Royal Ascot (Day Four) Preview - 20/06/25
- JN Value Betting
- Jun 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 21
BEST BETS:
IPANEMA QUEEN - 14:30 (ALBANY STAKES) - 7/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (4 PLACES)
STRESSFREE - 15:40 (DUKE OF EDINBURGH STAKES) - 10/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (5 PLACES)
EXACTLY - 16:20 (CORONATION STAKES) - 10/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (3 PLACES)
SILVER GHOST - 17:00 (SANDRINGHAM STAKES) - 8/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
ADRESTIA - 18:10 (PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE STAKES) - 7/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
The fourth day of Royal Ascot takes place on Friday with two Group 1 contests being the main attraction. The first of those is the Commonwealth Cup over 6f for the three year-old sprinters, this is followed by the Coronation Stakes at 16:20 where the star miler is crowned for the fillies.
Aidan O'Brien looks to have a strong play once again in a two year-old race, where he saddles Signora, who is the antepost favourite for the opening race of the day, the Albany Stakes. She was an eye-catching third in the Fillies' Sprint Stakes at Naas on debut - a race which has provided the winner of this for the last three seasons. It says how highly she is regarded that she was dropped into Group 3 company on debut, and any form of improvement will see her go close here. Green Sense who finished in front of her in that aforementioned race at Naas also runs here, and she looks set for a big run. I am going to take an each-way play on IPANEMA QUEEN for Adrian Murray, who was an impressive winner on debut at the Curragh last month. The way she travelled through the race there was eye-catching, and in a big field, something she will have to content with today. She looked a potential group class performer on that evidence and I am happy to have a small each-way play.
IPANEMA QUEEN - 14:30 (ALBANY STAKES) - 7/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (4 PLACES)
It's the turn of the three year-old sprinters in the second race of the day where a field of 21 go to post for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. The star attraction looks set to be the 2000 Guineas third, Shadow Of Light for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Connections have stated that they believe this to be their best chance of a winner this week, and a return to six furlongs for last year's Middle Park Stakes winner could be the key. Outside of the favourite, Jonquil also steps back in trip following his runner-up effort behind Henri Matisse in the French 2000 Guineas. Aside from that, the main challenge comes from across the Irish Sea with Juddmonte having another runner by way of Babouche, who won the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at the Curragh last time out.
The first of the day's handicap races is next up with the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, where last year's fourth Ethical Diamond looks to land this contest at the second time of asking. Willie Mullins' charge has failed to settle in his previous races, which has led to him being flat in the finish, however, he will undoubtedly prove popular given connections. Wathnan Racing have two live chances with French Duke and Almosh'her, with the latter having a strong form line with plenty of other runners in this race. He narrowly denied STRESSFREE last time out, prevailing by a head, whilst Almosh'her is slightly better off at the weights once again, I am happy to take an each-way chance on David O'Meara's runner. Stressfree backed up his runner up effort behind Almosh'her by winning at Haydock last month, he is a consistent performer, and should be involved at the business end of the race.
STRESSFREE - 15:40 (DUKE OF EDINBURGH STAKES) - 10/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (5 PLACES)
The feature race of the day is the Coronation Stakes over a mile for the fillies, where French raider Zarigana looks to back up her controversial success in the French 1000 Guineas by landing her second Group 1 of the season. She won her last race in the stewards' room, with She's Perfect being first past the post in what turned into a messy race. The fourth on that occasion was EXACTLY for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien, this daughter of Frankel was certainly not without interference in that race, and her fourth place can certainly be upgraded. Whilst it can be viewed as a negative that Moore has chosen to ride the other Ballydoyle runner January, we get some compensation with the price because of this, and the disparity between Exactly and the favourite Zarigana is too large to ignore. There was just 1 and 1/4 lengths between the pair in the French 1000 Guineas, and with just 1lb between the pair in the ratings, she's certainly worth a play at the prices.
EXACTLY - 16:20 (CORONATION STAKES) - 10/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (3 PLACES)
We return to the straight mile for another big field handicap where Miss Nightfall heads the betting for James Fanshawe and Oisin Murphy. She has the all important high draw, and looks to turn the tables on SILVER GHOST following their clash over seven furlongs at Goodwood last time out. Emma Lavelle's runner claimed a decisive success in that contest, and the six pound pull at the weights that Miss Nightfall has inherited doesn't look to be enough for me for her to reverse the form. Silver Ghost has climbed 14lbs off the back of her two victories, however, she looks to be a filly going places, and can still serve it up to them in this contest. She is drawn in stall 20, meaning that she will be able to easily get across into the stands side group to be involved in the finish.
SILVER GHOST - 17:00 (SANDRINGHAM STAKES) - 8/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
It's Group 2 action up next in the King Edward VII Stakes over 1m 4f where the unbeaten Amiloc looks set to battle it out for favouritism with the Johnny Murtagh trained Zahrann. The pair both claimed Listed honours in their last race and will look to make the step up into group company. In recent years we have seen horses who failed to win the Derby step back down in class to win this race, and both Green Storm and Nightwalker will look to emulate those previous winners.
Day four comes to a close with the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes over five furlongs where Realign for William Haggas looks to have potential of being a group performer in a handicap following his comfortable success in a Salisbury maiden. He could prove to be anything, and is firmly unexposed on handicap debut. I am going to side with ADRESTIA for Simon and Ed Crisford who comes here off an unchanged mark from his third in a sprint handicap at Windsor last time out. That was just eleven days ago, and I believe this return will have tuned him up for a crack at this prize. He had two previous wins at five furlongs last season, and is aided by a high draw in this one.
ADRESTIA - 18:10 (PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE STAKES) - 7/1 (BET365) - 0.5PTS E/W (6 PLACES)
