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First run in 1928, the Britannia Stakes is a three-year-old-only handicap that is run over the straight mile and is open to colts and geldings only. There has only been one successful favourite since 2006 with six winners in the past decade going off at 14/1 or bigger.
Six of the last ten winners have been drawn in the middle third stalls between stalls 11 and 20. Here are my tips for the fifth race on day three along with their Royal Ascot odds for you to read.
Finn’s Charm
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Joe Fanning
Runner up in the German 2000 Guineas last time out, beaten 6L by Angers. Musselburgh handicap winner in April and a lively outsider despite the big weight.
One Nation
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Not been seen since runner-up twice in Meydan at the turn of the year. Plenty of weight here but hails from top connections so can’t be totally dismissed.
Panic Alarm
Trainer: Mrs J Harrington
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Dual winner as a juvenile and not disgraced in three starts this season. Big enough handicap mark of 99 mind.
Highbank
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: James Doyle
Charlie Appleby second string on jockey bookings. Like stablemate One Nation not seen since Dubai Carnival at Meydan in February. First time in a handicap today.
Starnberg
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Alec Voikhansky
Chasing a hat trick of handicap victories following successes at York and Nottingham for which he’s been raised 20lb. May still be on upgrade but this looks much tougher.
Racingbreaks Ryder
Trainer: Charles Hills
Jockey: James McDonald
Much improved in handicaps this season winning three at Nottingham, Haydock and here rising 18lb. May still be ahead of the handicapper and Tuesday’s rain would have helped.
Benacre
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Shown promise this season in non-handicaps in three starts including when 4th in German 2000 Guineas last time. More to do here.
New Endeavour
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: David Egan
Stepped up when winning by 4L in the Kempton handicap a fortnight ago. Handicapper reacted by raising him 11lb.
Docklands
Trainer: Harry Eustace
Jockey: Hayley Turner
Made a highly promising handicap debut when winning over course and distance by 6 1/2L. That was on soft ground mind so conditions are likely to be very different now and is also a stone higher.
Ramazon
Trainer: Richard Fahey
Jockey: Oisin Orr
First run at a mile. Good effort when third in York handicap last time and if staying holds place claims.
Theoryofeverything
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
Modest run at Chester on handicap debut last time even allowing for his wide draw. All three career runs on soft ground so today’s terrain an unknown.
Bless
Trainer: F Chappet
Jockey: Stephane Pasquier
French challenger. Yet to win in three starts this season and untested on good, fast ground so is hard to assess.
Dark Thirty
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Sean Levey
York winner over 7F in May. Not disgraced in Goodwood handicap since and steps up in trip here which should suit.
Carrachi
Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Didn’t get the clearest of runs on their handicap debut at The Curragh in May and steps up a furlong here. Hails from top connections and shouldn’t be dismissed.
Betterdayrcoming
Trainer: A Oliver
Jockey: W J Lee
Irish raider. Winner of seventeen-runner Curragh handicap over 7F last month. Steps up a furlong here and is only 3lb higher in handicap.
Surely Not
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Winner of handicaps at Newmarket and Chester this season on easy ground rising 13lb. On the upgrade but may need more give in the ground today.
Forca Timao
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Kevin Stott
Showed promise on all three starts over further this season and drops in trip here today. Appears to have little in hand off of his current mark.
Saxon King
Trainer: Charlie Hills
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Winner of two of his three starts this season, at Newmarket and Chester rising 11lb. A progressive horse who may have further to come.
Quantum Impact
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
York winner in May and now 5lb higher. interesting jockey booking and sure to be popular.
Physique
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Jockey: Mohammed Tabti (7)
Looks in the handicapper’s grip and is ridden by a 7lb apprentice. Unlikely to trouble the judge here.
Good Karma
Trainer: James Ferguson
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
First handicap. Beat Chelsea Square (well beaten since) at Newbury over 7F in May. Steps up a furlong today and mark looks alright.
Thunder Ball
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Won for the first time at the tenth time of asking when a comfortable 4L winner at Newbury last month. Back up to a mile here but will need to improve more to trouble the judge.
Tempered Soul
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
First time in a handicap. Chelmsford winner in May and beat only one home in a six-runner listed race at Goodwood last time. Drops 3f in trip here.
Metal Merchant
Trainer: Jack Channon
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Good third in a valuable three-year-old handicap at Haydock on the latest run. A lively outsider if showing slight improvement.
Just An Hour
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Winner of a Killarney maiden in May from Narmar (won since) and makes his handicap debut here off of a workable mark. Each way claims for a good outfit.
Urban Sprawl
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Goodwood winner in May (7F, good to firm) when making all. Maybe the race came too soon when flopping the following week and has questions to answer now.
Royal Cape
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Tom Marquand
10L winner at Windsor on soft ground at the beginning of May prior to an excellent 3 1/4L runner-up to Covey at Haydock on the fast ground (Metal Merchant a neck away in third). One for the shortlist.
Naxos
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Daniel Tudhope
Handicap debut off of a mark of 89 having won a five-runner novice stakes race at Newcastle in April in a first-time hood at odds of 4/11. Ten-week absence and needs to step up.
Fort Vega
Trainer: Ms Sheila Lavery
Jockey: Robbie Colgan
Irish raider. Chasing a hat trick of victories following successes at Gowran Park and Naas. Wouldn’t want the ground too fast but highly rated by his trainer and can run well.
Mustajaab
Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick
Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
Last seen winning on the all-weather at Chelmsford racecourse by a short head from Yorkshire in May. 5lb higher now and needs to take it up another gear to feature here.
Zu Run (Reserve)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
First reserve. Better than their debut run at York in May and was pulled out on account of the fast ground at Sandown last weekend.
Bluelight Bay (Reserve)
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton
Jockey: Charles Bishop
Second reserve. Not shown much in two starts this season and looks unlikely to worry the principals if getting into the race.
Skysail (Reserve)
Trainer: Marcus Tregoning
Jockey: Harry Davies
Third reserve. Good winner at Goodwood on re-appearance and is now 8lb higher. Each way claims if getting into the race.
Britannia Stakes Betting Tips
As always a real minefield of a race with thirty three-year-olds hurtling down the straight course. My shortlist consists of Sheila Lavery’s well-thought-of Fort Vega who looks nicely treated, Royal Cape who ran into one last time out at Haydock and the five-timer seeking Racingbreaks Ryder who may still be ahead of the assessor.
My pick is the Irish raider Fort Vega whose trainer still harbours Group aspirations for him.
1. Fort Vega @ 25/1 with Bet365 (Paying top 4 places at 1/4 odds)
2. Royal Cape @ 20/1 with Bet365 bonus code (Paying top 4 places at 1/4 odds)
3. Racingbreaks Ryder @ 20/1 Paddy Power promo code (Paying top 4 places at 1/4 odds)
All odds are available at the time of writing.
