Royal Ascot Day 4 Preview And Tips

Race 1: Albany Stakes

The opening race on Day 4 of the Royal meeting at Ascot is the Albany Stakes, a 6f Group 3 contest for fillies and 18 horses will go to post. Just Wonderful has been strong in the market for Ballydoyle and she could go off a lot shorter than her current odds of 11/4. Gee Rex didn’t do the form of Fairyland’s win at the Curragh any harm in the Coventry on Tuesday and she is another one that looks to have an excellent chance.
 

Satisfying's form looks strong.

It looks as though horses drawn low have had a big advantage in the sprints so far this week, and I like a 100/1 shot who will start from stall 3. Satisfying remains a maiden after three career starts, but the form of her maiden runs has been boosted big time so far this week with some of her conquerors running well in the Group 2 Queen Mary. She was 2L behind Shades Of Blue here over 5f on her debut and she was beaten a nose by Signora Cabello.

The form of her third run too behind Kurious doesn’t look too bad as that filly also ran well to be beaten just over 2L in the Queen Mary. Richard Hughes has his horses in great form and this daughter of Fast Company is proven at the track, is well drawn and she will handle the ground. I think she is capable of outrunning her odds and at odds of 100/1 she has to be worth a small each way interest.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: SATISFYING E/W @ 100/1

Race 2: King Edward VII Stakes

The Group 2 King Edward Stakes is run over 12f and a field of nine 3yos will line up at the start. Aidan O’Brien’s horses are flying and it is no surprise to see Delano Roosevelt at the head of the market. He also runs Giuseppe Garibaldi and Rostropovich, but I am going to take a chance on Wells Farhh Go each way at 12/1. Vintage Brut ran no sort of race for Tim Easterby here yesterday, but he could gain compensation here.
 

Wells Farhh Go should relish the step up to 12f

This son of Farhh was disappointing on his return to action behind Roaring Lion at York, but he can be excused that effort as Tim Easterby’s horses usually need a run to put them right. That race was likely a stepping stone towards this contest, and on the evidence of his last gasp 7f win over James Garfield last season, this fella has no shortage of stamina. I think he could well relish this step up in trip, he is the 2nd highest rated horse in the race and at 12/1 he is the each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: WELLS FARHH GO E/W @ 12/1

Race 3: Commonwealth Cup

The Commonwealth Cup was introduced at Ascot in 2015 and it has quickly become one of the highlights of the week. This 6f Group 1 is always fiercely contested and last year it was Caravaggio who brought home the bacon for Ballydoyle. Sioux Nation looks to be their leading hope this year, but as ever the other O’Brien runners Actress and Fleet Review cannot be discounted.
 

Speak In Colours hasn't got much to find with Sioux Nation.

Joseph also has a couple of interesting contenders and I think Speak In Colours could go well with Donnacha in the plate. He only has a couple of lengths to find with Sioux Nation who beat him into 3rd at Naas and he is already a course and distance winner, although that victory came on soft ground. He proved he could handle quick ground last time, he has an okay draw in stall 13 and at 28/1 I think Speak In Colours has each way claims.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: SPEAK IN COLOURS E/W @ 25/1 (4 PLACES)

Race 4: Coronation Stakes

I think this mile Group 1 race for 3yo fillies looks wide open and only a couple can be ruled out with any confidence. Clemmie is the market leader but she had no answers for Alpha Centauri last time in the Irish Guineas and Jessica Harrington’s filly should be able to uphold the form. English Guineas winner Billesdon Brook beat Laurens at Newmarket and that filly boosted the form in France at the weekend.

The water is muddied further by the presence of French Guineas winner Teppal in the race, and a few of the fillies that were in behind her at Longchamp also run. To be honest, I am struggling to come up with a value bet here as I think the bookies have the prices pretty much spot on. This is a race I am happy to just watch. No bet.

Race 5: Sandringham Stakes

It is another race for the girls here in the 8f Sandringham Handicap and given how results have gone so far over the straight course it might pay to stick to backing horses drawn low. Broadway seemed to relish the quick ground at Naas when breaking her maiden at the fourth attempt and I think this filly could go well off a mark of 99 for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien from a favourable draw in stall 8.

As you would expect this filly is impeccably bred, by Galileo and out of Danedrop. She is a full sister to Venice Beach and a half sister to Danedream, so as pedigrees go it isn’t half bad! The runner up and third from her Naas win have both won impressively since, and she was beaten just a length in a Group 3 on her penultimate start. She could turn out to be a lot better than a 99 horse and at odds of 18/1 she could go very well.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: BROADWAY E/W @ 18/1 NAP

Race 6: Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

The closing race on Day 4 of Royal Ascot is the 12f Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes and a maximum field of 19 will go to post. Small stakes at large odds is usually the way to go in these races and at odds of 66/1 I think Sir Chauvelin could surprise with a big run for Jim Goldie and Danny Tudhope from a nice starting position in stall 8.
 

Sir Chauvelin looks well overpriced.

This 6yo son of Authorized runs off a mark of 97 here, just 2lb above his last winning mark. He was below par on his penultimate start in a handicap hurdle at Ayr, but it was much more like it over an inadequate 10f on his return to the flat in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. He flew home in the closing stages for a fast finishing 4th and he looks sure to benefit for the step back up to 12f.

Sir Chauvelin is versatile regarding ground and he will have no issues on the good to firm ground at Ascot. It was similar ground at Redcar last time and the form of that race was boosted by the 5th home What’s The Story who was a fine 4th here in the Hunt Cup earlier on this week. With luck in running I think Sir Chauvelin is capable of running a big one here, and at odds of 66/1 he is worth chancing each way for small money.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: SIR CHAUVELIN E/W @ 66/1 NB (5 PLACES)