Royal Ascot Day 3 Preview

Traditionally, the Ascot Gold Cup is the centrepiece of the entire week's Royal programme of 30 races. First run in 1807, it continues to celebrate the prowess of the stayer in a modern era in which raw speed has become a priority.

An anachronism? Possibly, but a glorious one that further sets Royal Ascot apart from any other race meeting in the world today. Long may it continue.

Godolphin, following a bright start to the week with Buratino winning the Coventry Stakes, run the Jim Bolger-trained Pleascach in the Ribblesdale Stakes, over a mile and a half, on Gold Cup day.

A daughter of the Darley stallion Teofilo, she is very talented, having already won the Irish 1000 Guineas, in which she courageously repelled the late challenge of Found.

She had used a Group Three at Naas as a stepping stone to Classic glory. She won that by eight and a half lengths, giving a glimpse of what she might achieve during her three-year-old season. She has loads of potential.

Entertainment, the second Ribblesdale runner for Godolphin, won her maiden at Chelmsford and finished second in the Cheshire Oaks, albeit beaten six lengths on good to soft ground. This is a step up in class for her.

Log Out Island was wisely diverted from the Coventry on the opening day to the five-furlong Norfolk Stakes and that decision should reap a rich reward in one of the most fascinating juvenile races of the season.

Godolphin stepped in to purchase Log Out Island after the colt won at Ascot in April. Third in that race, beaten five and a half lengths, was Buratino.

Log Out Island's chief rival in the Norfolk is King Of Rooks, who is another to have clashed with Buratino. He beat him five lengths in the five-furlong National Stakes at Sandown.

On a strict line through Buratino, Log Out Island has a slender advantage, but Buratino, who won the Coventry, was a more mature, race-hardened colt than he was earlier in the campaign. Without doubt, the Norfolk is one of the best races of the week.

Maftool carries Godolphin colours in the Tercentenary Stakes - improvement is expected - while in the King George V Stakes very little separates the Charlie Appleby-trained Space Age and the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Keep In Line.

In the Britannia Stakes, Godolphin field four runners, with preference being for the Michael Halford-trained Portage over Bow And Arrow, Emirates Airline and Sugar Boy.

Portage, a son of Teofilo, won his maiden at the Curragh two starts ago, but was beaten on his first outing in handicap company. He is well worth another chance in a typically open race. His trainer has been upbeat about his chances.

As for the Gold Cup, many in the field want a shower of rain to help their chances, and that includes the favourite Forgotten Rules and the Chester Cup winner Trip To Paris.

If Forgotten Rules takes his chance, he will take some beating no matter what the ground.