Royal Ascot Day 4 Preview – David Shortte

Posted on June 23, 2017 | Posted by David Shortte

The battle between Big Orange and Order Of St George in the Gold Cup was the clear highlight of day three. Just a nose separated the pair after 4000 metres with Big Orange leading throughout – the concluding stages were epic.

Day Four is sure to deliver some more world class racing and I’m very much looking forward to seeing boom 3 year old Caravaggio go around in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup over 1200 metres. Unbeaten after 5 starts the wraps on this galloper are enormous.

TABtouch are offering Superpick options on the six race program at Royal Ascot and you can now use your daily Superpick to increase your odds for a win, improve your odds for a place or take money back for second.

Here is a preview of night four :

Race One (Group 3 Albany Stakes – 1200 metres 2 Year Old Fillies)

An awfully difficult way to start the day with 21 two year old fillies with lots of different formlines to assess.

The favourite Alpha Centauri has been most impressive at both of her career starts at Naas over this trip and last start jogged in beating her rivals by 5 lengths in listed grade.

Fairyland is from the strong USA stable of Wesley Ward and won her only start at Keeneland over the 900 metres.

Clemmie is a well-bred sister to boom galloper Churchill trained by Aiden O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. Was narrowly beaten when 3^rd on debut at the Curragh and has clear scope for improvement.

There are many possibilities here and other runners to consider at odds include Ertiyad, Snowflakes, Take Me With You, Madeline and Mistress of Venice.

TABtouch Market : Alpha Centauri $3.30, Clemmie $6.50, Fairyland $6.50, Black Sails $11, Natural $11, Take Me With You $16, Ertiyad $17, Others $18 and above.

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Race Two (Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes – 2400 metres 3 Year Olds)

Crystal Ocean is an improving type who won his Maiden over 2000 metres two starts ago at Nottingham before finishing off strongly for a third in the Group 2 Dante at York behind Permiam over 2000 metres. The step up in trip looks ideal and should be right in the frame.

Salouen found all sorts of trouble in the Group 1 Epsom Derby and would pay to forget the run. His prior form had been ultra-consistent including a placing in a Group 1 over the mile at Doncaster. Is very capable and no surprise to see him bounce back at good each way odds in this.

Best Solution was runner-up in a Group 1 over 2000 metres at Saint Cloud five runs ago and that sort of performance would stack up well here. Could only manage 8^th in the Group 1 Epsom Derby at his most recent run but at his top would be right in the finish.

Permian was a good winner of the Group 2 Dante over 2000 metres, two back at York before finishing down the track in the Group 1 Epsom Derby over this trip.

TABtouch Market : Crystal Ocean $3.30, Sir John Lavery $6, Permian $7.50, Salouen $8.50, Best Solution $9.50, Best Of Days $11, Khalidi $14, Others $17 and above.

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Race 3 (Group 1 Commonwealth Cup – 1200 metres, 3 Year Olds)

Star three year old Caravaggio is unbeaten at his 5 lifetime starts and Aiden O’Brien has described him as “the fastest horse we’ve had anything to do with.” Given how may champions of the turf O’Brien has had through his barn I’m happy to take the tip. Already a Group 1 winner at the Curragh over this trip and they are going to have to produce something pretty special to bring his unbeaten run to an end.

Harry Angel trounced his opposition in a Group 2 at Haydock over this trip last start and is on the up. Is a very nice type but might simply be running into a champion.

Blue Point and Bound For Nowhere appear the other place hopes.

TABtouch Market : Caravaggio $1.90, Harry Angel $4, Blue Point $6.50, Bound For Nowhere $10, Others $34 and upwards.

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Race Four (Group 1 Coronation Stakes – 1600 metres, 3 Year Old Fillies)

It’s the combination of Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore who again look likely to steal the spotlight here with their gun filly Winter. At her last two starts she has completed the Group 1 1,000 Guineas and Irish 1,000 Guineas double over this distance. With normal racing luck she will bring up her third consecutive Group 1 success.

Not much looks to separate Precieuse and Dabyah for the minor money.

TABtouch Market : Winter $1.50, Dabyah $6.50, Precieuse $10, Tomyris $18, Others $19 and upwards

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Race Five (Group 2 Queen’s Vase – 2800 metres, 3 Year Olds)

We go from a race that looks straightforward to one that looks anything but.

Time To Study won over this 2800 metre trip last start at Musselburgh in a Handicap and has put together a handy career record of 5 starts for 3 wins and 2 placings.

Wisconsin stepped up to the 2500 metres last time out for Trainer Aiden O’Brien and at just his second career outing when successful at Tipperary and gave the impression this trip would pose no problems. Looks a decent each way play in an open race.

Belgravia is the stablemate of Wisconsin and Ryan Moore has opted to ride it – might be a handy lead. Belgravia did win over the 2400 metres at Leapordstown two back before having no luck last time out when unplaced.

One of the tougher events of the night and I wouldn’t talk you out of anything you like.

TABtouch Market : Belgravia $6, Time To Study $6, Desert Skyline $8, Haripour $9, Stradivarius $9.50, Wisconsin $9.50, Count Octave $10, Mister Manduro $12, Others $13 and upwards

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Race 6 (Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes – 2400 metres)

Wadigor is unbeaten after 3 career starts over the trips of 1900 metres, 2000 metres and 2200 metres.  A nice progression up to this trip and is yet to put a hoof wrong.

Sixties Groove has shown ability over the longer trips in his career to date and should be considered.

Mainstream has been placed at his last 5 straight starts and should again be in the finish.

Mistiroc goes around at a big price here and has been racing in consistent fashion – is definitely one to include at odds.

TABtouch Market : Mainstream $6, Wadigor $7, Appeared $7, Sixties Groove $7.50, Top Tug $11, Others $17 and upwards

My best for the day is clearly Caravaggio – at the $1.90 I will be using him as a Banker for a number of my multis this weekend. One of those multis will be into Winter who should bring up her third consecutive Group 1 success in Race 4.

My each way bet of the night is in the last in the form of Wadigor at $7.

Good punting!

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