The Panel Selection - French Duke

A race all about potential as the majority of the runners step up to 12f for the first time. With nineteen runners it’s likely to be run at a fierce pace and any stamina flaws will be exposed. 

Roger Varian’s French Duke, a colt by Sea The Stars, is stoutly bred and could be the answer. 

Still a maiden after just three runs, he ran an eye catching race over 10f on seasonal debut, setting a strong pace and battling  on well when headed, just failing to get back up on the line. 

The extra two furlongs look bound to suit, and William Buick is an eye-catching booking.

15:45 Ascot: The Panel Selection - Kalpana

Another race about  potential as a field of well-bred fillies step up to 12f for this valuable Group 2. 

The dam of the favourite  Diamond Rain won the Oaks and this unbeaten filly looks a worthy favourite. 

She is a very short price however and Kalpana is a fast improving filly who could  be capable of much better as she steps up in trip. 

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After two races on the AW last season she romped home by 10 lengths on her turf debut and ran another fine race in the Pretty Polly, pulling 12 lengths clear with the eventual winner before giving best. 

There’s more to come and her pedigree suggests she’ll stay well. Oisin Murphy rides for Andrew Balding.

18:15 Ascot: The Panel Selection - Divine Libra

Divine Libra has been improving steadily since being gelded last winter and stepping up to 7f. 

Denied a clear run on his seasonal debut he made no mistake at Chester, winning a decent Class 3 handicap despite coming wide after a troubled passage. 

Stepping up in Class he just failed to get up at Newmarket next time, finishing third, beaten a short head and a nose and could have more to offer as the season progresses. T

his is fiercely competitive with 29 runners but hopefully he has a good draw and the booking of Ryan Moore can only be a positive.

Suggested Staking Plan For The Panel Selections

• 15:05 Royal Ascot 1pt WIN:  French Duke
• 15:45 Royal Ascot 1pt WIN:  Kalpana
• 18:15 Royal Ascot 1pt WIN:  Divine Libra

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