Time for Kingfisher to score for O’Brien

KINGFISHER CAN be the latest Ballydoyle raider to step up to the challenge and bag Gold Cup success on the third day of Royal Ascot.

Since saddling Yeats to win the staying crown four times between 2006 and 2009, Aidan O’Brien has struck gold with Fame And Glory (2011) and Leading Light (2014), with all three horses already Group One winners at shorter distances before stepping up to two-and-a-half miles.

Kingfisher has not yet managed to secure that top-level triumph, but has shown his worth in the best company, most notably filling the runner-up spot behind dual Classic winner Australia in last season’s Irish Derby.

The son of Galileo was then asked to tear off as a pacemaker for his esteemed stable companion in both the Juddmonte International at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, predictably folding on both occasions.

Those couple of efforts are clearly best forgotten and Kingfisher can be better judged on his two performances so far this season when he has been the top hope from the yard.

The four-year-old was far from disgraced when fourth behind Gold Cup favourite Forgotten Rules in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on his return to action, beaten a shade under eight lengths

and looking badly in need of the run.

He stepped up markedly to win Leopardstown’s Saval Beg Stakes, a major Gold Cup trial, finishing powerfully over the mile and three-quarters to get up close home.

Kingfisher undoubtedly needs to improve again and is going into the unknown over the trip, but that is factored into his price and he is worth an each-way interest at rewarding odds.

KING OF ROOKS is widely regarded as one of the bankers of the week in the Norfolk Stakes and is difficult to oppose.

Richard Hannon’s youngster has improved massively since being beaten over the course and distance on debut, bolting up over six furlongs at Newbury before coming back to the minimum distance to claim Sandown’s National Stakes.

The form of that race was given a huge boost when the runner-up Buratino ran away with the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby day, making King Of Rooks look every inch a top-class juvenile.

SELECTIONS:

ASCOT: 2.30 King Of Rooks, 3.05 Time Test, 3.40 Pleascach, 4.20 KINGFISHER (NAP), 5.00 Bartel, 5.35 King Bolete.

CHELMSFORD: 2.20 Diamond Ridge, 2.55 Brown Pete, 3.30 Angelic Upstart, 4.05 Tumbaga, 4.45 Cerutty, 5.20 Big City Boy, 5.55 Boycie.

DOUBLE: Kingfisher and King Of Rooks.