Royal Ascot tips (1625): Never So Brave can chase River Tiber home in competitive Jersey Stakes

16:25 Royal Ascot: Jersey Stakes  

• Race details: 7 furlongs, Group 3, 3-year-olds only
• 2023 winner: Age Of Kings (22/1) - WM Lordan (J), Aidan O’Brien (T)
• Recent Trends: No winning favourites from 2002 to 2012, but 5 of last 11 market leaders have won 

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The bookies and apparaently a whole plethora of serious bettors are all over River Tiber here, and if tuned up, race fit and if he keeps out of trouble, then as a Grade 1 performer in a Grade 3 renewal, he should have too much natural ability for his 19 rivals here.

His first three outings in early summer last year promptly saw him put tasty figures of 111 against his form line, kickstarted by two maiden romps by a combined 12 lengths and crowned by a narrow win in the Coventry Stakes at this Festival 12 months ago.

After two months off River Tiber was tried in Grade 1 company, acquitting himself nicely to come third of nine in successive outings at Deauville and in the Juddmonte Stakes at Newmarket, the latter among strong rivals who were in action in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup here on Friday.

Suggested bet: River Tiber in the 16:25 at Royal Ascot

His only appearance this season saw him pitched straight into the Irish 2000 Guineas, where he was again squeezed out into third, just over a length adrift of Rosallion, who went on to frank that form by landing the St James’s Palace Stakes here on Tuesday.

Reopposing Haatem beat River Tiber at the Curragh, while Task Force got the better of him in the Juddmonte, but he gets three pounds off the former here, and looks capable of turning the tables.

After looking perfectly at home in Grade 1 company, it seems strange to see this proven performer dropping down to a Grade 3, but Aidan O’Brien and connections must have their reasons, and expectations will be high that River Tiber can add another win to Ryan Moore’s impressive Royal Ascot tally.

• Tip advised by Buster’s Value Tips on Tipstrr

With all but the three market leaders available at double-digit odds, each-way options abound, and the buzz in the Tipstrr camp is that Never So Brave can outrun his double-digit price for Sir Michael Stoute.

As a two-year-old, this colt came runner-up to subsequent Group 1 winners Ancient Wisdom and Vandeek, so there was plenty to be pleased about in his lightly-raced juvenile campaign.

That promise came to fruition on his reappearance in seven-furlong maiden at Thirsk, where he proved four lengths too good for his closest challenger, with 10 other rivals floundering in the distance.

Next best each-way bet: Never So Brave each-way in the 16:25 at Royal Ascot

His first taste of handicap company at Chester three weeks late was negotiated with aplomb, taking control approaching the final furlong pole and winning readily again by a comfortable two lengths.

The first of those wins came in heavy ground, the second was over an extended seven furlongs, so Never So Brave’s stamina should be up to the challenge of Ascot’s uphill climb.

Saffie Osborne was in the saddle for the first of those wins, and she returns here with high hopes of landing a blow after nine fruitless attempts so far at this Festival.  

• Tip advised by HorsesTips on Tipstrr

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