English/Ire
‘He looks like a cracking bet’ - Sam King’s daily wagers
Sam King is back with two selections on Thursday.
Charles Darwin looks like he's going to take all the beating in the Norfolk Stakes, so the first bet on day three of Royal Ascot comes in the shape of The Cursor, who certainly appears to be a touch of value at 33/1 in the King George V Stakes at 3.05.
A strong galloping type, he shaped better than the bare result when failing to handle Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial, travelling nicely before struggling with the contours of the course.
Prior to that, he posted an effort full of promise behind the Charlie Appleby-trained Bedouin Prince, who has since landed a decent event at Kempton and now holds a rating of 100.
He fared much the best of those up with the pace that day, so it's easy to upgrade his performance and a current mark of 87 might well underestimate him now that he steps up in distance on a track that is expected to suit.
0.5pt Each-way – The Cursor
Odds – 33/1
Later on the card, La Botte looks like a cracking bet in a typically red-hot renewal of this year's Britannia Stakes (5.00).
Harry Eustace landed the prize two years ago with his stable star Docklands, who gave him a first Group 1 success as a trainer when landing the opening Queen Anne Stakes earlier in the week, and he could well claim it again with the unexposed La Botte.
An impressive winner of a Newcastle novice event over the winter, he caught the eye when fourth behind the subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Cosmic Year in Listed company at Newmarket last time, staying once nicely through the line after travelling powerfully on the wrong side of the track.
That form looks to be working out well and off an opening mark of 99, he can land the spoils under Jamie Spencer, who so often is seen to excellent effect when riding over the straight mile at Ascot.
2pt Win – La Botte
Odds – 8/1
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