Royal Ascot Day 3 Tips: Split opinions on the Ascot Gold Cup

A nice mix of the new generation is coming forward in the staying division and Scandinavia is leading that charge for Aidan O’Brien in the Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday.

It will be the first time the son of Justify has attempted the two and a half miles and the Irish Angle team were split on whether he will stay the trip and get the better of last year’s winner Trawlerman

John Gosden ’s charge will, rather unusually, be wearing ski goggles in the parade ring due to his sensitivity to light.

Meanwhile, Al Riffa represents Joseph O’Brien whose yard is in cracking form, while Paddy Twomey has a Royal winner from last year, Carmers heading into battle.

Paddy Flood on Scandinavia

He's so relaxed and he's one of those horses that hasn't won a race by 10 or 15 lengths.

He never will, and that's the perfect ingredient for a staying flat horse. You never want them ahead of the bridle, you always want them behind the bridle, but also when a horse gets to Ryan Moore's boot, there's another gear. And then the horse comes again.

It just seems like there's plenty of gears in the engine. He just does enough every time.

Last year in the St Leger, Rahiebb got within half a length of him. It's going to be a great rematch again, but I just feel like Scandinavia always has another bit when the horses that are finishing second and third are absolutely at their very best.

When Aidan speaks about him, you see the little glint in his eye. I'd say he could be a really nice horse and a very relaxed horse and an easy ride for Ryan.

Everything for me just sits right about Scandinavia's profile and I don't think they'll need the pace hot. I'd say he'll be doing what Yeats did - taking it up four or five out and just stretching them.

Johnny Ward taking on Scandinavia

Al Riffa has been a standard bearer for Wootton Bassett in terms of horses who stay well, and Scandinavia is a standard bearer for Justify in terms of horses who stay well.

We haven't seen a huge amount of Justify horses on the ground in Ireland, but Scandinavia has all those attributes.

I wasn't impressed with him at all at Leopardstown the last day, but you wouldn't even read much into that.

I would be wary backing a horse at short odds to win a Gold Cup when he's never tried two miles before.

And last year when Trawlerman took on Illinois, the one thing I would say about Trawlerman is he just stays, stays, stays, stays.

So I feel this will be a proper examination of Scandinavia's stamina.

I spoke to Paddy Twomey after Down Royal and he was quick to point out, "We know we've beaten Scandinavia before." He seemed quite bullish about Carmers, that's going back to the 29th of May.

He seems to be working back from the Melbourne Cup really, with Carmers, a horse who started off his life in Ballinrobe. He's been amazing.

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