Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman's Royal Ascot picks on Friday

Royal Ascot Tips

14.30 – Persian Dreamer
15.05 – Little Big Bear
15.40 – Ajero
16.20 – Tahiyra
17.00 – Unless (each-way)
17.35 – King Of Steel
18.10 – Harry Brown (each-way)

*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.

14.30 – Persian Dreamer

Day 4 of Royal Ascot 2023 gets under way here with the Group 3 Albany Stakes for juvenile fillies over six furlongs. So tricky. PERSIAN DREAMER looked special on debut at Newmarket but then fluffed her lines at York when missing the start and struggling to get on terms with the leaders. I’ll forgive that performance and hope she can thrust home here for Kevin Stott and Dominic Ffrench Davis.

15.05 – Little Big Bear

Group 1 company here for the Commonwealth Cup for three-year-olds over six furlongs. I fully expect a blasting performance here from LITTLE BIG BEAR who blew out in the 2000 Guineas like Auguste Rodin but other than that has looked an absolute machine. Ryan Moore is on top the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner for Aidan O’Brien and the son of No Nay Never looked a machine landing the Sandy Lane at Haydock.

15.40 – Ajero

Handicap company now for the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes over a mile and a half. AJERO might be desperate for fast ground and hasn’t had it since finishing second in this race in 2022 and going on to score at Goodwood. A handicap mark of 96 is high enough, but a high draw is useful in this race and will be dropped out by Jim Crowley and hopefully will rattle home for jumps trainer Kim Bailey.

16.20 – Tahiyra

The feature of the day in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for fillies over a mile. I’ve been all over Meditate each-way and have odds of 8-1 bagged with three places so it’s hard for me to recommend a bet here with just seven runners and two places going. I still would not put you off the Aidan O’Brien Breeders’ Cup heroine to hit the frame but of course the most likely winner is TAHIYRA. She ran a great race in the 1000 Guineas and showed her class when taking the Irish 1000 for Chris Hayes and Dermot Weld.

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17.00 – Unless (each-way)

Now the Sandringham Fillies’ Handicap for three-year-olds over a mile. UNLESS will be a huge price here for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan but could well have an each-way squeak. I like the fact the daughter of Justify has run in huge fields on her last two starts and she travelled strongly when scoring at Naas last time. Out of a Galileo mare she should stay well – only big negative is that Ryan Moore had ditched her. An each-way chance.

17.35 – King Of Steel

Group 2 company this time for the King Edward VII Stakes for colts and geldings over a mile and a half. Most of these would want soft ground and impossible to oppose Derby runner-up KING OF STEEL who really should be long odds on if you take his Derby second at face value behind Auguste Rodin. Lightly raced and open to massive improvement for Kevin Stott and Roger Varian.

18.10 – Harry Brown (each-way)

Finally the Palace of Holyrood House Stakes over five furlongs. I’ll chance HARRY BROWN each-way here for Hayley Turner and Dave Simcock. I like this horse has lots of six furlong form and I don’t think a small field at Goodwood last time suited him. This is a horse that can take a keen hold and he might just finish off well if there’s a really strong pace here.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?