Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for day four’s racing coming your way from Royal Ascot 2026.
Race 1 ALBANY STAKES (Group 3)
No15 LIGHT OF DAWN (Each Way)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: James Doyle
Wathnan Racing have yet to light up the board with a winner from its powerful juvenile academy but that could change through LIGHT OF DAWN, who when opening her account at the first time of asking at Carlisle looked the real deal. The Showcasing filly might have found herself in the perfect place drawn close to the stands’ rail, and reflecting on the ease of that first triumph in which she scored on a tight rein there should be plenty more to come. SUN GODDESS represents a Coolmore outfit that took out yesterday’s Queen Mary as well as Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes. The daughter of Sioux Nation is carded to start very short after scoring eased up at the Curragh. It would be no surprise if she’s a class act, but at those prohibitive odds it’s logical to take her on. JOLIVETTE is one that jumps off the page after overcoming greenness to score on her Newmarket introduction and her stable is amongst the winners, Blue Bolt having delivered in these colours on Wednesday. In similar mould, LIBERTANGO has to be considered following her eye taking Leicester win, and she’s drawn near the other fillies at the head of the market.
Prediction: 1st LIGHT OF DAWN, 2nd Jolivette, 3rd Sun Goddess, 4th Libertango
Race 2 COMMONWEALTH CUP (Group 1)
No1 ALBERT EINSTEIN (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Coolmore made no bones about how highly they regarded ALBERT ENSTEIN at the start of the season. The Guineas favourite fluffed his lines on his comeback but since returning to sprinting has twice run well in defeat. Denied by just a neck by SONG OF THE CLYDE in a Listed race at Newbury, he has strong claims to turn round the placings, as the vibes about him from Ballydoyle are ultra strong. Song Of The Clyde enters calculations in his own right but his chance may have been scuppered by being drawn low. VENETIAN SUN looks a more potent threat to the Nap, as after failing to get the trip in the 1000 Guineas she made hacks of her rivals in the Group 2 Sandy Lane over 1200 metres at Haydock. COPPULL was a late catch from that race when it was moved to a different course. He advertised his liking for this track when taking out the Commonwealths Cup Trial last month and brings very good form from 2025 to the table. He’s drawn centre field which gives his pilot options should the draw bias have changed. HAVANA ANNA returned from a break to grittily take out a Group 3 at Naas and Donnacha O’Brien’s runner has also to be considered.
Prediction: 1st ALBERT EINSTEIN, 2nd Venetian Sun, 3rd Song Of The Clyde, 4th Coppull, 5th Havana Anna
Race 3 DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP
No6 PLAGE DE HAVRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The silks carried by PLAGE DE HAVRE have been lucky since Saeed Suhail injected a portion of his empire into Park House Stables, and in this good betting heat there’s every chance the chestnut will get into the shake up as one who looks to have been laid out for it. He improved from his needed first run back to look all over the winner for much of his race at York, only to weaken in the final furlong and into third behind Klassleader. It’s on the cards that he’s now cherry ripe to put in a big earning run and it wouldn’t surprise me of he’s popular in the market, as was the case at York. It will be a hats off reception for WARRANT HOLDER should he back up his comeback triumph at the same York fixture in the colours of the King. John Gosden equipped him with a tongue strap that day, and when shaken up he quickly settled the issue. In view of his connections sheer weight of money will probably construe to see him start favourite. EMIT carries famous silks not seen as often at this meeting these days and has claims under Ryan Moore, though Joseph O’Brien’s charge has a frustrating habit of finding one to beat him. MONDO MAN was formerly a smart performer in France and has served Gary Moore well as a dual purpose horse, making him a definite player under Christophe Soumillon. OPPORTUNITY can come out best from a three horse challenge by Wathnan Racing, and needs including.
Prediction: 1st PLAGE DE HAVRE, 2nd Warrant Holder, 3rd Emit, 4th Mondo Man, 5th Opportunity
Race 4 CORONATION STAKES (Group 1)
No4 PRECISE
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Following her resounding success over True Love in the Irish 1000 Guineas, PRECISE rocks up as one of the few horses to start at odds-on this week, and she should make no mistake. Last season’s champion juvenile filly carried question marks to post when underwhelming in the Newmarket Guineas but readily turned the tables on TRUE LOVE at the Curragh to make her almost unopposable here. Ryan Moore deserted her last time, but is back in the irons for a race that can be dominated by Irish-trained fillies. BALANTINA may contend for third spot on a first run since landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ at Del Mar in the autumn which makes her the dark horse in the field, while TOULEEN can’t be completely ignored following her solid effort when just out of the money in the English Guineas.
Prediction: 1st PRECISE, 2nd True Love, 3rd Balantina, 4th Touleen
Race 5 SANDRINGHAM FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No12 GLYFADA (Each Way)
Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
GLYFADA looks a likely type for this ultra competitive affair granted her progressive profile together with the booking of the champion jockey for the daughter of Camelot. She’s just preferred to French raider REPEL, a winner for Francis Graffard at Nancy who encounters contrasting ground conditions here. Ryan Moore’s mount SEET downed the well regarded Ruler Of Time on a return to grass at Doncaster to remain unbeaten for John Gosden and is the likely favourite. ROSA INGLESA appeals as a lively outsider and the Charlie Fellowes trained filly can with a frame finish back up the promise of her Nottingham triumph last month.
Prediction: 1st GLYFADA, 2nd Repel, 3rd Seet, 4th Rosa Inglesa
Race 6 KING EDWARD VII STAKES (Group 2)
No6 WATER TO WINE
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick
The so called Ascot Derby has cut up to leave WATER TO WINE with a great chance to showcase his wares and remain unbeaten. The son of Kingman brings maiden and novice form to the table in a big step up the class ladder, but such is his tall reputation at Clarehaven that for the professionals he will rate one of the bankers of the week. He will hopefully give veteran American owner George Strawbridge compensation for the defeat of unlucky in running Friendly Soul here on Wednesday, and deliver at the main expense of GO!DEN STORY.
Prediction: 1st WATER TO WINE, 2nd Golden Story, 3rd Causeway
Race 7 PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE HANDICAP
No3 REVIVAL POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
It’s easy to take the view that REVIVAL POWER, who was one of the fastest two-year-olds to race in the UK last year, has failed to train on following her comeback defeat at York, though I would venture to disagree. The Roses Stakes and Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes winner is running in a handicap for the first time and may prove hard to peg back as an overpriced roughie. In the colours of Bow Creek, the unbeaten WESTPORT has had this on his radar for some time. According to his trainer it took him a long time to throw his winter coat, but since his Hamilton success in early May he’s bloomed. BACIO is one that could change the fortunes of the Americans, who have had little to shout about so far this week. Wes Ward’s challenger has taken out a couple of allowance optional claimers as an odds-on shot and was always in command on the latest of those at Churchill Downs, where when opening up in the straight he looked very good. His compatriot SANDAL’S SONG made the podium in the Norfolk Stakes here 12 months ago and finished off his race well though proving no match for Outfielder on his latest start in Kentucky. GOLD DIGGER is the least experienced in the field but the Starman filly wasn’t disgraced in last season’s Albany here, with that sandwiched between to eye taking victories.
Prediction: 1st REVIVAL POWER, 2nd Westport, 3rd Bacio, 4th Sandal’s Song, 5th Gold Digger
