The Irish challenge on day three of Royal Ascot State Of Rest and Little Big Bear struck for Ireland on day two of Royal Ascot and nineteen Irish-trained runners are due to participate today. Aidan O'Brien will be hoping for more juvenile success with The Antarctic in the opening Norfolk Stakes at 2.30 although the form of his win at Naas last month was let down by the placed horses in yesterday's Windsor Castle. Crispy Cat, trained by Michael O'Callaghan, also takes his chance. Magical Lagoon, touched off under a penalty in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April, looks to have strong claims in the Ribblesdale Stakes at 3.40. Jessica Harrington's filly is favourite while History, stepping up in trip after finishing seventh in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, represents Ballydoyle. O'Brien's Kyprios has been impressive in two wins on home soil this season and is favourite for the Gold Cup at 4.20 while last year's runner-up Princess Zoe (Tony Mullins) and Burning Victory (Willie Mullins) provide further Irish interest. Sole Irish contender Howth (Aidan O'Brien) looks up against it in the six-runner Hampton Court Stakes at 5.35 which looks to be at the mercy of odds-on favourite Reach For The Moon. The handicaps at the Royal meeting are intimidatingly competitive from a punting point of view even with extra place terms widely available. O'Brien's Newfoundland, a snug maiden winner at Navan in late May, and Harrington's Yashin, who landed a premier handicap on the same card, are two who make some appeal in the King George V Stakes at 3.05. Henry de Bromhead's Vina Sena, second to Yashin last time, and Johnny Murtagh's Gowran maiden winner Flying Dolphin are also in the line-up. Joseph O'Brien and Shane Crosse will still be on a high after State Of Rest's Group 1 success yesterday and they team up with Naas winner Amortentia in the Britannia Handicap at 5.00. The grey may fare best of an Irish quartet of runners which is completed by Michael O'Callaghan's pair Great Max and Malex and Andy Slattery's Curragh winner Fiach McHugh. In the concluding Buckingham Palace Stakes over seven furlongs, Murtagh's Baradar and O'Callaghan's Fastnet Crown go into battle along with the Ado McGuiness-trained Current Option and all three are available at fancy prices this morning.
