Two Group 1s on Friday with the Commonwealth Cup and the feature Coronation Stakes headline day four of Royal Ascot 2023. Check out all of our tips and picks for today’s racing.
Race 1 – Albany Stakes – NAVASSA ISLAND 4/1
NAVASSA ISLAND came within a neck of Group Three glory on her first start and a similar effort could be good enough in the Albany Stakes.
Her Naas conqueror PORTA FORTUNA is in the line-up once again, but Navassa Island can certainly turn that form around as she was hampered in her run last month before making up ground at the finish. A half-sister to Lezoo, Michael O’Callaghan’s filly looks a very smart type.
Impressive Doncaster winner CARLA’S WAY, SOPRANO, who did it well at Newmarket, and JABAARA, who won at Newmarket, are worth considering.
Race 2 – Commonwealth Cup – LITTLE BIG BEAR 1/1
LITTLE BIG BEAR can oblige favourite-backers in the Commonwealth Cup, one of two Group One highlights on day four at Royal Ascot.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge ended last year as the top-rated European juvenile after four victories, culminating in a seven-length demolition job in the Phoenix Stakes.
That ended up being his final run of the campaign after a setback and it was hard to predict how he would fare on his reappearance in the 2000 Guineas, with O’Brien admitting the son of No Nay Never was far from certain to stay a mile.
As it transpired, Little Big Bear gave himself no chance of staying by taking a keen grip early on testing ground, eventually coming home last of the 15 runners on the Rowley Mile in what was an unenjoyable experience all round.
Not for the first time though, O’Brien weaved his magic and a different horse turned up for the Sandy Lane at Haydock, where he came home a cosy length-and-a-quarter victor over SHOULDVEBEENARING, with the return to six furlongs looking right up his street.
Bradsell was beaten eight lengths in third in that when he perhaps found the distance a stretch, and he gave the form a huge boost in winning Tuesday’s King’s Stand.
Race 3 – Duke of Edinburgh Handicap – AIMERIC
Wind surgery and a gelding operation over the winter seemingly had the desired effect on AIMERIC judged on his comeback victory at Doncaster earlier this month.
The four-year-old has some useful bits of form to his name in his seven career starts to date, beating a Listed winner in El Habeeb last term before holding off Apparate in game style on Town Moor after a less-than-ideal passage.
The handicapper raised Roger Varian’s charge 4lb for that success but he could still have something to give in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
Race 4 – Coronation Stakes – TAHIYRA 4/6
TAHIYRA will be a very skinny price in the Coronation Stakes, particularly as her anticipated main rival Mawj misses out after a setback.
She was beaten half a length in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but went one place better in the Irish version when holding off the reopposing MEDIATE by a length and a half.
The only slight concern would be that she has yet to run on ground quicker than good, but Dermot Weld would surely not risk a filly of this calibre if he thought conditions were not suitable.
Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup heroine Meditate could still be dangerous after taking a step forward at the Curragh.
Further progression cannot be ruled out for QUEEN FOR YOU, who was pipped by SOUNDS OF HEAVEN at York but is out of a mare who won this for the Gosden team.
Race 5 – Sandringham Fillies’ Handicap – MARKSMAN QUEEN
COPPICE disappointed when sent off favourite in the Nell Gwyn, but she made no mistake when winning at Newcastle thereafter.
An opening mark of 97 could underestimate the daughter of Kingman and she features prominently in calculations, along with recent Killarney scorer MA BELLE ARTISTE.
JACKIE OH was far from disgraced in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and she merits respect, for all that her current mark doesn’t look the most lenient.
CHELSEA GREEN is another to note, but marginal preference is for MARKSMAN QUEEN.
She lost her unbeaten record at Kempton 16 days ago, but the daughter of Dubawi competes from a handy racing weight today and has further scope to progress now switched to turf.
GIRL RACER, DREAM OF LOVE and ZOUZANNA are just a handful of other contenders in a typically wide-open renewal.
Race 6 – King Edward VII Stakes – KING OF STEEL 21/20
The King Edward VII Stakes is an interesting rematch between the Derby second KING OF STEEL and unplaced runners ARTISTIC STAR, DUBAI MILE and ARREST, with the first-named the obvious pick following his excellent performance at Epsom.
ARREST (10th) fared worst of those who went to Epsom, finishing behind ARTISTIC STAR (seventh) and DUBAI MILE (ninth), but this more conventional track is likely to see him in a much better light, providing the ground doesn’t get too quick for him.
ARTISTIC STAR wasn’t at all disgraced that day and the son of Galileo is likely to have more improvement to come, while Continuous is better than his display in the Prix du Jockey Club suggests.
Race 7 – Palace of Holyrood House Handicap – FRANKNESS
Although this is only the fourth renewal of this contest, fillies have tended to do well, including when placing in second and third last year, so it may pay to take a chance on Andrew Balding’s FRANKNESS.
The daughter of Frankel justified strong support when gaining a third career success at Goodwood earlier in the month and won with enough in hand on that occasion to suggest that a 5lb rise is manageable.
CONQUISTADOR found a drop in trip to his liking when winning for new connections at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day and a 3lb rise for his gritty 6f success at Lingfield in March shouldn’t prevent another bold bid now switched to turf.
The lightly-raced TAWALLA also bids for a hat-trick and is another to note under a 6lb penalty for last week’s Kempton triumph.
