Neil Morrice previews all of the races coming your way from day four of Royal Ascot 2023.
Race 1 ALBANY STAKES (Group 3)
No6 JABAARA
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: David Egan
The Newmarket race won by JABAARA has met with mixed fortunes from those that have run subsequently but there can be no denying Roger Varian’s filly was impressive, looking better the further she travelled. The daughter of Exceed And Excel has impressed in her build up for this, and could be the answer.
PORTA FORTUNA brings Group winning form to the table courtesy of her victory at Naas and needs inclusion for the Donnacha O’Brien/Frankie Dettori combo.
NAVASSA ISLAND chased her home and was closing at the line. She should make it interesting in the rematch, as that was her first visit to a racecourse.
CARLA’S WAY and SOPRANO looked useful in their respective triumphs at Doncaster and Newmarket, and need respecting.
Prediction: 1st JABAARA, 2nd Navassa Island, 3rd Porta Fortuna, 4th Sporano
Race 2 COMMONWEALTH CUP (Group 1)
No2 LITTLE BIG BEAR (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
LITTLE BIG BEAR underwhelmed when tried over a mile in the 2,000 Guineas but put the record straight in no uncertain manner with his clear-cut win in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. He is justifiably a short-priced favourite to pick up a second important sprint with Moore back in the irons.
SAKHEER is on a recovery mission after his seventh placing in the Guineas and last year’s Mill Reef Stakes victor is reported to have shone in his winding-up gallop for this.
SHAQUILLE crowned a four-race winning sequence with a Listed triumph at Newbury and might not have stopped improving.
Fillies are strongly represented and the Kevin Ryan-trained QUEEN ME can leave her underwhelming run in the 1,000 Guineas behind now returned to six furlongs.
LEZOO took out the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes here last autumn and must also be feared with her sex allowance a boon.
Prediction: 1st LITTLE BIG BEAR, 2nd Queen Me, 3rd Sakheer, 4th Lezoo
Race 3 DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP
No9 NAGANO (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: David Egan
There are several contenders for this mile-and-a-half handicap that have winning form on their 2023 reappearance including the flashy TEUMESSIAS FOX and AIMERIC. The former is well drawn six off the rail, and with his tail up following successes at Kempton and Newmarket could well have turned a corner. He will attract a good portion of the betting handle on this race for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.
AIMERIC successfully came back from a breathing operation to grittily take out a Class 3 at Doncaster earlier in the month, backing up the promise of his 2022 campaign when a dual scorer at Chester and Ayr from six starts.
The Hughie Morrison-trained STAY WELL is having just a third start of the campaign and appears to have been laid out for this. He put in an improved effort to claim a minor cheque behind Savvy Knight at Kempton and is becoming way overdue. He has a much better chance than his elevated odds indicate.
LIVE YOUR DREAM enters calculations after his promising back from a break run at Haydock, but very interesting is the Roger Varian-trained NAGANO who tests his fitness after a 22-month absence. He was a bit unlucky in running when sixth in the King George V Handicap here two years ago, when a winner of three of his six starts. He remains a very promising staying prospect.
Prediction: 1st NAGANO, 2nd Stay Well, 3rd Aimeric, 4th Teumessias Fox, 5th LIVE YOUR DREAM
Race 4 CORONATION STAKES (Group 1)
No7 TAHIYRA
Trainer: Dermot Weld – Jockey: Chris Hayes
TAHIYRAH was much too good for MEDITATE in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and barring accidents those placings will be repeated in this Day4 highlight. In the famous colours of HH The Aga Khan, Tahiyra suffered her sole defeat when unable to match Mawj in our own Guineas at Newmarket but it proved a minor blip. The daughter of Siyouni will enjoy the underfoot conditions and should put her foes to the sword courtesy of her notable turn of foot.
MEDITATE showed improvement in the Curragh Classic and as the most experienced filly in the field could get closer to the selection. She’s the type that can be campaigned overseas later in the year.
QUEEN FOR YOU hasn’t done much wrong for John Gosden and is possibly unlucky not to be unbeaten. However, she needs to take a big step forward of she’s to post an upset.
Prediction: 1st TAHIYRAH, 2nd Meditate, 3rd Queen For You
Race 5 SANDRINGHAM FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No21 CHELSEA GREEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ben Curtis
Chelsea Thoroughbreds scooped the pot when hitting the exacta with their runners Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Liston in Wednesday’s Hunt Cup. Their candidate for this distaffers’ handicap CHELSEA GREEN could give the organisation further cause for celebration. She came from last to first to score going away at Newmarket and has a top pilot in Ben Curtis doing the steering.
COPPICE failed to turn up in the Nell Gwyn but bounced back in tremendous style at Newcastle. For John Gosden and Frankie Dettori she is another go-to filly and she appears certain to be overbet.
JACKIE OH ran well to finish just out of the money in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore is a fascinating class dropper.
COPY ARTIST is a big filly who hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green. If a high draw is where you need to be she holds strong each-way claims and can get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st CHELSEA GREEN, 2nd Coppice, 3rd Copy Artist, 4th Jackie Oh
Race 6 KING EDWARD VII STAKES (Group 2)
No5 KING OF STEEL
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Kevin Stott
KING OF STEEL was a last-minute absentee from the Dante Stakes and went to Epsom without having trialled. Regardless, he put in a monster effort on his first run of the season to come close to holding Auguste Rodin.
The grey has nothing to fear from ARREST or DUBAI MILE on that running and should give the Derby a needed boost by going one better.
Aidan O’Brien’s CONTINUOUS proved disappointing in the French Derby but can contend for minor honours.
Prediction: 1st KING OF STEEL, 2nd Arrest, 3rd Continuous
Race 7 PALACE OF HOLYROOD HOUSE HANDICAP
No20 TATTERSTALL (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Connor Beasley
Very frustrating that my best bet for the week FERROUS failed by one to make the cut for this three-year-old-only sprint handicap. Should he get into the race he’s a must investment, but that is unlikely.
My attention now turns to northern raider TATTERSTALL, who although out of the money in a valuable heat at York last month has won either side of it. He’s a real powerhouse whose trainer excels with this type of individual, and in a wide-open contest can earn.
WALBANK is one that could go well at a longer price as he is better than his first effort for his new trainer indicates, and had strong juvenile form including when unable to match The Ridler in the Norfolk Stakes here 12 months ago.
TAWALLA is a colt on the march following snug successes for Charlie Fellowes at Ripon and Kempton, and although penalised is one who could swoop late under a jockey renowned for his waiting tactics.
FRANKNESS landed some clever bets at Goodwood and can also be competitive from a 5lb higher mark, while if turning out again under a 6lb penalty RADIO GOO GOO is impossible to leave out.
Prediction: 1st TATTERSTALL, 2nd Frankness, 3rd Walbank, 4th Tawalla, 5th Radio Goo Goo
