Three key lessons learned from day three of Royal Ascot

You don't always get shock results when the ground changes

It is one of the oldest myths in racing, when the ground changes you get shock results. The evidence is at best anecdotal, and the wonder of anecdotal evidence is it supports whatever you want it to.

Yet day three took place on soft ground after heavy showers and yet the results held up.

Yes, the day started and finished with winners at 20-1 and 33-1 if you want to try and play that card, but the winners in between returned SPs of 8-1, 11-2, 11-4f, 4-5f and 9-2. Hardly upsets.

Dig deeper and the claim becomes even less solid, only seven of the 22 place-getters were sent off a double-figure price and only two of the favourites failed to hit the frame. On good ground on day two, 12 of the 25 to fill the frame were sent off at double digits and three favourites failed to hit the frame.

Molatham wins the Jersey Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fears about ground suitability are often overplayed

To further that point, fears about the ground can often be overplayed. Trainers are, largely, in an excuse-making game.

Take Roger Varian, who is having a cracking meeting with four winners so far. Yet he has still had eight others get beaten. Coming up with a reason as to why is a big part of the job – and the ground is a very easy one to use.

Molatham disappointed on soft ground in the Autumn Stakes after three strong runs on good to firm. It is easy enough to see why connections were wary, but that Newmarket run was also his first at a mile, his first in Group company and his first on a track as undulating as Newmarket. Any one of these could have been the reason for him disappointing.

Stradivarius was another with supposed ground concerns, yet he has run six Racing Post Ratings of 120 or higher and two have come on good to firm, two on good, one on good to soft and one on soft (not including today, which it is pretty safe to assume will become performance number seven in that category and a second on soft ground).

Extremes of ground are of course going to play to some horses strengths and hinder others, but most are more versatile than we give them credit for and until there is a sufficient amount of evidence a certain horse does not seem to like certain conditions it is perhaps best to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Onassis and Hayley Turner won the Sandringham from stall oneCredit: Edward Whitaker

One thing the rain may have changed is the draw bias

Over the first two days the stands' side rail has been a golden highway, with low-drawn runners on the straight course seemingly beaten before the gates opened.

That was not the case today. Molatham (five) and Monarch Of Egypt (six) finished detached from the rest up the centre of the track. The entire field finished nearer the far rail in the Chesham and while Khaloosy won the Britannia from 19, he hung across the track to win up the middle and Charlie Fellowes and Hayley Turner landed the Sandringham from stall one. Onassis only had one horse further right on the track when she challenged.

The rain evening out the track will be a blessing for those drawn low in the 22-runner Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap and 16-runner Commonwealth Cup, but may just make finding the winner that little bit trickier.

Read more:

Hayley Turner and Charlie Fellowes strike with another 33-1 Sandringham shock

Sensational Stradivarius seals third Gold Cup with ten-length win under Dettori

Jim Crowley makes it five as mighty colt Molatham prevails in Jersey Stakes

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