Royal Ascot Day 3 tips as Eldar Eldarov napped for Gold Cup success

ELDAR ELDAROV (4:20) can go the distance for Roger Varian in the Gold Cup on Day Three of Royal Ascot. The colt looked a top-class stayer in the making when chinning Zechariah in the Queen’s Vase here. The bay then didn’t handle dropping down to 1m 4f when fourth in Group 1 company at Longchamp. However, he relished returning to 1m 6f when hammering New London in the St Leger at Doncaster. The four-year-old was then beaten by fatigue rather than the two-mile trip when flopping back here. He set himself up nicely for this historic prize with a superb comeback second to Giavellotto at York. The bold-galloper should relish the demands of this 2m 4f marathon so he can join the staying elite.

ELITE STATUS (2:30) can fully live up to his name for Karl Burke in the Norfolk Stakes. The two-year-old justified significant market support by slamming Battaah on debut at Doncaster. That triumph earned him a swift promotion to Listed company in the National Stakes at Sandown. The colt duly rewarded that decision by absolutely bolting up from fellow improver World Of Darcy .

The son of Havana Grey looks a top-class sprinter in the making so he can deny some exciting foes. Sir Michaels Stoute excels at this meeting so I’m on PERFUSE (3:05) in the King George V Stakes. The three-year-old kicked off his career with an excellent second to Knockbrex at Pontefract. He made no mistake when storming to victory from Rogue Sea at Nottingham next time out. The colt defied a step up to 1m 4f on faster ground when caining Inquiring Minds at Doncaster. The son of Lope De Vega looks potentially Group-class so he can claim this red-hot handicap.

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