Girls girls girls! No, I’m not talking about a night out with Paddy in his youth, but the fourth day of Royal Ascot 2016 which is dominated by the Coronation Stakes for top three year old fillies. My ongoing battle with Paddy is not all about the Coronation, however, with yet again a host of contests to sort out. So lets get cracking.
Albany Stakes, 6f, 2.30
This will be a testing renewal in the conditions which could pose a problem for Wesley Ward’s Create a Dream. I like the look of CUFF, for Ireland’s juvenile King Aidan O’Brien. Cuff has got better and better with every run, and has no problem acting in ground with some juice. There’s been some heavy rain on the course so far this week so he will be very hard to keep out the frame in this one.
King Edward VII Stakes, 1m 4f, 3:05
This is a tricky heat. ACROSS THE STARS was far from brilliant in the Derby for Sir Michael Stoute, but didn’t handle the hill at all at Epsom earlier in the year. He’s been unlucky, as he wasn’t great at Lingfield the time before. However, back on a conventional race track he might show what he can do. Put a few quid on an eachway.
Gallop over to all our latest racing odds on PP.com
Commonwealth Cup, 6f, 3:40
This is not a good renewal of the this event because many of the big guns scared off by the ground. Conditions will be ideal for BURATINO although he flopped behind Quiet Reflection at Haydock last time. After being disappointing in the Guineas as well, Buratino needs to bounce back to the best of his juvenile form. If he does he’s bang there as an each way selection.
Coronation Stakes, 1m, 4:20
Irish Guineas winner Jet Setting will be all the rage here but I’m still not taking her 1000 Guineas win at face value. I hope I’m wrong for Adrian Keatley’s sake. The ground is also too soft for Nemoralia, although I love this filly. I’ll stick with NATHRA now that the rain has come. She was far from disgraced in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and ran a decent second at Deauville last time around. Another eachway selection on a tricky day to pick winners.
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, 1m 4f, 5:00
Roger Varian is one of my favourite trainers but he’ll need to have worked some magic to get AJMAN BRIDGE to land this. The handicap mark is all right if the horse is back to his best, and when he goes in softish ground he stays well. The question is whether he can improve on his comeback effort. He will need to but the long price reflects that.
Queen’s Vase, 2m, 5:35
EBEDIYIN was an impressive winner at Naas last time and might well strike for the formidable Derby heroes of Dermot Weld, Pat Smullen and the Aga Khan. Out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, the Raven’s Pass offspring may relish this long distance and has as much chance as any on paper. Of course loads of these may improve for the step up in distance but I’d be putting my money on the bay colt.
So best of luck. One more Day of Ascot to go tomorrow. I’m primed. Yeeehaaa!