Thursday Royal Ascot Placepot Tips from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Noche Magica, No Nay Mets 

The Norfolk Stakes, which kicks off day three, is undeniably stacked with potential in which a host of these can be considered. However, the Paddy Twomey-trained NOCHE MAGICA returned a very impressive debut winner over five furlongs at Cork.

After winning on debut, he stepped up in grade to Group Three at the Curragh and having travelled much the best throughout the race, he hit the front inside the final furlong, looking like he would bolt up. He couldn’t pull away enough though, and was reeled in late on by Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys. The winner has boosted the form by running well here earlier in the week.

The drop in trip will suit given he has lots of speed and can travel well at a pace and I rate his chances quite highly, while US raider NO NAY METS is a son of No Nay Never, who won this ten years ago. He won well on debut six weeks ago and has the services of Frankie Dettori. I can see him running well, too. 

Leg 2 Selections: Davideo, Perfuse 

The second race is also competitive but Ralph Beckett trained the winner of the race two years ago and has a good chance of doing so again in the form of DAVIDEO, who must enter the reckoning after winning comfortably on his reappearance at Newmarket five weeks ago. 

He has improved with each start and both his trainer/jockey are in great form. The pair landed the Royal Hunt Cup yesterday and this son of Galileo fits the mould as a possible big player in this race. 

He is drawn wide in 19 but if he can get across and get himself into a prominent position, I think it will take a good one to beat him. He beat a subsequent winner last-time-out and an opening handicap debut mark of 92 appears lenient. He surely has more than enough in the tank to run well. 
 
PERFUSE is another improver in the field, who was second on debut at Pontefract and has won back-to-back events since. Sir Michael Stoute had two runners hit the frame yesterday and this son of Lope De Vega, who beat a subsequent winner by seven lengths two starts ago, could have the ingredients to raise his game again and complete the hat-trick. 

He is another who should prove to be much better than his mark (94) and unlike most of his market rivals, he is one of only a select few that is proven over the distance as well. Richard Kingscote, who won on him last time, maintains the partnership. 

Leg 3 Selections: Bluestocking, Crown Princesse, Midnight Mile 

Al Asifah has looked good in winning both her starts to date and might well blow this field away but this will be a much stiffer task than last time and instead, I want to give a chance to BLUESTOCKING, who is coincidentally trained by Ralph Beckett. 

She made a striking debut at Salisbury and her impressive display attracted the attention of a lot of punters. She lost her unbeaten record in a Listed event next time but was at a disadvantage compared to the winner in regards to track position and still made the winner pull out all of the stops. 

She will be suited to the step up in distance, has Frankie on her back and should be seen to better effect in this contest. We haven’t seen the best of her yet and is a strong fancy to at least make the frame. 

CROWN PRINCESSE is a promising filly, who represents the French, and after a good second on debut, she won her next two starts, including when having subsequent Epsom Oaks sixth Heartache Tonight in behind. She had that rival in behind again when a close-up third in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary last-time-out and drops in grade for this. She holds a much stronger chance than her odds suggest and wouldn’t be coming over here for the day out. 

MIDNIGHT MILE is another over-priced runner, who won her first two starts, and ran well from a high draw when fourth in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She returned with a good fourth at York and this longer trip could bring about improvement. With this race clearly being her main objective this term, she’s of definite interest. 

Leg 4 Selections: Courage Mon Ami, Subjectivist 

The feature is the Gold Cup and I have two strong fancies against the field despite it having a “wide-open” look to it as plenty have made it out to be. 

COURAGE MON AMI has a huge task on his hands as he goes up markedly in grade but he has looked a potential top-class stayer in the making in each success and should be suited to the extra emphasis on stamina. 

His trainer and jockey knows what it takes to win this race having won with Stradivarius and this four-year-old could be top-class. SUBJECTIVIST won this race two years ago so impressively by five lengths and ran a screamer on his return when third in the Dubai Gold Cup. 

To be honest, the field two years ago seemed stronger and his connections are very confident about his chances. I would make him nearly favourite to be honest because he’s the only course-and-distance winner in the field and has beaten some of the best stayers around. If he runs to his best, I cannot see him being beaten. 

Leg 5 Selections: Naxos, Panic Alarm, Royal Cape

George Boughey has been out of luck so far this week but surely a winner for him this week is imminent and the most interesting candidate is his handicap debutant NAXOS, who has won two of his three starts and makes his turf/handicap debut from a mark of 89 with Danny Tudhope booked to ride. 

Admittedly, the form of his latest win hasn’t worked out well but he still won easily and it’s appealing to see him make his turf debut in such a competitive race. He is clearly well-thought of by his handler and could advance his form with much more to come. He could have been found an easier opportunity elsewhere but that isn’t the case and he could be set to outrun his odds. 

Jessica Harrington had a big-priced winner yesterday in Villanova Queen and PANIC ALARM, who was in front of her last time when fourth in a Listed event, might emerge has a leading player in this valuable contest with some strong form in the book that makes her of interest for team-Ireland. 

He is remarkably consistent and run with credit in each of his three starts this year. He could improve for the step up in trip and is drawn high, so is likely to avoid any possible trouble. His latest fourth is strong, as he split 108 and 112-rated horses and would have been closer with a clear run. He should give a good account. 

ROYAL CAPE did well to finish second at Haydock last-time-out on handicap debut in which the runaway winner Covey, who is probably a pattern-class horse, was never for catching. However, I liked how he knuckled down well to take the runner-up spot and is only a pound higher for this contest. Tom Marquand rides and this race should be right up his street. 

Leg 6 Selections: Epictetus, Waipiro

Torito was a good winner at Epsom but his form has taken some knocks and I much prefer the chances of stablemate EPICTETUS - the choice to Frankie Dettori. 

This son of Kingman showcased good form at two, winning on debut at Newmarket before finishing second the next twice. He was marginally denied by Silver Knott next time, who is now rated 119 and boosted the form by going close in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf back in November. 

He concluded his campaign with a good second in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, doing well considering the heavy ground was against him. He was again in front of Holloway Boy and only found Derby winner Auguste Rodin too good. 

He returned with a bang, winning the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom with a bit to spare and has run well to finish fifth in both the Dante and Prix du Jockey Club. He is down in grade and distance, and is ideally drawn in stall 1, too. I would have him favourite. 

The other one I like is WAIPIRO, who ran well from an unpromising position to finish sixth in the Epsom Derby and had previously chased home Military Order at Lingfield. His connections seem keen to drop in trip and the stronger the pace, the better his chance. He has been underestimated here and has the class to feature heavily in the outcome.