Matt’s 3,977-1 each-way treble for Royal Ascot Day 3

Day 3 of Royal Ascot on ITV Racing has the potential to be the trickiest of the week. A period of glorious sunshine has seen the ground good to firm on the first two days but thunderstorms are forecast to hit the Berkshire track overnight. That makes it tough for our horse racing tips but, as always, we leave no stone unturned in our bid to find the winners.

The period of 9pm-9am looks like the worst of it but forecasts vary wildly about how much rain will fall. Ascot is a track that dries fast and if the rain is done five hours before racing, it might not be any worse than good. If the worst case scenario happens, we could be looking at soft.

As such, it looks prudent to find horses who won’t mind what the weather does for our 3,977-1 each-way treble for Thursday. That price is with William Hill who also have this huge offer for new customers, 30/1 Stradivarius to win the Ascot Gold Cup!

2.30 Royal Ascot – Norfolk Stakes

Little Earl has only run on soft ground so far so he certainly won’t be inconvenienced by rain. Too green to do himself justice on debut, he still looked in need of the experience when winning at Catterick. Runner-up to Coventry fifth, Ebro Spirit, at Sandown last time is a solid line of form here.

He is a half-brother to Angel Alexander who won an Ayr Gold Cup on good ground and to Mighty Spirit who was Listed placed on good to firm. Rain would suit but he doesn’t look to need it deep.

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3.05 Royal Ascot – Hampton Court Stakes

Having done some decent work late in the day in the Craven, the step up in trip should really suit The Rosstafarian. He was outclassed in the Irish 2000 Guineas when last seen but was far from disgraced in seventh, once more doing plenty in the final furlong.

His RPR’s  there of 99 and 100 will need improving on at this level but a longer trip could easily see him take a massive step forward. Those runs suggest that he won’t mind what the weather does with one on good to firm and one on heavy and that’s a big plus with the forecast so wildly different depending on where one looks.

3.40 Royal Ascot – Ribblesdale Stakes

She was behind three of these at Newbury last time but Twisted Reality looked to be on the slower part of the track that day, closest to the far side rail. Despite that, she was keeping on well at the end of that ten furlong contest, shaping as if there would be better to come from her over this new distance.

Ralph Beckett has done well with fillies down the years and he has brought this one along slowly, not making her debut until last November before being put away for the winter. There has been a steady flow of money for her which is interesting and this doesn’t look the strongest renewal on paper.

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