Exclusive: OISIN MURPHY Royal Ascot Preview | THURSDAY

👑 Wednesday wasn’t the day I hopped it would be but it’s one of those things. Saint George ran really well in the Queen’s Vase but just bumped into one who’s just a bit better at this stage of his career. He’s been bought into by some Aussies so I guess that’s where he will end up heading eventually. He’s a nice prospect all the same. If I was to lose out to any jockey this week then it would have to be Frankie. It’s great that he’s ridden a winner.

On to Ladies Day on Thursday and I’ve another exciting book of rides to look forward to. Thoughts below and I’ve also recorded my thoughts on the other races too.

2.30pm Norfolk Stakes

⭐ NORFOLK STAKES MARKET ⭐

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VALIANT KING
3.05pm King George V Stakes

My first ride of the day comes in the King George V Stakes which is a tough race to win with plenty of horses having similar profiles. Davideo is the one who stands out at a decent price. I think he has the right profile for Ralph Beckett, who is having a very good season as he often does, and I’m sure he would have had this race in mind for a long time. I ride Valiant King ? who should have won for me at Leopardstown in April and made no mistake under Dylan Browne McMonagle on his next start at Navan. He is stepping up in distance to a mile-and-a-half and I hope he is improving. Joseph O’Brien has been targeting this race and he definitely has a big chance. There are plenty in the race with similar profiles; Frankie Dettori rides Burglar who has done nothing wrong on his last three starts and Frankie does very well at Ascot, as we know.

⭐ KING GEORGE V MARKET ⭐

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SEA OF ROSES
3.40pm Ribblesdale Stakes

It’s very hard to look past Al Asifah who has had a good start for Jim Crowley, John & Thady Gosden, and Shadwell Estate. She won very impressively last time out and seems to have all the attributes. By Frankel, she seems very straightforward and very well-mannered in the preliminaries. I think Infinite Cosmos can run a big race for Sir Michael Stoute. She has done nothing wrong in her three starts on the track and she has Richard Kingscote to do the steering. I partner Sea Of Roses ? who ran okay at York in the Musidora when I sat too far back on her. She then made the running in the Oaks, though she didn’t finish off her race at the end. I’m drawn high on her again, but she should run a decent race and hopefully, can show herself in a better light.

⭐ RIBBLESDALE MARKET ⭐

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COLTRANE
4.20pm Gold Cup – Group One

I’m really looking forward to the Gold Cup as Coltrane (pictured below) ? gave me a great feel in the Sagaro Stakes last time out. This is a deeper field, though he has been doing well at home. You have to respect Eldar Eldarov who receives a pound off Coltrane and I’m drawn high as well, but there seems to be plenty of pace in the race on paper as Subjectivist should go forward as well as the French horse, Big Call. Hopefully, I can get a nice trip around with Coltrane, who is a top-class horse, and deserves a big-race success. It’s amazing to think that this time last year he was running in the Ascot Stakes here off a handicap mark nearly 20lbs below what he is rated now. He’s an exciting ride to look forward to…

⭐ GOLD CUP MARKET ⭐

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TEMPERED SOUL
5.00pm Britannia Stakes

George Boughey has booked me to ride Tempered Soul ? in the fiercely competitive Britannia Handicap. He is coming back in distance having won at a mile-and-a-quarter; he tried a mile-and-a-half at Goodwood, but he didn’t finish his race out. I have a lot of respect for Docklands who I think is a very nice horse and will be ridden by Hayley Turner. I also like New Endeavour who bolted up at Kempton and David Egan takes the ride. It is very hard to win a race like this and often the first few home go on to be Group-level horses; my horse has the right profile, is a big price, and I hope he will be there at the business end.

⭐ BRITANNIA MARKET ⭐

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5.35pm Hampton Court Stakes

⭐ HAMPTON COURT MARKET ⭐

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TOIMY SON
6.10pm – Buckingham Palace Stakes

I ride Toimy Son ? for David Menuisier in the last – hopefully lucky 😊. He had a high level of form over in France and things just haven’t gone his way so far over here, though the handicapper has now given him a chance off a mark of 99. He is a huge price, but I think he can run very well. I like Croupier to run a good race who is a big improver and is partnered by William Buick, so he should go well. I also think Montaasib deserves to be favourite. William Haggas does incredibly well in handicaps and targets horses for these sorts of races. With Tom Marquand onboard, I think he deserves to be at the top of the betting.

⭐ BUCKINGHAM PALACE MARKET ⭐

Good luck – will be back with my Friday blog!

Oisin

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