The third day of Royal Ascot 2024 features four Group races including the highlight of the week for many, the Gold Cup - a test of stamina and a proof of class for both jockey and horse. Kicking off the day is the Norfolk Stakes (2.30pm), a Group 2 event over five furlongs, where Whistlejacket is an extremely short price in a field of completely unexposed two-year-olds. That said, the form he showed in winning a Listed race at the Curragh last time out was very impressive and he certainly has the pedigree for this race, being a brother to Little Big Bear who himself won the Windsor Castle Stakes as a juvenile two years ago. There are plenty of potential improvers though. Shareholder was purchased by Wathnan Racing for 460,000 Euros this year then won on debut at Beverley, battling well to the line, whilst Arizona Blaze was second in the aforementioned Whistlejacket race before winning a Group 3 at the Curragh over a furlong further for the same connections who saddled and owned last year's winner Valiant Force. American trainer Wesley Ward was twice won this race in the past and has sent over Saturday Flirt to contest this, having won a three-runner race on debut.

The King George V Stakes (3.05pm), a handicap over 12 furlongs, delivered jubilant scenes last year when Desert Hero won for Their Majesties The King and Queen, trainer William Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand. This year the same connections will be hoping for a repeat with Gilded Water, who was extremely eye-catching when winning a maiden by nearly eight lengths last time out - he should also improve for the step up in trip. This is a wide-open handicap though, and Chantilly is one of four to represent the powerful Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore taking the ride - he too is yet to tackle the mile-and-a-half distance but being by Galileo should have no issues with the trip. Going The Distance is looking for a four-timer having already won a handicap at Kempton Park in April. Whilst Fouroneohfever is also chasing a fourth consecutive victory with three straight wins in handicaps this year. A different profile is brought by Kamboo who was out of his depth in the Derby last time but will find things far easier back in handicap company.

Next up is the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.45pm), a Group 2 event for three-year-old fillies over a mile and a half. Diamond Rain is the talking horse here, having made a sparkling impression when winning a Listed event at Newbury last time out, following a victory on debut here at Ascot in May. She has the potential for plenty more progress. Aidan O'Brien and John Gosden have trained eight of the last ten winners of this race between them, so any runners they field should always be taken seriously. Port Fairy is the primary runner for the former - she was second in the Listed Cheshire Oaks on her latest start and now has a visor fitted to try and get a bit more improvement out of her. John Gosden, meanwhile, alongside his son Thady, fields three in the race. The most interesting of the trio could be Danielle, a half-sister to last year's Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami who was third in the Lingfield Oaks Trial last time out, but still has scope for improvement. That heat was won by You Got To Me, who went on to run a creditable fourth in the Oaks but might lack the improvement of others in the race.

Thursday's main event is the Gold Cup (4.25pm), a race for four-year-olds and upwards over nearly two and a half miles. The short-priced favourite is Kyprios, the winner of this race in 2022, who missed last year's event due to injury but has returned this year and proven his class with victories at Listed and Group level. If he can show he retains all of his ability of old, he will prove very hard to beat. But the challengers are plenty. Coltrane has plenty of course form, finishing second in last year's Gold Cup and winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes (over two miles) for the second year in a row back in May. Last year's Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami sadly misses the race through injury but connections have a solid back-up in Gregory who won the Queen's Vase here at Royal Ascot last year and could improve even more for a marathon trip. Vauban too was a winner at the Royal Meeting last year in the Copper Horse Handicap and this is a natural step for him to take next, after a solid return in the Yorkshire Cup in May. Trawlerman has course form, having beaten Kyprios in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October - he's another who is yet to tackle this trip but could yet find a career best at the age of six. Sweet William and Caius Chorister are both largely tied on their Ascot and Sandown form this year but it would be foolish to write either off. This year's Gold Cup has the potential for a new star to emerge, or for Kyprios to provide the ultimate redemption story.

Back to handicaps next and the Britannia Stakes (5.05pm) with 30 runners heading to post over the Straight Mile. It looks an extremely open heat with plenty of progressive types in the field. Volterra was very strong in the market on seasonal debut and duly delivered, winning a Newmarket handicap comfortably from next-time-out winner Skukuza, who also lines up for this race after his own win at HQ. Qirat was another to deliver on his first start this year as he beat Al Shabab Storm, whilst Starlove's seventh placed finish in that race doesn't tell the full story as he was denied a clear run - he could easily reverse that form with a better journey this time. Follow Me is aiming for a hat-trick after two wins at the Curragh, the latest a cosy handicap victory over Transcending Glory, whilst Mickley too is seeking a third consecutive triumph after a win at Doncaster at the end of May.

The Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes (5.40pm) is the penultimate race of the day, for three year olds over ten furlongs. King's Gambit could not have been more impressive when winning a handicap by four lengths at Newbury on his first start of the year - he deserves to take a step up into Group company now. All the other runners in the race have had a previous try at Group level, with First Look arguably showing the best form with his second place in the Prix Du Jockey Club at Chantilly nearly three weeks ago. Bracken's Laugh was second at Listed level last time out, whilst Portland was successful in Listed company at Leopardstown just two weeks ago and drops back in trip to contest this race. The only previous course winner in the field is Al Musmak who won a minor event here last year - he was well held in the Dante Stakes on re-appearance but is worth another chance to prove himself this year.

Finishing proceedings is the Buckingham Palace Stakes (6.15pm), another big-field handicap, this time over seven furlongs. Wathnan Racing hold a strong hand in this race with English Oak finally fulfilling his potential when winning at Haydock last time out - the manner of that victory seemed to suggest he has plenty more in the locker. Fresh is a regular at Ascot and was fifth in the Wokingham Handicap at last year's Royal Meeting - with a slipping handicap mark, it could be that he is ready to record his fourth victory here in Berkshire. Awaal might not have run since October last year but his record when fresh is commendable, with a victory and a second-place when returning from at least 150 days off the track. Percy's Lad and Kings Time are another two looking for back-to-back victories after wins at Chester and Cork respectively, whilst The X O showed signs of revival last time out at Epsom and recorded a career-best performance in a Group 3 here last year.