Royal Ascot Friday Tips
- 2:30 Ascot – VENETIAN SUN (9/2)
- 3:05 Ascot – BIG MOJO (EW, 18/1)
- 3:40 Ascot – HAND OF GOD (8/1)
- 4:20 Ascot – ZARIGANA (5/2)
- 5:00 Ascot – BETTY CLOVER (EW, 16/1)
- 5:35 Ascot – WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (17/2)
- 6:10 Ascot – ADRESTIA (EW, 16/1)
[single_affiliate_freespins id=”2960″ ]
2:30 Albany Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (2yo) 6f
A typically trappy opening race to Friday’s fourth day of Royal Ascot and VENETIAN SUN (9/2) can make it 2-2 for the campaign. Karl Burke’s charge ran out a comfortable winner of a decent novice at Carlisle when making her racecourse debut last month, tracking the leader and quickening up well to take up the running at the furlong pole and sticking on resolutely to run out a near-two-lengths’ victor over Argentine Tango. That rival won the Hilary Needler at Beverley next time to give some substance to the form, and with improvement anticipated on the back of that run, she could post another big effort in this higher grade. The last four winners of this race all came from a low draw, and she proved effective on fast ground in that debut victory. Plenty of race trends point to a big performance from Karl Burke’s runner who has Clifford Lee on board and the combination can get competitive in the opener.3:05 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (No Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 6f
BIG MOJO (EW, 18/1) showed good form last term, winning the Molecomb at Goodwood before making the frame in Group Two company at York and Doncaster prior to a very good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf behind Magnum Force. Mick Appleby’s charge has had two starts this campaign following wind surgery, making a winning reappearance over C&D when landing the Group Three Pavilion Stakes from reopposing Diablo Rojo and the Mohaather colt ran well in defeat next time when fourth in the Sandy Lane at Handock, beaten just over one length by Symbol Of Honour. Held up off the pace, he met some trouble in running before staying on well in the last furlong, but his traffic problems saw him give up too much ground, and he wasn’t able to land a blow on the leaders. That performance could be marked up, and this contest will be run to suit with a likely strong pace. Assuming he gets the gaps at the right time, he could be finishing off to good effect and a place on the podium is certainly within his reach. FREE BET – Bet £20 with a new BetMaze account > get a £20 free bet.3:40 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m4f
Another big field handicap to unravel and a tentative vote goes to HAND OF GOD (8/1) who shaped as if he’d be better for the run when down the field on his reappearance at Newmarket last month behind Fox Legacy. Harry Charlton’s charge had progressed with every start, winning at the third attempt when successful at Newmarket during his juvenile campaign and scoring on both runs last season, including here in the Golden Gates Handicap during this meeting. Absent since, he returned at Newmarket in the Sussex Stakes handicap (not to be confused with Goodwood’s Group One race) where he ran well but clearly wasn’t at peak fitness and Ryan Moore wasn’t hard on him when his chance was gone. He’ll come on for that outing and the progressive Churchill gelding likely has further improvement to come. He could well prove to be a Group horse in time and racing here of a mark of 102 his current rating looks fair especially given that Newmarket race is starting to work out quite well with the step up in trip likely to suit.4:20 Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo) 1m
Assuming quicker ground doesn’t catch her out then French challenger ZARIGANA (5/2) may be the one to side with in the day’s second Group One race. Francois-Henri Graffard’s charge has tasted defeat just once from five career starts, which came at Longchamp in the Prix Marcel Boussac where she was beaten just a short-head, and the Siyouni filly is 2-2 this term, most recently beating Shes Perfect to land the French 1000 Guineas – albeit in the stewards’ room after the race. Under a hold-up ride by Mikael Barzalona, who dropped his whip mid-race, she was travelling well but appeared to have quite a task to get competitive from her position before showing a very good turn of foot to scythe down rivals. Slightly impeded late on by the original winner, she stuck well to her task, only to lose out on the nod and while she was awarded the race, she has to be considered unlucky not to have won the race on merit. There is likely an even bigger performance to come and she could deliver it here if the quicker ground doesn’t prove an inconvenience..5:00 Sandringham Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m
BETTY CLOVER (EW, 16/1) spent much of last season contesting in Group racing, and Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge can resume winning ways now stepping into the handicap ranks for the first time. The Time Test filly was a Listed winner last term, taking the Marygate Stakes at Lork before being tried in Group company. Although she didn’t add to her tall,y she did turn in a series of creditable efforts, the pick of those coming here last July when denied only by a neck by Simmering in a Group Three. She has improved again this term, better for her reappearance fourth when finding only Crimson Advocate too strong at Goodwood in May, and there was no disgrace in her latest third to Godspeed at Chantilly at the beginning of the month, where she was only beaten two lengths. She is perhaps a bit more exposed than her rivals as she now goes handicapping from a mark of 100; however, that mark looks fair on her exploits to date, and she could have further progress still to com,e so a big run wouldn’t come as a surprise for all this is highly competitive. FREE BET – Bet £20 with a new CopyBet account > get a £20 free bet.5:35 King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 1m4f
The step up in trip could unlock another level of improvement in WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (17/2) who can regain the winning thread here. James Owen’s charge won twice last term, which included the Royal Lodge Stakes, and the Kameko colt has shown progressive form this campaign in his three starts, finishing second in the Craven Stakes before posting a very good fifth in the 2000 Guineas. Stepped up to ten furlongs for the Dante at York, he kept on at one pace from the furlong marker, unable to match the finishing speed of the winner and beaten around three lengths. The Dante form has taken a fair few knocks from the Epsom Derby, but there was enough in that performance to think this stiffer test of stamina could well bring out more progress. Underfoot conditions are fine, and the fitting of first-time cheekpieces may also prove a catalyst for better, so he could post a big performance here over the longer yardage and he remains one to be positive about.6:10 Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 5f
Day four of Royal Ascot ends with another pinsticker with a big field of 31 runners heading to post for this five-furlong cavalry charge and ADRESTIA (EW, 16/1) is only a tentative selection on the back of a promising reappearance eleven days ago. Simon Crisford’s charge looked progressive last term, where the Havana Grey filly won twice, scoring at Yarmouth and Sandown before hitting a wall in Listed company next time, although she threw away all chance at the start. The tight Chester turns and extra furlong were viable excuses for her next defeat, and she was subsequently absent until reappearing at Windsor recently, where she ran well to finish third behind Regal Envoy on her handicap bow. Not for the first time, she fluffed her lines at the start, slowly away before running on well from the rear, and she’ll need to break much better here than has been the case in recent starts. This rating could prove well within her scope, however, given she likely has further improvement, and she’s shown herself to be speedy despite her tendency to be slow away. She’s still relatively unexposed, and she’s entitled to be sharper for that Windsor return, so a big run now wouldn’t come as a shock, and if breaking on term,s she could make her presence felt in a race that will be run to suit.Bookies Offers to use on Friday’s Racing
[table_list num=”8″ cat=”Homepage” sort=”date” logo_aff_link=”true”]