Day three at Royal Ascot: who remains in contention to run on Thursday?

Stradivarius could bid to match the record of the legendary Yeats by winning a fourth Ascot Gold Cup (4.20) after featuring among 13 confirmations for the Group 1 highlight on day three at Royal Ascot next Thursday.

Yeats won the Gold Cup in four successive years from 2006-2009 and this will be Stradivarius' last chance to add to his three victories from 2018-2020 with retirement beckoning at the end of the season.

The eight-year-old superstar, who in May became the European record holder for horse with the most Group wins to his name after winning the Yorkshire Cup for the third time, could renew rivalry with the division's dominant force Trueshan.

The Alan King-trained runner twice beat Stradivarius last season when he took the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp and the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on British Champions Day.

They are set to face fierce competition from ante-post favourite Kyprios, who was also confirmed for the 2m4f marathon.

The Aidan O'Brien trained four-year-old is highly unexposed and was backed into Gold Cup favouritism after a 14-length romp in the Group 3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

Kyprios was the big ante-post mover for the Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Coral are the only major bookmaker to have Stradivarius priced up as favourite ahead of Kyprios, with the firm reporting a drift for soft-ground specialist Trueshan due to a dry weather forecast.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said: "We know Stradivarius will be extremely popular with punters next Thursday, so Frankie Dettori's mount is a worthy Gold Cup favourite, although Kyprios has been the biggest ante-post mover."

"By contrast, Trueshan looks unlikely to get his preferred softer ground if the forecast proves correct, so Alan King's charge is eased to 7-2."

O'Brien also has Chester Cup winner Cleveland and Wordsworth in contention, but Broome misses out after being confirmed for next Wednesday's Prince of Wales's Stakes.

Princess Zoe, last year's runner-up behind Subjectivist, is also among the confirmations and prepared for this in style when winning the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot last time out.

Mojo Star, runner-up in last year's British Classics the Derby and the St Leger, could tackle a two-mile plus trip for the first time while Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak scorer Scope is still in contention for Ralph Beckett.

Emily Upjohn could bid for quick compensation in Ribblesdale

Unlucky Cazoo Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn heads 12 confirmations for the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40), and could face Height Of Fashion Stakes winner Sea Silk Road and the reopposing Tranquil Lady, who was seven lengths behind her in the Epsom Classic.

Emily Upjohn (left) is odds-on to win the Ribblesdale StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

The John and Thady Gosden-trained star is odds-on with the bookmakers Coral after narrowly failing to get up at Epsom following a poor start.

Gosden snr said on Thursday: "We are considering the Ribblesdale for her as she seems to have come out of the race well.

The Gosdens also have confirmed their one-time Derby hopeful Reach For The Moon for the Hampton Court Stakes (5.35) and he could bid to give the Queen a Platinum Jubilee winner at the royal meeting.

Entries were also made for the Norfolk Stakes (2.30), King George V Stakes (3.05), Britannia Stakes (5.00), and the Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.10) with current fields of 23, 38, 49 and 69 respectively.

Gold Cup confirmations

Alignak
Earlofthecotswolds
Stradivarius
Trueshan
Cleveland
Kyprios
Mojo Star
Scope
Tashkhan
Wordsworth
Bubble Smart
Burning Victory
Princess Zoe

Ascot Gold Cup (4.20 Thursday, June 16)

Coral: 9-4 Stradivarius, 5-2 Kyprios, 7-2 Trueshan, 6 Scope, 8 Princess Zoe, 12 Mojo Star, 16 Cleveland, 20 Bubble Smart, 25 Bar

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