Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Royal Ascot 2025 – Day 4

ROYAL ASCOT BEST BETS DAY 4 FRIDAY

Race 1 ALBANY STAKES (Group 3)

No5 FITZELLA
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

FITZELLA makes a nice shape as a threat to the Coolmore favourite SIGNORA and northern raider VENETIAN SUN in a fascinating opener. The selection posted a first success with a stylish performance at Haydock, and with the champion jockey in her saddle from a high draw brings top credentials to the table. SIGNORA is a daughter of a Queen Mary winner (Heartache) who put in a promising first run. She represents last year’s winning connections in what has proved a stellar week for Aidan O’Brian with his juveniles. Venetian Sun was a clear cut scorer on her Carlisle introduction and can get into the shake-up along with Joseph O’Brien’s runner GREEN SENSE.

Prediction: 1st FITZELLA, 2nd Green Sense, 3rd Signora, 4th Venetian Sun

Race 2 COMMONWEALTH CUP (Group 1)

No8 JONQUIL (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon

For a 22-runner affair in which draw bias counts for vital yardage SHADOW OF LIGHT is a very short price, but there again he’s the outstanding form pick based on his third in the 2000 Guineas. Back at 1200 metres on a fast surface that should suit him he looks to be on the favoured side of the gate but there may be better value in JONQUIL, whose stable fields big chances in most races, and whose narrow defeat in the French Guineas also stands up to close inspection. He’s a strong traveller, will also enjoy cutting back on the distance ladder, and has Belgian legend Soumillon in the irons with a draw close the the favourite. WHISTLEJACKET was a Group 1 winner last season, and having made a satisfactory return to place in a Group 3 at Naas is hard to overlook. One that could earn at a massive price is his countryman ARIZONA BLAZE, who never looked like justifying the support that arrived for him at Haydock, but who is a Group 3 winner in France.

Prediction: 1st JONQUIL, 2nd Shadow Of Light, 3rd Whistlejacket, 4th Arizona Blaze

Race 3 DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP

No7 HAND OF GOD (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: William Buick

When HAND OF GOD landed the Golden Gates at the corresponding fixture 12 months ago it happened on the anniversary of the much talked about Diego Maradona goal that knocked England out of the World Cup. The Churchill gelding saw out the mile and a quarter well to land a not inconsiderable gamble, and returns in this longer race having enjoyed a pleasing prep at Newmarket that has helped make him cherry ripe. He’s again been popular in the ante post market, and his stable is renowned for its capability of producing winners when the money is down. ETHICAL DIAMOND enters calculations by way of his earning run in this 12 months ago. He is only 2lb higher following a successful hurdling campaign for Willie Mullins. FRENCH DUKE needs to be watched for market support as he has few miles on his racing clock and this is his first race since being gelded. MOUNT ATLAS must also go into all exotics, as he has won over course and distance and ran well in a Group race at Chester carrying the famous Mellon colours.

Prediction: 1st HAND OF GOD, 2nd Ethical Diamond, 3rd French Duke, 4th Mount Atlas

Race 4 CORONATION STAKES (Group 1)

No9 KON TIKI (Nap)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: William Buick

KON TIKI was advised in my Ascot Notebook since when her connections have stumped up the money required to supplement her into this mouth watering distaffers’ Group 1. She remained unbeaten when circumnavigating the entire field to land a Listed race at York and gave the impression that day she was still a trifle green, and may have more progression under her bonnet. The French have yet to notch a winner this week, but ZARIGANA could change that. She is a Classic winner and granddaughter of the great Zarkava who possesses a blistering turn of foot. While she was arguably lucky to have been awarded the Pouliches, there’s no doubting she is a classy individual who needs respecting. FALAKEYAH was keen when taking out a Listed race at Newmarket and is sensibly being pulled back to a mile by Owen Burrows. This is only her third ever race, and it’s hard to know how much more she has to give. If she were to land the spoils it would be no surprise.

Prediction: 1st KON TIKI, 2nd Zarigana, 3rd Falakeyah, 4th Simmering

Race 5 SANDRINGHAM FILLIES’ HANDICAP

No12 NEVER LET GO (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

Another horse from my Notebook who should give a good account is NEVER LET GO. She’s progressed without winning this season, and when third in a Listed race at Goodwood last time really stepped up on previous efforts. She’s back to a mile from a mile and a quarter, but with a strong pace assured in this big field I expect her to be doing her best work at the finish. SUPERMODEL threatens to be one of the most popular in betting exchanges as she was a no nonsense scorer on seasonal return at Nottingham on handicap bow. That was just her fifth ever race, though it’s a nagging worry that her powerful stable has been quiet. ZGHARTA broke her maiden at Newmarket after showing good natural speed over the 2000 metres. It seems logical for Andrew Balding to drop her back to a mile, and she could be a factor if she settles. A roughie worth looking at is hat-trick seeker SILVER GHOST, who hails from a mainly jumps yard that can ready one for a big handicap on the level.

Prediction: 1st NEVER LET GO, 2nd Supermodel, 3rd Zgharta, 4th Silver Ghost

Race 6 KING EDWARD VII STAKES (Group 2)

No1 AMILOC
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Beckett’s is another stable that by its very high standards has been quiet. However with the unbeaten AMILOC Kimpton could be about to unleash its ace in the pack. The gelded son of Postponed has hallmarked back-to-back Goodwood successes with his strength at the finish this season, and with no question marks next to his name he can make this an impressive nap hand of victories. ZAHRANN has graduated to notch a Listed success on his latest of three career starts at Leopardstown and needs respecting for Johnny Murtagh. WIMBLEDON HAWYEYE has rubbed shoulders with the best of them to make him impossible to leave out, and following his solid run in the Dante his trainer is adding cheek pieces. Lingfield Derby Trial winner PUPPET MASTER side-stepped Epsom to wait for this race known as the Ascot Derby and is the one that can give the favourite most to think about.

Prediction: 1st AMILOC, 2nd Puppet Master, 3rd Wimbledon Hawkeye, 4th Zahrann

Race 7 PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE HANDICAP

No9 REDORANGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

REDORANGE landed some good bets with an all round display of speed at the Chester May meeting. It was a second success in three goes in handicaps and there could be much more to come from the Mehmas gelding. He’s preferred to the temptingly weighted REALIGN who is worth a market check, and northern raider STORMY IMPACT.

Prediction: 1st REDORANGE, 2nd Realign, 3rd Stormy Impact, 4th Jorge Alvarez