Royal Ascot 2024 Ante-Post Preview Day 4

[StevieDay1983]

Our Royal Ascot 2024 ante-post tips preview series continues. You have had the wise knowledge of @The Brigadier take you through the first three days. It's now the turn of @Tumbleweed King to share his expert thoughts with you. Here are his picks now that the 6-day declarations have been confirmed for the fourth day of racing at the festival.

 

Royal Ascot Day 4 Ante-Post Tips Preview

The fourth day of action at Royal Ascot will see a few group races coincide with a listed event as well as handicaps for good measure. The day kicks off with the Albany Stakes over 6 furlongs and climaxes with the Palace of Holyrood Handicap over 5 furlongs.

The key races are of course the group races including the Group 3 Albany Stakes, the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, The Group 1 Coronation Stakes as well as the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes. 

14:30: Albany Stakes (Group 3) – 6 Furlongs

The Albany Stakes is a Group 3 flat race open to two-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs. The event was established in 2002, and it was initially classed at Listed level and run as the Henry Carnavon Stakes in memory of Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, Queen Elizabeth II's racing manager, who had died in September 2001. It was first run under its present title in 2003 and was promoted to Group 3 status in 2005.

Favourite

Fairy Godmother (Aidan O’Brien) 2 YO Filly: Won a Group 3 Fillies Sprint Stakes in workmanlike fashion last time out getting the better of Sparkling Sea at Naas. That race has been used as a stepping stool to taking this race for the past two years given the subsequent successes of Porta Fortuna (2023) and Meditate (2022). This will be the fastest ground she has ever faced and if taking to it, she should prove the one they all have to beat. No Irish-trained favourite for this race has won it 

Leading Fancies

Mountain Breeze (Charlie Appleby) 2 YO Filly: The leading British hope has won her two starts in good fashion including most recently at Newmarket by over two lengths.  A massive negative for her is that the form of that last race is really not working out with nine attempts made by her rivals to shed their maiden status without success. She can only beat what is put in front of her but that statistic is massively worrying. 

Twafeeg (Archie Watson) 2 YO Filly: Archie Watson loves to target runners at this meeting and this daughter of Far Above caused something of an upset when getting the better of her rivals in a maiden at Doncaster. This will take another massive step forward, but the booking of Hollie Doyle suggests another good run is expected and the way she finished last time indicated she would see out this extra furlong well. 

Burning Pine (Wesley Ward) 2 YO Filly: Was sent off as an odds-on favourite on debut at Keeneland and could well be anything. She won by a cosy seven lengths without coming anywhere near off the bridle. If she takes to the turf, she could well be a very useful sort and her trainer is no stranger to success at this meeting. In a race where not many look to be world-beating, she offers a lot of promise and could go very close. 

Dark Horse

Enchanting Empress (Raphael Freire) 2 YO Filly: Has won all three starts for Dominic Ffrench-Davis this year so certainly comes here battle-hardened. The daughter of Sergei Prokofiev has already scored at this track and that experience could well prove invaluable. She now runs for the “first” time for Raphael Freire. All of her best work usually comes in the closing stages and if she sees out this extra furlong, she will prove a tough nut to crack. 

Outsider

Hot Darling (Amy Murphy) 2 YO Filly: Hot Darling also comes into this race unbeaten. The daughter of Too Darn Hot has been successful in France on the two occasions she has run so far. Her best performance came last time out when taking a listed race at Vichy. Silvestre De Sousa has already been booked to ride and that could be a little bit of a disadvantage given that Mikael Barzalona knows her so well.  

A lot tends to depend on the draw in the race and nothing in double figures has won it since Dandalla scooped the prize in 2020. At this stage the one that excites me most if handling the switch to turf is Burning Pine. She looked awesome in what was probably only an ordinary maiden at Keeneland but given the record of Irish-trained favourites in this particular race, I think her price could be over-inflated.

Selection

BURNING PINE E/W @ 12/1 with Betfred

 

15:05: Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) – 6 Furlongs

The Commonwealth Cup was introduced in 2015 as part of changes to the programme of sprint horse races in Europe. The Diamond Jubilee Stakes, run over the same course and distance at the same meeting, was closed to three-year-olds at the same time. 

The new race was subsequently named the Commonwealth Cup and the Buckingham Palace Stakes was removed from the Royal Ascot meeting to make room for the new race. The race was initially open to all three-year-old horses, including geldings, to help the race become established. 

It was the only Group 1 flat race in Great Britain exclusively for three-year-olds that allowed geldings to compete and the first age-restricted Group 1 race which was open to geldings in Europe. Geldings were excluded after the 2019 running.

Favourite

Vandeek (Simon & Ed Crisford) 3YO Colt: Has a bit of work to do in order to reverse recent form with Inisherin based on their recent clash in a Group 2 race at Haydock Park. He was a very good horse last season though, winning both the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes. If he can improve for his seasonal debut, he has to have every chance of adding this race to an already impressive CV. 

Leading Fancies

Inisherin (Kevin Ryan) 3YO Colt: Caused a bit of an upset when turning over Vandeek on soft ground at Haydock Park last time. The return to this six-furlong trip really seemed to bring him into his own last time and every chance he will thrive at it again if similar conditions were to present themselves. He has yet to win on fast ground and is still unproven at this elite level on a decent surface. Connections will be praying for rain or some significant watering of the track.

River Tiber (Aidan O’Brien) 3YO Colt: Won his first three starts as a juvenile including when taking the Coventry Stakes at this meeting last year. He was upped to a mile on his seasonal reappearance at The Curragh last month and it was plain for all to see that he didn’t quite see out the trip when third to Rosallion in the 2000 Guineas. He will appreciate this step back to six furlongs and commands utmost respect. With winning course and distance experience on his side, he could conjure up another big run. He cannot be dismissed.

Jasour (Clive Cox) 3YO Colt: Has been beaten out of sight by Vandeek on two previous meetings but managed to win a Group 3 race over this course and distance just last month. He acts on good to firm ground and the form of that last win is already working out with the likes of Adaay In Devon and Starlust winning subsequent races. Clive Cox knows the time of day with his horses and Jasour looks a much better horse this season.

Dark Horse

Bucanero Fuerte (Adrian Murray) 3YO Colt: Looks like an intriguing contender following a winning comeback on his seasonal reappearance. He just about got the job done when beating Givemethebeatboys by a head at Naas in a Group 3 Lacken Stakes. He should improve for that run though and managed to put together back-to-back wins at the Curragh last season over this trip. He has form to find with River Tiber who beat him at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes last season, but no surprise to see him go well. 

Outsiders

Kind Of Blue (James Fanshawe) 3YO Colt: He has done everything asked of him so far and followed up an impressive debut win at Kempton when switching surfaces and repeating the feat at Doncaster last time out. Rapido Girl has come out to give that form a bit of a boost, but the form may not be quite strong enough. If he was trained by a more fashionable yard, he would be half the price. He remains an unknown quantity, but bigger shocks have happened in the world of racing. 

Selection

RIVER TIBER @ 8/1 E/W with Unibet

 

15:45: Coronation Stakes (Group 1) – 7 Furlongs

The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 race open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlong and 213 yards, The event was established in 1840, and its title commemorated the coronation of a new British monarch, Queen Victoria, two years earlier. The present system of race grading was introduced in 1971, and for a period the Coronation Stakes held Group 2 status. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1988. 

Favourite

Opera Singer (Aidan O’Brien) 3YO Filly: Opera Singer got better the more she raced last season. This accumulated with a coveted Group 1 win in the Prix Marcel Boussac where she got the better of Rose Bloom by five lengths. On what was her seasonal reappearance at The Curragh, she looked to be very much in need of the run when third to Fallen Angel over an extra furlong. That run should have put her pretty much spot on for this and she is likely to prove the one that they all have to beat. The yard last won this with Winter in 2017 and they look to have another solid chance here. 

Leading Fancies

Elmaka (Roger Varian) 3YO Filly: A seriously talented filly who got the better of the re-opposing Porta Fortuna by a neck at Newmarket last month in the 1000 Guineas. The daughter of Kingman stayed on well in the closing stages just getting her first run on the Donnacha O’Brien-trained runner. The form of that race is working out to be top-notch as Fallen Angel, who was eighth that day, came out and won the Irish version a couple of weeks later. If there are any chinks in the armour of Opera Singer this one will find them and she looks open to further improvement. 

Ramatuelle (Christopher Head) 3YO Filly: This daughter of Justify has not been beaten far in both of her starts so far this year. She was only just touched off by Elmaka and Porta Fortuna in the 1000 Guineas and will surely come into the reckoning here. This is her second trip abroad in as many starts, but she is as tough as teak and will let the others know they have been in a battle. The big query is the ground, if it stays good to firm she may struggle as she remains untested on it.

Dark Horse

Porta Fortuna: A top-class filly who won the Albany Stakes at this meeting last year before also landing the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket a few months later. Tom Marquand rode her for the first time in the 1000 Guineas last time out and has been booked once more by connections. The major worry with her is the current form of the yard having only won two races out of their last twenty. She nonetheless doesn’t take much to get fit and is clearly the stable star. 

Outsider

Devoted Queen: A winner of all three of her starts to date for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. She won her maiden with the minimum of fuss at Newmarket last autumn. She then made a successful reappearance at Kempton over a mile in April and then stepped up to record a win in listed company at York last month. This may be a step too far though given that she is unproven at the very highest level, unlike her rivals. There will be better days ahead for her. 

Selection

ELMAKA @ 4/1 with BetVictor

 

16:25: Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap – 1 M 3F

The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes is the first Handicap race on the fourth day of Royal Ascot. It is open to horses of three years of age and older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

The race was previously known as the Bessborough Stakes and was named after John Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough who was Master of the Buckhounds on three occasions in the 19th century. The first race under the original name was a five-furlong race for two-year-olds run at Royal Ascot in 1914.

The title was later bestowed on a mile-and-a-half handicap race at the same meeting. In 1999, the race was renamed in honour of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The name “Duke of Edinburgh Stakes” had previously been used for a two-year-old race run at Ascot in the autumn whose winners included the future Champion Hurdler Sea Pigeon.

Favourite

Ethical Diamond (Willie Mullins) 4YO Gelding: This looks to be the next logical step for the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old. He is still only lightly raced and was only denied by a nose on his most recent start in a similar race at Leopardstown. Three subsequent winners have emerged from the race including Saturn (who beat him), Global Energy and Come On The Lads.

This race went to the Irish for the first time in over twenty years when Joseph O’Brien & Ryan Moore won it with Okita Souishi last year. The key to the race could well be the booking of the jockey who bids for a fifth win in it since 2013. They have to have every chance.

Dark Horse

Deakin (Joseph O’Brien) 4YO Gelding: Was only just denied on his comeback run by the already fully fit Crystal Black. You would fancy him to turn the tables on that basis if the pair are to meet again here. He actually has over a couple of furlongs further as proven when winning at Thurles late last year. Ideally, he needs a bit of cut to be seen at his supreme best so connections will be praying for some rain. 

Bague D’Or (John Ferguson) 6YO Gelding: A talented handicapper on his day who relishes a fast surface. He comes here in good heart having won a heritage handicap at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance for John Ferguson. He stays a good bit further than this and likes to attack from off a sharp pace. Expect him to be rattling home through tired horses given his current form. He missed most of last season and only ran twice so still has low mileage on the clock. He is a previous course winner and if he gets the splits, he should run another solid race.

Outsider

Fairbanks (Andrew Balding) 4YO Gelding: Fairbanks won three races in a row last season at tracks as varied as Haydock, Leicester and Goodwood. He looked badly in need of the run at Thirsk in April when making his seasonal reappearance. He atoned for that with a smooth victory at Newcastle under a good ride from Oisin Murphy next time. He then beat all bar one in a similar race at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago. A return to a turning track will certainly be in his favour 

Selection

ETHICAL DIAMOND @ 4/1 with Boylesports

 

17:05: Sandringham Stakes Fillies Handicap – 1 Mile

The Sandringham Handicap is open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile. The race was called the Fern Hill Rated Stakes until 2001 and was part of the Ascot Heath meeting held on the Saturday after Royal Ascot. Before 2018 it was run as a Listed handicap but was downgraded by the British Horseracing Authority to comply with a new rule that no handicap race could carry Listed or Group race status.

Favourite

Indelible (Ralph Beckett) – 3YO Filly: Proved that her win over a mile at Lingfield was no fluke when following up over that same trip on what was her seasonal reappearance at Doncaster most recently. This looks sure to be her toughest assignment to date though and she has yet to conclusively prove that she can handle fast conditions underfoot. Hector Couch has won on her previously and has already been booked to ride again. There could just be a few others that will handle conditions better. 

Dark Horse

Kitty Rose (Mick Price & Michael Kent) 3YO Filly: An intriguing prospect having been bought out of Natalia Lupini’s yard. The filly has already won at Naas and Leopardstown and now heads to this race before making the long trip to Australia for her new owners. She is best to best effect on a fair surface and would be hoping that the rain stays away. She is a Group winner in waiting masquerading in handicaps and with Oisin Murphy booked, she makes a definite appeal.

Zaynab (Gordon Elliott) 3YO Filly: Has won her last two starts by the narrowest of margins including when upped to this trip for the first time at The Curragh. That was her first experience in a handicap and she looked like a seasoned professional to win in the manner that she did. She is clearly learning fast and could well prove to be a live danger to all of this field. She seems to be pretty versatile in relation to ground conditions and it would be no surprise to see her run well.

Outsider

Nocturnal (John Ferguson) 3YO Filly: She has not been seen in a couple of months, but she has already proven that she can handle fast ground. She won well following a near eight-month break at Wolverhampton last time out beating her rivals by almost six lengths. She could well be anything, but the booking of Saffie Osborne looks to be positive and is another that looks sure to run a big race.

Selection

KITTY ROSE E/W @ 14/1 with Unibet

 

17:40: King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) – 1M 3F

The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 race. It is open to three-year-old colts and geldings. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 3 furlongs and 211 yards.

The event was established in 1834, and it was originally known as the Ascot Derby. In the early part of its history, it was also open to fillies. The race was renamed in memory of King Edward VII in 1926. 

Favourite

Agenda (Aidan O’Brien) 3YO Colt: Set about making all in the Chester Vase last month but quickly came undone when passed by the ill-fated Hidden Law from the furlong marker. It makes sense to step back a furlong, but this will be the toughest opposition he has faced to date. The fact that he couldn’t land a Group 3 and is now trying for a Group 2 seems a bit fanciful and he is unproven on a quick surface. Ballydoyle seems to have a lot of entries in this race which suggests that they think he may struggle to win too.

Space Legend (William Haggas) 3YO Colt: Won at Leicester on his seasonal reappearance before finding Meydaan a neck too strong at Goodwood. That was a little frustrating as he got caught up in traffic when attempting to make his run under Tom Marquand. That was his first-ever attempt at this trip, but he seemed to see it out just fine. James Doyle is the fourth different jockey booked in as many starts to ride the son of Sea The Stars, but he could well get a charmed run this time. 

Dark Horse

Calandagan (Francis Henri Graffard) 3YO Colt: If the ground were to soften up then this French raider would certainly be in with a shout. He has won two Group 3 races at Paris Longchamp on his most recent starts with the absolute minimum of fuss. He runs in the familiar colours of the Aga Khan but if taking to the likelier quicker surface, he could well be the one to beat. He is tough and consistent and those ahead of him in the market, genuinely look beatable.

Outsider

Theory Of Tides (John & Thaady Gosden) 3YO Colt: Seems to have literally come from nowhere to record two wins on the bounce for team Gosden. The three-year-old son of Galileo won over a mile and a quarter at Nottingham and then repeated the trick a couple of weeks later at Yarmouth. He is seemingly progressive and will have no issues seeing out this trip being by a Derby winner. The yard actually won this race last year with Coppice who took a similar path from novice company. 

Selection

THEORY OF TIDES E/W @ 8/1 with Bet365

 

18:15: Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes Handicap – 5 Furlongs

One of the newest races added to round off Day 4 of Royal Ascot. In the previous four renewals, horses who have been drawn high tend to do well. Rhythm N Hooves won from Stall 25 last year. Significantly won from Stall 24 and Art Power Came from Stall 19. The other winner Latin Lover came right up the centre of the track in Stall 11.  

It is over in the blink of an eye as it can take under a minute to run. The winners have so far been quite popular in the market with no bigger starting price of more than 12/1. 

Favourite

Jubilee Walk (John Ferguson) 3YO Colt: Has won his last three starts and dropped back to five furlongs when winning at York just last month. That was a good run as a couple of others have come out and franked the form subsequently including Pilgrim and Enchanting. Oisin Murphy has been booked to ride once more and if getting a favourable draw, the pair have to rank highly here, despite being unproven on ground as fast as this. 

Dyrholaey (Archie Watson) 3YO Colt: Unbeaten in three starts, this Archie Watson representative has as yet to make a start on turf. This seems as good as anywhere and it will be a bit of a shock to the system for him. He is untried in handicap company and now has a change in jockeyship from Hollie Doyle to James Doyle. His trainer loves nothing more than to get a winner here and could well do so again provided the son of City Light can make the transition from a synthetic surface to grass.

Dark Horse

Dorney Lake (John & Thaady Gosden) 3YO Colt: Had no issues when running on lightning-quick ground at Lingfield where he won by an eased down five lengths. That followed on from his previous win at Yarmouth where he saw off Mono River with the minimum of fuss. William Buick has already been pencilled in for the ride by the team at Godolphin and they clearly think he has the class and the speed to drop down a furlong. He remains fully unexposed and could make his mark here. 

Outsider

Woodhay Wonder (Tom Ward) 3YO Filly: A seriously talented filly who has become somewhat of a Newmarket specialist. Five wins in just seven career starts have come at that track, with her only loss coming there and at Kempton. She has been in fantastic form as ever this year picking up a couple of solid handicap wins. The form of her win in April has been boosted by the likes of Trefor, Cajetan, Love Billy Boy and Pilgrim. If she can translate her Newmarket form to Ascot and if the draw is kind, she looks like a player.

SELECTION: DORNEY LAKE (E/W) @ 10/1 with 888Sport

 

Final Thoughts on Royal Ascot Day 4

A brilliant day of racing lies ahead. Please remember to gamble responsibly. Remember to check our Royal Ascot tips to see who our expert tipsters are backing on the day of the race. Our Royal Ascot free bets page also has the best betting offers for the festival that you can find!

Here is a recap of my selections:

14:30 Burning Pine EW
15:05 River Tiber EW
15:40 Elmaka 
16:25 Ethical Diamond (NAP)
17:05 Kitty Rose EW
17:40 Theory Of Tides EW
18:15 Dorney Lake EW

All odds are correct at the time of posting.