MEGAN NICHOLLS ROYAL ASCOT DAY 3 PREVIEW & TIPS

All eyes turn to day three of Royal Ascot and BetMGM racing ambassador Megan Nicholls has been poring over the form guide.

She’s picked out her best bets for the day – keep an eye out for a few big-priced tips in the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Gold Cup in particular. Can she land a few fancies? Read her selections below.

Thursday Racing

Royal Ascot 2.30 – Norfolk Stakes

Shareholder (5/1) was impressive when winning the Two-Year-Old Trophy Conditions Stakes at Beverley on his debut earlier this month.

He showed some inexperience on that day but still managed to travel into it and pick up nicely so he can take a massive step forward from that and I’m sure will be much straighter this time.

Shareholder has shown loads of talent and was an expensive breeze-up purchase so he’s also shown himself well at the sales as well as his debut. He’s my pick for the Norfolk as a result.

Megan’s Selection: Shareholder WIN

Royal Ascot 3.05 – King George V Stakes

I’m going to go Poniros (13/2) here as I liked his effort when finishing second in the London Gold Cup at Newbury in May.

He finished ahead of Chantilly (11/2 fav) and Persica (9/1) that day and stayed on nicely, suggesting the slight step up in trip won’t be an issue for him. I think he’s one of the best chances of the week for Amo Racing.

Each way I’d look at Fouroneohfever (10/1) who is absolutely flying and improving with each run. He saw this trip well at Chester previously, although obviously this is a stiffer track so he will have to prove his stamina.

I don’t think that will be a problem – he looks to stay quite well at the moment and George Boughey’s yard is red-hot at the moment so he could be good value here.

Megan’s Selection: Poniros WIN; Fouroneohfever E/W

Royal Ascot 3.45 – Ribblesdale Stakes

I’m strong on the each-way chances of Rubies Are Red (14/1).

She’s back on quicker ground and it’s a different type of track to Epsom, where she just didn’t fire in the Oaks.

I think she really wants top of the ground so she can bounce back and put in a better effort here, especially each way.

Diamond Rain (11/8 fav) warrants plenty of respect, she’s up in grade but was impressive in Listed company when winning the Fillies' Trial Stakes at Newbury last time.

The question is whether there was depth to that race – but the way she won it was still impressive in itself.

She deserves the step up in class and trip and is the right favourite for the Ribblesdale.

Megan’s Selection: Diamond Rain WIN; Rubies Are Red E/W

Royal Ascot 4.25 – Gold Cup

This is the trickiest race on Thursday.

Kyprios (Evens fav) is back to winning ways this season but he’d expect to be winning the races that he has, to be honest, and he’s been beaten by a few of his Gold Cup rivals here last season.

There is plenty of support for Gregory (5/1). It was expected he would take a good step forward from his return at York but he was in behind Vauban (6/1) that day. He was starting to stay on, though, and if he can take a step forward here he should go closer. He is up in distance, so into unknown territory in that respect.

Although he’s been around a lot, it’s hard not to go with a really safe option in Coltrane (12/1) as an each-way shout. I just think looking at a straight win bet in this race is quite tricky.

Coltrane loves Ascot, he stays very well and he won last time in first-time cheekpieces ahead of Caius Chorister (11/1), who boosted that form by running a huge race at Sandown before being narrowly beaten by Sweet William (14/1).

The three of them tie in quite nicely together and I just think Coltrane has been set up for this race. He will be fresh and is a solid each-way bet. *Megan’s Selection: Coltrane E/W

Royal Ascot 5.05 – Britannia Stakes

Let’s throw in Cogitate (14/1) here.

He’s a horse that trainer Charlie Hills has always liked and he’s been saved for this race, with Charlie not wanting to move his mark any more off 93.

Up to a mile is no problem. Hollie Doyle knows him – she won on him on his debut in the Novice Stakes at Newbury last summer – and although Charlie has had a little bit of a quieter time over the last 10 days or so, the start of the season was great and his horses are in great form.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Cogitate go very close. He is drawn in one, which will make things trickier and slightly force Hollie’s hand, but I have felt as though the far side has been the place to go so far this week so I’m not too concerned about it.

It’s one of the hardest handicaps to work out with so many runners – I just think Cogitate is drawn on the correct side and is nicely weighted.

Megan’s Selection: Cogitate E/W

To keep up to date with all the latest from Megan & more, remember to follow us on X, Facebook or Instagram

Royal Ascot 5.40 – Hampton Court Stakes

I absolutely adore King’s Gambit (2/1 fav).

He was very impressive in the London Gold Cup at Newbury on his return. He is obviously up in grade now but it’s no surprise to see him take that step fairly well.

King’s Gambit is a really talented horse who will keep improving. He’s a big colt and I wouldn’t be shocked if he steps forward from Newbury. It would be amazing for Harry Charlton to have a winner at Royal Ascot.

I think this horse will go through the grades and we could even have a form boost for him earlier in the day with the likes of Persica, Chantilly and Poniros going in the King George V Stakes.

King’s Gambit will continue to make the London Gold Cup look a very smart race.

Megan’s Selection: King’s Gambit WIN

Royal Ascot 6.15 – Buckingham Palace Stakes

It’s easier to play for places in this race than it is to pick out a winner.

That’s why I am going with Percy's Lad (14/1) who is in really good form coming into it. They have not run him since winning at Chester in May because of his mark of 99, which is a pound below his career high.

But he’s run competitively off marks in and around this and I just think he’s returned this year in better form than ever.

He wasn’t beaten far at all in this race last year when seventh, beaten by three lengths, so he goes well here at Ascot. He is drawn on the correct side, in my opinion, and he comes into this year’s meeting in better form than he did last year

I wonder if it is worth throwing in a massive price in Tacarib Bay (33/1), who ultimately won his side of the International Stakes at Ascot last year. He was drawn the wrong way but he’s drawn correctly this time.

He’s down to a very competitive mark and is of interest because of that. If we want to look at a massive each-way price, he might be worth thinking about.

Megan’s Selection: Percy’s Lad E/W; Tacarib Bay E/W

Browse all our horse racing markets here

Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation