Royal Ascot Day 3 Preview: Kyprios Bidding to Regain Gold Cup Crown
The third day of the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting is set for a thrilling edition on Thursday, with the highlight being the Gold Cup feature race. Kyprios, Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer, will face a maximum of 11 rivals as he bids to reclaim the prestigious title he won two years ago.
Kyprios was the dominant force in the staying division in 2021, with his Gold Cup triumph followed by big-race victories in the Goodwood Cup and the Irish St Leger, before a stunning 20-length success in the Prix du Cadran. However, a career-threatening injury limited the six-year-old to just two starts last season, where he was beaten on both occasions.
“But the talented horse has bounced back to winning ways this year, taking the Vintage Crop at Navan in April and following up in the Levmoss Stakes at Leopardsworth the following month.”
Now odds-on to provide his renowned trainer O’Brien with a ninth Gold Cup win, Kyprios will face stern competition from the likes of Gregory, the Queen’s Vase winner last year, as well as Trawlerman and Sweet William.
Other Royal Ascot Highlights on Day 3
In other Royal Ascot highlights on Day 3, the Norfolk Stakes will see O’Brien’s dominant Curragh winner Whistlejacket as the hot favorite, while the Ribblesdale Stakes features Ralph Beckett’s Oaks fourth, You Got To Me, among the leading contenders. The Hampton Court Stakes also promises an intriguing affair, with Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit sure to attract attention following his impressive London Gold Cup triumph at Newbury last month.
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