Thrilling Day Three Entries at Royal Ascot: A Look Ahead

Ante-post favourite Coltrane heads 15 contenders for Thursday’s Gold Cup at Royal Ascot

In a highly anticipated race, fifteen skilled horses will be competing for the coveted title of the Gold Cup winner this Thursday at Royal Ascot. Amongst these talented equines is the present favourite to win, Coltrane.

The Favourite Contender – Coltrane

Trained by Andrew Balding, who has a great track record in training winners, Coltrane won his first race of the season in remarkable fashion – Sagaro Stakes over two miles at Berkshire track. Last year he took home The Ascot Stakes and finished fourth in Goodwood Cup and second Lonsdale cup before winning Doncaster cup which makes him a prime contender to clinch this year’s gold cup as well.

Other Top Contenders

• Nate The Great (Andrew Balding)
• Eldar Eldarov (Roger Varian)
• Kyprios sidelined due to injury last year’s victor.
• Broom & Changingoftheguard along with Emily Dickinson under Aidan O’Brien’s watchful eye.
• Courage Mon Ami trained by John and Thady Gosden who are already three-time race winners courtesy Stradivarius among their ranks.
• Sagaro second Wise Eagle,
• Tashkhan,
• Lone Eagle,
• French raider Big Call also in the mix.

The Ribblesdale Stakes has an interesting addition this year in Al Asifah, who was recently supplemented for the Group Two race. The filly is owned by Shadwell and trained by John Gosden, who already has two more horses – Ghara and Lmay – entered in the same category. Infinite Cosmos under Sir Michael Stoute’s guidance will be another name to watch out for after finishing third in Musidora at York just behind Soul Sister, subsequently Oaks winner.

In Norfolk stakes Elite Status among 33 contenders along with Wes Ward’s American Rascal are popular picks. Bertinelli tops 46 entries of King George V stakes while Epictetus, Torito, Waipiro alongside Caernarfon (Oaks third) are amongst nineteen other top contending horses competing for Hampton Court Stakes trophy. The Britannia Stakes featuring fifty-nine entries and Buckingham Palace with fifty-eight entries completes a promising line-up of entrants at Royal Ascot this Thursday.