Royal Ascot Day Four Preview - 17/06/22

The first race of the afternoon on Friday is the Group Three Albany Stakes over six furlongs and we have had two stabs at this race with 21 runners heading to post.

Our first selection is the exciting Mawj for Godolphin and Saeed bin Suroor who has been seen once to date on debut at Newmarket when bolting up in a decent Novice Stakes over 6f.

The form of that race has worked out well with the second since going on to win on the all weather and Mawj looked very professional that day and has plenty of scope to improve.

Our second selection at a bigger price is the Amo racing owned Queen Olly who looks to have a big chance off the back of her debut.

A daughter of No Nay Never for David Loughnane, the two year old filly made her debut at York and went on to bolt up by close to four lengths over six furlongs.

Amo Racing horses are known for being fit on their first appearances but this looked a bit special and if improving again looks a perfect fit for this race.

The first Group One of the day is the Commonwealth Cup over six furlongs and with another huge field heading to post we have also dutched this one.

Our first pick is the talented Perfect Power for Richard Fahey who was a superb two year old winning four of his six events including the Group Two Norfolk Stakes at last year's royal meeting, his first Group One in France in the Prix Morny and rounding off last term at Newmarket over 6f when taking the Middle Park Stakes.

This season his handler believed he would get further with the first part of his season setting him up for a crack at the 2000 Guineas.

He made his seasonal debut in the 7f Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury when seeing off a good field and not looking to have some stamina doubts.

However, stepped up to a mile he could only finish seventh of 15, not getting the trip but showing clear pace early on to make you think the drop back to 6f could be on the cards.

The form of his two year old career is something to behold and dropping to his optimum trip he looks dangerous.

The three year old Shadwell Estate owned Ehraz is our second selection and was seen three times last term having been bought for 180,000gns and on debut was a huge eye-catcher at Newmarket finishing second behind the smart Noble Truth, flashing home late from off the pace.

He was bought back to 6f off the back of that run over course and distance at Ascot and went on to bolt up in Maiden company, breaking his duck.

Seen once more last term he was a strange fifth at York in the Group Three Acomb Stakes, with the race truly falling apart.

Back for another season he made his seasonal return in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial and travelled like the best horse for a long way but just found very little, looking in need of the run.

Stripping much fitter for the run he returned at Newbury in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and under a less than impressive ride by Jim Crowley, he still managed to only go down by a short head to the talented Tiber Flow.

He is expected to keep improving and although going into Group One company, his turn of pace in the final furlong was frightening when last seen and if being closer to the pace, he could hit the frame.

One race that is tricky from a punting perspective is the Class 2 Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap Stakes over 1m4f and Trawlerman takes the eye.

A very lightly raced four year old for Godolphin and John & Thady Gosden who has the potential to be better than his mark of 98 in this handicap event.

Seen three times last season he was third on seasonal debut over 12f at Wolves behind a horse that has gone on to frank the form a few times since.

Trawlerman also franked the form when getting off the mark at Pontefract, seeing off a nice type in King Frankel by close to nine lengths.

Since then he has been dropped to 10f when sixth of 10 in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown behind the likes if Alenquer, Adayar, Yibir and Lone Eagle who all went on to great things last term.

Not seen again until this term he got off the mark on his seasonal return over 10f at Chelmsford with it being very workman like and obvious improvement coming from that first run.

He looks a talented individual that could go well for a thriving yard.

The feature event of the afternoon on Friday is the Group one Coronation Stakes that has thrown out some very smart winning fillies in the past and could do the same this year.

Our win selection in the race is the Cheveley Park Stud owned three year old was the champion two year old filly being unbeaten in all four of her starts and after a slight set back to her campaign this term, could kick on again.

The daughter of Frankel on debut last term was seen landing a seven furlong event on good to firm at Newmarket in superb style, with the second and third in that race since going on to frank it.

She then went onto boost that form line herself next time out stepping up to Listed company and being a standout winner of the Star Stakes at Sandown.

Next time out she stepped up again into Group Two company at Doncaster in the May Hill Stakes and took the event in style by four lengths.

The filly made it 4/4 when taking her first Group One event in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket over a mile and if fully wound up for this event has every chance of training on.

Could be a serious animal this season like last term.

Our each way selection in the Group One Coronation Stakes is the Ralph Beckett trained Prosperous Voyage who has been the bridesmaid on numerous occasions and will be hoping to go one better in this.

A very smart juvenile for Beckett last year winning on her second start in a good maiden at Epsom and then she placed at Chester, Goodwood, Doncaster and Newmarket in Group Three, Two and One company, twice behind Inspiral.

Making her seasonal debut this term on good to firm in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket she was a very unlucky second behind the smart Cachet, only going down by a nose.

She may want 1m2f going forward but always runs her race and is a solid each way shout at 8/1 that could progress to go one better.

One of the toughest events to call from a punting perspective on Friday is the Sandringham Stakes and again we have gone for two at each way prices.

This race is so tricky but we've gone for a tried and tested combination of Charlie Fellowes and Hayley Turner who have Fresh Hope and the pair together have won two of the last three renewals of this race.

Fresh Hope has been seen twice this term making her debut over 10f at Wetherby on quick ground when a close third behind the smart Rogue Millennium who went on to land an Oaks trial and not be fully disgraced in the Classic event.

When last seen on handicap debut she got off the in gritty style when dropping to a mile off a mark of 78 and only up 4lb for this event she could be extremely well in still and looks to have a big chance.

Washraa for Owen Burrows is not without a chance in this event heading here seeking a hat-trick having won nicely at Wolves over seven furlongs and then last time out when up to 8.5f at Nottingham when a nice winner.

Only up 3lb for that win the filly could be in with a big chance being ahead of her mark and only having her second run on turf she is unexposed on the surface.

Each way player at 22/1

The penultimate selection of the afternoon is the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes and although only six go to post it looks a hot betting heat and we fancy Ottoman Fleet.

The three year old son of Sea The Stars was bought for 450,000gns as a yearling and on debut showed he had serious ability finishing a close second behind smart stablemate Natural World with the talented Lionel back in third.

Dropped down a furlong to 1m2f for his second start he saw off the smart Zain Sarinda for Tom Clover having fluffed the start coming out the stalls he showed bundles of ability to get up close home.

He will only improve from that run and although stepping up in class and trip, both will suit him at this stage of his career and he could be slightly underestimated in the market behind Aidan O’Brien’s colt.

The final event of the afternoon is the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes over five furlongs and Johnny Murtagh looks to have a really nice filly with Ladies Church racing consistently five times as a juvenile last term when winning twice and placing twice across the turf and all weather.

This season she has only been seen once at Cork over 5.5f when finishing a neck second the highly talented Sacred Bridge for Ger Lyons in a Listed race.

Now dropping into handicap company off a mark of 98 she could be much better than that and with Ben Coen taking the ride and riding at a 50% strike rate for the last 14 days, it could be a winning combination

At a bigger price for the smart trainer Brian Meehan Vertiginous who heads into the race needing to bounce back but is a horse with a lot of class.

A frustrating juvenile knocking on the door plenty of times including at the royal meeting last year when a close fifth of 21 in the Queen Mary Stakes.

She finally got off the mark at the sixth time of asking over 5f on good to firm at Ayr in a Listed Race seeing off some nice types.

Sent to Del Mar for the Grade Two Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint off the back of that she could only manage seventh of 12 but was not disgraced.

Seen once this year in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes she ran no race at all and it looked a prep run for a race like this and now down in grade massively she has to be taken seriously off a mark of 101.