Matchbook’s resident racing tipster Micheál Deasy has a bet for each race on Day Four of Royal Ascot.
14.30 – Albany Stakes
Daahyeh’s form got a huge boost on Wednesday when Raffle Prize won the Queen Mary and the market has reacted with her likely to end up favourite. I prefer one at a bigger price though. Galadriel was thrown in at the deep end in a Listed race on her debut at York and ran very well behind Good Vibes. She was doing her best work at the finish and with that experience under her belt she can go well at a double-figure price.
I’d also like to give a mention to Mark Johnsons’s filly Jm Jackson. She has run admirably in second twice this season, most recently when she made up huge ground from the back at Sandown to chase home Flippa The Strippa. She finished a close second to Ventura Rebel on debut, a filly who went very close in the Norfolk yesterday. It’s interetsing she is now stepped up to 6f for this and if she has progressed again from her previous runs, she has a great chance here.
15.05 – King Edward VII Stakes
Japan is already a well-backed favourite for a very weak renewal of the King Edward VII. He is miles clear of the others on official ratings and is likely to get this race set up for him with Jack Yeats as a likely pacemaker. He flew home from near the back of the field in the Derby but won’t have anything near that calibre of opposition to beat today. He should win easily if Epsom hasn’t left its mark.
The O’Brien Moore double act could be set for a big day.
15.40 – Commonwealth Cup
Advertise is back down to 6 furlongs after 2 races up in trip from what is probably his optimum trip. He ran a huge race in the Coventry here last year finishing second to Calyx and followed that up with a dominant win in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. His final run on last season saw him finish a 2.5l second to Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst with none other than Anthony Van Dyk and Sangarius behind him.
His terrible run in the 2000 Guineas can probably be explained away by a problem in the yard. Martyn Meade did not send out any runners for a period recently to try and find out why his horses were running so poorly, but they are now back on track and have had a winner recently. I’m delighted to see Advertise back sprinting and I think he will give Ten Sovereigns a real race today.
16.20 – Coronation Stakes
Hermosa has looked a cut above everything else in her division in the UK and Ireland so far this year and can follow in the footsteps of Winter by taking the Coronation Stakes on top of the 1000 Guineas double.
Hermosa has looked a class above this year.
Twist And Shake is also an interesting runner in this. she could easily have lined up in the Sandringham but takes her chance in a Group 1. The price is gone now though, she was 26.0 on Thursday evening. She is still worth a small play at her current price to win and place.
17.00 – Sandringham Handicap
I had a big fancy for Invitational at York last time out but she refused to enter the stalls and was withdrawn. Prior to that, she was most impressive at Wolverhampton where she beat two subsequent winners easily. This is her first run in a handicap and there is a chance that not running at York was a good thing because she gets in here off a mark 92. I would say she is much better than that and could run a big race for Roger Varian. If she goes into the stalls!
17.35 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes
Corgi ran a great race in third behind Fujaira Prince at York last time out and lines up 3lbs better off with him today. He has good course form from his second behind Baghdad in the King Geroge last year and could show a lot of improvement from his first run of the season as this is his second run after wind surgery. Should go very close.
Recommended Bets
- 14.30 – Galadriel (14.5) 0.5pt Win, 0.5pt Place
- 14.30 – Jm Jackson (14.0) 0.5pt Win, 0.5pt Place
- 15.05 – Japan (2.42) 2pt Win
- 15.40 – Advertise (8.8) 1pt Win, 1pt Place
- 16.20 – Hermosa (2.02) 2pt Win
- 16.20 – Twist and Shake (13.0) 0.5pt Win, 0.5pt Place
- 17.00 – Invitational (12.0) 0.5pt Win, 0.5pt Place
- 17.35 – Corgi (7.6) 0.5pt Win, 0.5pt Place
