Day four of Royal Ascot promises to be another superb day of racing, with a total of four Group races on the card, including two Group 1’s – the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes.
2:30 – Albany Stakes (Group 3)
I’m struggling to see past the favourite in here – A P O’Brien’s FAIRY GODMOTHER. The race she won at Naas last time out has produced the Albany winner in each of the last two years, and the fact that she won that despite having to wait for room to make her effort suggests she could be something out of the ordinary. The O’Brien/Moore partnership is on fire this week and I’m expecting them to get day four off to the perfect start with Fairy Godmother bolting up in the Albany.
Selection – FAIRY GODMOTHER (13/8 generally)
3:05 – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
As much as I respect those at the head of the betting, I have a suspicion that this race could provide a bit of an upset, and I’m hoping that comes in the form of GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS. Jessica Harrington’s 3YO finished a close fourth in the Coventry Stakes here last year and followed that up with two solid efforts in Group 1 company – the latter of those he finished ahead of a lot of these rivals when fourth in the Middle Park Stakes. This year he has won a Listed race on seasonal reappearance and was unlucky not to catch Bucanero Fuerte last time out in a Group 3, so I think he looks massively overpriced in here.
Selection – GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (16/1 generally)
3:45 – Coronation Stakes (Group 1)
This looks a cracker of a race and you could easily make a case for four or five runners in here. However, the one I like the most has to be the French raider RAMATUELLE, who I expect to reverse 1000 Guineas form with Elmalka and Porta Fortuna. I think she just hit the front too soon at Newmarket, and with a more patient ride I think she could easily run away with this. Oisin Murphy replaces usual rider Aurelien Lemaitre and having already ridden three winners this week at the Royal meeting, this looks an excellent chance to land a fourth.
Selection – RAMATUELLE (10/3 generally)
4:25 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Class 2)
I fully respect Ethical Diamond and can see why he is at the head of the betting, but I feel he’s just too short a price to back in a race as open looking as this. Crystal Black won last time out and is another to fear, but it’s actually the horse that finished in fifth behind him who I want to back, and that’s SAFECRACKER. He was slowly into stride that day and was the only one in the top five that wasn’t up with the pace, so I think you can upgrade that performance and the way he was staying on towards the finish suggests the step back up in trip is a wise move. At double-figure odds, I think he’s a fantastic each-way bet.
Selection – SAFECRACKER (14/1 generally)
5:05 – Sandringham Stakes (Class 2)
Although she’s got to concede weight all around, I think KITTY ROSE could take all the beating in the Sandringham. She was unlucky not to win in Group 3 company last time out and the winner has since finished runner-up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas to boost the form. She finished that race strongly so I expect the step back up in trip to prove a positive, and the jockey booking of Oisin Murphy gives me further confidence of a big run. The last two winners of this race were drawn in stalls 21 and 25, so her draw of 22 looks ideal and I’m confident she will at least finish in the top six.
Selection – KITTY ROSE (9/1 generally)
5:40 – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
I’m fascinated to see what Voyage can do after unseating his rider and leading the rest home in the Derby last time out, but as for picking the winner, I have to be with DIEGO VELAZQUEZ. After running well in two French Group 1’s this season, I think the mixture of the drop in class, better ground and step up in trip could work wonders with the Frankel colt, and I can see him running away with this. It’s also worth noting that favourites have won four of the last five renewals, with A P O’Brien winning two of those. Everything points to another O’Brien favourite winner and I think the 7/2 currently on offer could look huge by the time this race goes off.
Selection – DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (7/2 generally)
6:15 – Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes (Class 2)
I’m hoping VANTHEMAN can reverse York form with Jubilee Walk in here, and I think I can make a good case for him to do so. The selection finished just over a length behind Jubilee Walk last time out, but he did by far the best of those drawn high, and is now 5lbs better off with the winner in here. His draw of 14 should be better in here than the Jubilee Walk, who is drawn in stall 4 (all four previous winners were drawn in double-figure stalls), and to sum it up, I feel he has the potential to be a group performer late r this season. With most bookies paying six places, he’s an excellent each way bet in my opinion.
Selection – VANTHEMAN (8/1 generally)
DAY 4 SELECTIONS
2:30 – FAIRY GODMOTHER (13/8 generally)
3:05 – GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (16/1 generally)
3:45 – RAMATUELLE (10/3 generally)
4:25 – SAFECRACKER (14/1 generally)
5:05 – KITTY ROSE (9/1 generally)
5:40 – DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (7/2 generally)
6:15 – VANTHEMAN (8/1 generally)
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- RC Syndicate V
- Flat
- 3yo
- Gelding
- 1500 Shares
Dunstan is an exciting 3YO gelding who has won four races this year, and running with plenty of credit in his other races. Stepping up in trip to one-and-a-half miles seems to have been the making of him, and we cannot wait to watch his career continue to flourish at Newlands.
- RC Syndicate VI
- Flat
- 3yo
- Gelding
- 1500 Shares
Brodie’s Boy is an exciting three-year-old gelding who has won once and finished runner-up three times from his nine races to date. After making an eye-catching debut, he finished runner-up in his next two races behind a couple of promising runners at Lingfield and Wolverhampton respectively.
- RC Syndicate IV
- Flat
- 3yo
- Filly
- 2000 Shares
Greycee Bell is a gorgeous three-year-old filly who recorded an impressive top speed of 42.1mph on her debut, and has since run in some warm races. She’s been given a low handicap mark, and we’re hopeful she should be much more competitive in her upcoming races.
- RC Syndicate l
- Jumps
- 5yo
- Gelding
- 4000 Shares
After winning two of his three bumper races last season, Wendigo has continued to impress and most recently won a £30,000 Novice Hurdle at Ludlow. Trained by Jamie Snowden, we have high hopes for Wendigo and hope he can progress to be a superstar for us!
