Horse Racing Tips: Royal Ascot Friday cheat sheet from Paddy’s pundits

Three days down, two to go!

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

We’re into the final few furlongs of the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting and Paddy’s top team of elite tipsters are looking to keep their noses in front.

Matt Chapman, Ruby Walsh, Jason Weaver, Mick Fitzgerald and Rory Delargy have been studying the form, crunching the numbers and generally waffling away for the ITV tellybox races on day one of the biggest racing Festival in the Flat racing calendar.

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The action on day four gets underway at 2.30pm with the Group 3 Albany Stakes for Fillies over 6f. Meditate and Mawj look likely to battle it out for SP favouritism.

We’ve two Group 1 races on Friday with the first, The Commonwealth Cup for three years olds, going to post at 3.05pm. Perfect Power and El Caballo have been well fancied, but do our panel like either?

There’s also the small matter of the Coronation Stakes at 4.20pm where Inspiral has seen a lot of backing throughout the spring and into this week.

Plenty to sink our teeth in to, so let’s get to the cheat sheet with a best bet, each way play or whatever takes our pundits’ fancy for Friday at Royal Ascot 2022.

Matt Chapman

Ruby Walsh

Jason Weaver

Mick Fitzgerald

Rory Delargy

Matt Chapman

MAWJ looked really good for Saeed bin Suroor first time and is a huge ride for Ray Dawson. She hacked up at Newmarket in May and ran as if she had bundles of improvement to come. Obviously Meditate will be a danger.

Ruby Walsh

MEDITATE won well on her last start at Naas and impressed at the Curragh before that. The ground should suit too.

Jason Weaver

QUEEN OLLY looked really good when winning on debut at York. She looks the banker runner for trainer David Loughnane at the meeting.

Mick Fitzgerald

MAWJ is a sister to Modern Games, who won at the Breeders Cup. It was a slow run race at Newmarket last time out and she was still very impressive. Meditate is the danger having won both her starts.

Rory Delargy

No great betting appeal in the Albany for me, although MAWJ was very impressive at Newmarket, and would be my token choice on that basis.

Matt Chapman

I like EHRAZ each-way. He’s been a work in progress and getting him to finish off his races has been theaim. He finally did that again at Newbury last time and he’ll travel like a machine off a strong gallop.

Ruby Walsh

I like EHRAZ. I thought he was unlucky at Newbury in the Carnarvon Stakes when finishing second behind Tiber Flow. He’s an improving horse and won at the meeting last year.

Jason Weaver

EHRAZ has been stepping up nicely with each start so far this term including over course and distance on his return to action. He then flashed home from way back at Newbury last time out.

Mick Fitzgerald

Perfect Power is the favourite and he has the best two-year-old form. However, the horse I like at the prices is TWILIGHT JET. He looked like he had done well over the winter when winning at Naas.

Rory Delargy

FLOTUS was well clear of the field when a close second in the Cheveley Park Stakes last autumn, and looks like she’s trained on well enough to my eyes.

Matt Chapman

JUST FINE is interesting here. A mark of 97 is clearly workable as the gelding ran off that mark last time when third at York to the very talented Gaassee. I suspect he’s much better than that effort suggests.

Ruby Walsh

I really don’t have a strong opinion on this race, I couldn’t figure it out!

Jason Weaver

CAP FRANCAIS was a touch unlucky at Chester two starts back and possibly not suited by the track at Epsom last time. Will be flying under the radar with a step up and distance likely to suit.

Mick Fitzgerald

JUST FINE, who is a son of See The Stars, took a while to find his feet last season and ran some good races. CANDLEFORD is of interest at the prices. He has some good form on the all-weather.

Rory Delargy

It’s a first run of the season for my NAP of the day CANDLEFORD and he’s drawn in stall 18. I don’t think he has any issue with that.

Matt Chapman

Inspiral was easily the best of these last season and can clearly hack up if retaining her ability. I’ll back PROSPEROUS VOYAGE each-way, though. The 1000 Guineas second was unlucky not to win at Newmarket.

Ruby Walsh

I’m willing to take on Inspiral. I’ve landed on the French filly MANGOUSTINE, who beat Cachet on her last start. The French don’t tend to travel unless they’re confident of winning.

Jason Weaver

This is the return to action from last season’s unbeaten champion juvenile lady INSPIRAL. It’s a tough start, but she was so superior in 2021 she may have the class to cope.

Mick Fitzgerald

INSPIRAL had a problem before the Guineas but if she is back to full fitness the others will struggle to beat her. I feel this trip will suit PROSPEROUS VOYAGE and she is a value bet.

Rory Delargy

SANDRINE is a fair each-way bet. She shaped well behind Prosperous Voyage in the 1000 Guineas despite being badly drawn.

Matt Chapman

CRENELLE disappointed at Newmarket last time out. Frankie Dettori rides and she might just be thrown in off 92 if that confidence for her latest effort has any substance. She’s an each-way chance.

Ruby Walsh

I like the look of PERSIST. I loved her last start where she won at Ripon. Cieren Fallon rides for William Haggas which is a solid booking.

Jason Weaver

PERSIST had an awful lot of ground to make up on a front runners track at Ripon last time but did so comprehensively and looks well ahead of where she sits in the handicap.

Mick Fitzgerald

Charlie Fellowes has had Royal Ascot winners and FRESH HOPE, a daughter of New Approach, will handle conditions. She has a lovely light weight and could still be well handicapped.

Rory Delargy

The one that caught my eye was FRESH HOPE. I thought she won really nicely on handicap debut at Doncaster last time out and has gone up just enough to get into this race.

Matt Chapman

LYSANDER was a flop when last seen at Goodwood but has been always held in high regard and this is winnable. Tom Marquand takes the ride and I’m hoping for improvement.

Ruby Walsh

I’m on OTTOMAN FLEET for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. He battled to win at Newmarket last time out and going up in trip will suit him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes off the favourite.

Jason Weaver

LYSANDER looks the clear main danger to the red-hot favourite coming over from Ireland Changingoftheguard. He’s had less racing so has more room for natural improvement.

Mick Fitgerald

CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD won very nicely at Chester on slower ground and didn’t disgrace himself in the Derby but the concern is the quick ground. If he doesn’t cope Ottoman Fleet will take advantage.

Rory Delargy

I think Changingoftheguard might be vulnerable and OTTOMAN FLEET should be favourite. He’s only had two runs and will improve a chunk here.

Matt Chapman

STERLING KNIGHT is at the right end of the handicap for Ed Dunlop and might surprise a few. He won well at Ascot last time.

Ruby Walsh

I fancy John Murtagh’s LADIES CHURCH. I liked her last start at Cork where she finished second. I don’t know too much else about this race so she’ll do me!

Jason Weaver

NYMPHADORA put up a really good performance behind a runaway winner at Chester last time despite not being her ideal conditions.

Mick Fitzgerald

CANONIZED finished behind the smart El Cabello on the all-weather a couple of times earlier this year and there’s no disgrace there. She’ll stay and favourite Ruthin has looked a weak finisher in the past.

Rory Delargy

Ruthin has to be interesting but she has a lot of weight on her back. I’ll take NYMPHADORA each-way at a bit of a price. She’s a big horse who wants a fast surface.

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