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It's Gold Cup day and the weather should continue to be nice and sunny.
That will allow the fashions to flourish even more extravagantly than they have to date and that's saying something. Some of the hats look like they would need an entire room to store them in.
Back to racing and that starts with the G2 Norfolk Stakes over 1000m with 13 2yos lining up. There's a horse here which looks like it has been named after us or maybe we were both named after the famous Stubbs equine portrait. Anyhow the equine Whistlejacket is on evens for this for O'Brien-Moore. Next best in the market is Shareholder who won on debut but we are wary of horses having just their second run and his fellow Wathnan owned horse Aesterius is also in that category. They are with different trainers – Shareholder with Karl Burke and Aesterius with Archie Watson with 7/1 and 15/2 the current quotes.
Ancient Blaze on 8/1 was 3 ½ lengths behind Whistlejacket at the Curragh but he could get a closer look at Whistlejacket's rear in this. He's with Adrian Murray and David Egan rides. Saturday Flirt is a Wesley Ward runner who has come here on the strength of a win at Keeneland. It's a big ask for a 2yo so we will watch him although Ward's horses always deserve respect. Instead we will put in our roughie Tropical Storm 16/1, still a maiden but getting there. Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy in charge.
The Ribblesdale G2 is for 3yo fillies with 10 to run the 2400m. Diamond Rain 3/2 Appleby-Buick is unbeaten and the daughter of Shamardal looks well-placed here. Kalpana 4/1 Balding-Murphy has had four races for two wins and two seconds so should be thereabouts, and Port Fairy is by Australia for O'Brien-Moore. She's in form and 17/2 could be value. Ditto the stablemate Rubies Are Red on 14/1with Wayne Lordon on board. Ignore her run in the Oaks and she is a Galileo after all.
The Gold Cup G1 is over 4000m and has 10 starters. We are going for Vauban 7/1 for Mullins-Keane. He ran in the Melbourne Cup last year and could be on his way to Melbourne again this year if he does well here. Gregory is with the Gosdens and James Doyle will ride. He's lightly raved but won the Queen's Vase here last year. Kyprios is the favourite on 11/8 for O'Brien-Moore. He's unbeaten in two starts this year and has been set for this with lots of positive vibes coming from the stable. And Trawlerman who beat Kyprios in a prior encounter is on 9/2 for the Gosdens who have booked William Buick for the ride.
The Hampton Court is G3 over 2000m for 3yos and 12 will run. King's Gambit 3/2 is by Saxon Warrior and is with Harry Charlton with William Buick riding. He won the London Gold Cup so may be starting a collection. French raider First Look hails from Andre Fabre's yard and James Doyle will ride. He was second in the Prix Jockey Club. Portland is on 17/2 for O'Brien-Moore and ignore his run at York and put Al Musmak into the mix! He's by Night of Thunder and on 18/1 for Varian-de Sousa and had top 2yo form.
