Three runners who should relish the soft ground at Royal Ascot

The going for day three of Royal Ascot will be different to the opening days following 11mm of rain overnight, with the ground now soft and further rain forecast. With a softer surface guaranteed, here are three runners who should benefit from the change in conditions.

King Ottokar
1.50 Royal Ascot
Wolferton Stakes (Listed), 1m2f

Charlie Fellowes has always held King Ottokar in high regard and the softer surface should suit, given he's yet to be tested on anything faster than good to soft.

He was last of five in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Haydock on his reappearance, but the winner Lord North won Wednesday's Prince of Wales's Stakes and with the ground potentially even softer at Ascot than it was there, improvement appears likely.

The four-year-old has form figures of 113 on soft compared to 9455 on good to soft, and his third came in last year's Hampton Court Stakes at the royal meeting. The more rain that falls for him, the better.

Celestin
2.25 Royal Ascot
Jersey Stakes (Group 3), 7f

Celestin is Fabrice Chappet's only runner of the week at Royal Ascot and the French trainer should be buoyed by the rainfall in Berkshire.

His Jersey Stakes contender was fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains behind Victor Ludorum, leading just over a furlong out before fading, and the combination of a slight drop in trip and softer ground make him a big threat.

He has never raced on anything quicker than good to soft and his two wins have come in heavy ground.

Technician is unbeaten on soft ground or worseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Technician
3.35 Royal Ascot
Gold Cup (Group 1), 2m4f

Rain in Berkshire could prove a threat to Stradivarius's Gold Cup hat-trick bid and Technician could be the one to take advantage of the deteriorating conditions.

The four-year-old, who won the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak in late October but will be tacking this trip for the first time, is unbeaten in four starts, including the Royal-Oak, on soft ground or worse.

The Martyn Meade-trained stayer has already been supported this morning, a move which is surely down to the wet weather.

Royal Ascot day four card and betting

Read more on day four here:

Frankie has seven magnificent rides on Gold Cup day - remind you of anything?

Groundhog Day: various angles that could repeat at Royal Ascot a year on

Strong support for Technician as Ascot going changes to good to soft

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