Day 3 at Royal Ascot....

Wednesday, 18th June 2025

Day 3 at Royal Ascot….

Get my picks for Day 2 here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the handicaps on Day 3 at Royal Ascot….

I’m on LIGHTENING MANN in the King George V Stakes at 3.05 – he’s up at 14s….

…. I’m on FEARNOT at 20s, 18s & 16s in the Britannia at 5.00….

…. and I’m on NO RETREAT at 25s in the Buckingham Palace at 6.10….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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LIGHTENING MANN ran a cracker in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last month – a race with a rich history of producing future pattern performers….

He was overhauled very late on by Saddadd – but stuck to his task and hit the line just a neck in arrears….

The victor that day – plus the horses that finished third and fourth – are all set to appear in the Golden Gates over 10f on Saturday afternoon….

…. but Jack Channon’s charge steps up to the 12f trip in tomorrow’s King George V Stakes (3.05) – and on the evidence of that last effort you’d think it will suit him….

He was put up 5lb for his Newbury performance – and he’s 1lb well-in tomorrow (every little helps)….

…. but on a mark of 85 he’s still very much at the right end of the ladder and there’s surely more to come over this longer trip….

Something else I like – few horses in tomorrow’s race have been seasoned in a fierce and competitive contest like that London Gold Cup at Newbury….

…. most are turning out fresh from maiden or novice races….

For sure – the handicapper hasn’t had much chance to get to the bottom of where they might be at….

…. but the downside is that they must fight a battle – and that’s what a big-field handicap like this is so early in a racing career….

…. without the benefit of the battle-hardening process that a horse like Lightening Mann has been subject to….

I think he makes a nice bet at the general 14s….

Regarding the Britannia (5.00) let me say one thing at the outset….

…. the fact that most mainstream British firms offer just 4 places in a 30-runner handicap verges on criminality….

I did think about going two-against-the field instead of backing one each-way – but ultimately decided against it….

I do like the Haggas horse – Raafedd – but he’s short enough in the betting having contracted from 14s yesterday….

…. and I’ve agonized over the in-form Joseph O’Brien’s Tribal Nation – who looks the part and ran much better than the bare form suggests last time at Naas….

I could put him up – but I’m worried that his trainer was hoping for a little rain for him and that the ground might prove just a bit too quick for him….

This is how it is in these massive-field races – there’s always more than one you really fancy….

…. and you end up terrified of missing a winner….

Ultimately, you have to make the call and I’m backing the appropriately-named FEARNOT – up at 20s, 18s & 16s….

He was very impressive last time out over tomorrow’s course and distance….

…. turning a decent-enough handicap into a procession and running out an easy and commanding 4-length winner on quick ground….

…. settling well, travelling well, building momentum, going smoothly through the gears, and finishing off with a burst of acceleration that took him clear of the opposition with immediate effect….

It was impressive. The handicapper thought so too – putting him up 10lb to 94….

Now, that might turn out to be an overreaction….

…. or it could be the case that connections have succeeded in blowing Fearnot’s mark for peanuts….

…. and the big rise will worry a lot of punters….

But Fearnot is progressing rapidly, and I reckon there’s more to come….

He loved the track and the fast ground last time, he gets more of the same tomorrow, and he could prove a lot more competitive than his price suggests….

Finally, in the Buckingham Palace (6.10) I’m swinging the bat at NO RETREAT at the 25s….

In an ideal world I’d like him drawn on the other side, but the far side is fastest according to the going stick reading….

…. and whilst high numbers do often have the edge at Ascot up the straight, the far rail can be the next best place to be….

What I like is the step back to the 7f trip….

No Retreat’s run a lot over the mile, but I don’t think he’d be a force over the stiff mile here….

But the fact he does stay further will help him over tomorrow’s trip at this track….

I’m also mindful that he ran a cracker the last time he stepped back to the 7f trip in Meydan in February….

He’s been gelded since, and he’s changed trainer….

First time out for his new yard at Haydock in May he improved again – his fifth step forward on the ratings scale in succession….

He darted up the rail to enter calculations in the closing stages – but just didn’t quite see out the mile….

It was still a taking effort – and with the tongue-tie reapplied tomorrow and the cheekpieces fitted for the first time – I just like him at the shorter trip….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 4….

Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

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