Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos

After a torrid Day 2 at Royal Ascot we bounced back on Day 3. Bronze River was left with far much too to do and it was soft enough for him. Mountain Angel relished the conditions, getting more luck in running this year. He was our e/w NAP at 12s and he won at 8/1. Ropey Guest ran his usual reliable race, rewarding e/w support at 33s. Mekong wasn’t at his best but Stradivarius looked better than ever. Al Rasmah was ridden too aggressively but Onassis, who we gave a good mention to, managed to score at 33/1. Dave Stevos is hoping for more success on Friday, check out his Royal Ascot Day 4 tips below…

Royal Ascot Preview: 1.15pm – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap (Class 2)

This is the first of four sprints on the card on Day 4 and it should tell a lot about the draw. So far on the straight track high numbers have dominated, although Khaloosy did manage to win the Britannia from stall 6. However, all the sprints have concerned the high drawn horses and it is hard to get away from the bias. The one I like with a nice draw in stall 18 is Illusionist for Grant Tuer and Sam James. Tuer nearly landed a double at Yarmouth last week so his horses are in good nick.

This horse was formerly trained by Archie Watson and he has won 1 of his 6 starts (5f gd/fm). However, the run that makes him of interest here was his cracking effort in the Windsor Castle last year. He was only 2L behind the winner Southern Hills who runs in the G1 Commonwealth and 1.5L behind the now 106 rated Platinum Star. He was just behind Symbolized, placed in a G3 here yesterday and ahead of Summer Sands (now rated 109).

Illusionist is in here off 92 today and on that Ascot run that looks tempting. Okay, you have to forgive a couple of poor subsequent efforts but those came on good to firm. He won his maiden easily on quick ground but that run here last season was a far better effort and it remains his only try on soft ground. His sire Hot Streak loved to get his toe in and at odds of 66/1 hopefully Illusionist is cut from the same cloth.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: Illusionist e/w @ 66/1 (6 places)

Royal Ascot Day 4: 1.50pm – Albany Stakes (Group 3)

This 6F Group 3 for 3yo fillies will be contested by a smaller field than usual. Only 14 will go to post so hopefully the draw won’t be too influential. As is the case with all the 2yo races this year, form is thin on the ground. Proper soft ground form is non existent and the only one with form on an easyish surface is Golden Melody. She won impressively at Haydock on good to soft but this will be more testing. Mother Earth is the favourite for Ballydoyle but her form is on firm ground and being by Zoffany, she could prefer that type of surface.

One that is bred to handle soft ground and who made a very promising debut is Mariance. Jonathan Portman is an underrated trainer and he has a decent record with 2yos. This filly is by first season sire Adaay and the dam side of her pedigree is all about soft ground. Her dam is by Carnegie, a horse that loved soft ground and there is every chance this filly could be the same. She finished with plenty left in the tank at Lingfield despite a wide trip and she didn’t get the clearest of runs either. It was a nice introduction and at odds of 50/1 Mariance is a speculative e/w pick.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: Mariance e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)

Ascot Preview: 2.25pm – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)

Next up is the Norfolk Stakes, a 5f Group 2 that has attracted a field of 13 runners. The Lir Jet was visually very impressive on debut and looks a promising sort. However, Nelson Gay was sent off favourite in that contest and he ran very well despite doing everything wrong. The son of Mehmas was slowly away, found trouble in running and his trainer said he didn’t appreciate the rattling quick ground.

That gives real hope that the switch to soft ground here could enable him to close the gap to The Lir Jet. His pedigree doesn’t scream soft ground but his sire was placed in the G2 Coventry here behind Caravaggio back in 2016 so hopefully this colt puts up a similar display. Again, like with all my 2yo tips confidence is low, but at 20/1 Nelson Gay is the each way selection.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: Nelson Gay e/w @ 20/1 nb (4 places)

Ascot Preview: 3.00pm – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

11 are due to go to post for the 12f Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes and it looks an open contest. Elarqam is the market leader and Lord North franked his comeback run earlier this week. He likes soft ground and he boasts some of the strongest form in this field. Anthony Van Dyck won the Derby last season but he needs it quick. Morando will relish all the recent rain and his career form figures on soft read 212, all at Listed and Group 3 level. He hammered Kew Gardens by 8L on his seasonal return last year and he usually goes well fresh when he gets his favoured conditions.

Defoe would like conditions to dry out. All his best form has come on ground with good in the description. Hamish handles any ground but this represents a step up in class for him. Fanny Logan has also won on soft but the majority of her winning runs came on quick ground. At a monster price I can resist taking a chance on Eagles By Day for Danny Tudhope and Michael Bell.

This son of Sea The Stars sole win came on good to firm but he hasn’t had many chances on soft. His sole run on proper soft ground resulted in a moderate run at Lingfield behind Anthony Van Dyck. However, his run behind Japan on good to soft at this meeting last year was a superb effort. He stayed on well for 3rd, finishing just 4L behind the winner. His dam Missunited loved soft ground and was an Ascot Gold Cup runner up in her pomp. At odds of 66/1 Eagles By Day could sneak into the frame.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: Eagles By Day e/w @ 66/1

Royal Ascot Preview: 3.35pm – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)

The Commonwealth Cup is the feature on Day 4 at Royal Ascot and 16 go to post. A trip of 6f awaits the 3yos and down markedly in trip, Royal Lytham looks a fascinating runner. This son of Gleneagles has some very smart 2yo form and was far from disgraced here in the Coventry. However, the run that makes him of interest is his 1L 3rd to Siskin on his only soft ground start.

What made that run even more impressive was the fact Donnacha O’Brien’s saddle slipped leaving the stalls. This horse showed bags of speed in the Irish 2000 Guineas and didn’t get home. On that evidence the drop back to this distance looks well worth a try. Ryan Moore prefers the chances of Lope Y Fernandez but soft ground is a complete unknown for him. He is just 4/1 and I would much rather take a chance on Royal Lytham e/w at odds of 20/1.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: Royal Lytham e/w @ 20/1 (5 Places)

Royal Ascot Day 4: 4.10pm – Queen’s Vase (Group 2)

Nine will go to post for this 14f Group 2 and Born With Pride is the market leader at 5/2. A heavy ground Listed winner on debut, her comeback run was clearly needed. The all weather surface didn’t play to her strengths either and a return to form would be no surprise in the conditions. Berkshire Rock would probably prefer faster conditions. Santiago won his maiden on soft last season at Listowel and as is the case with any runner form Ballydoyle, he needs to be respected. He is the pick of Ryan Moore.

Nobel Prize also has soft ground in the book and Frankie takes the ride. An interesting one at double figure odds is On Guard. Stevie Donohue takes the ride on John Gosden’s charge and he rode him to victory last time. This son of Invincible Spirit ran well on soft on debut last season and scored by a neck on good next time. He is one of the few runners with a run under his belt and that could stand to him. The trip is an unknown but he shaped like a stayer last time and at 16/1 On Guard could outrun his odds.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips: On Guard e/w @ 16/1

Royal Ascot Preview: 4.40pm – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap (Class 2)

I fancied Protected Guest for this 12f handicap big time, until the rain came. I’ll still be backing him for small stakes each way at 66/1 but confidence is much lower on soft ground. One horse that won’t have any worries with the conditions is Johnny Drama. One of two runners for King Power Racing, Rob Hornby claims what could be a very useful 3lb off his back.

He is a big horse and though he has won on good ground, he has run well on soft. Andrew Balding’s charge was beat 3L into 2nd over 12f off 99 at York on soft last year and with Hornby’s claim he is effectively 3lb lower here. He was conceding 7lb to the winner (now rated 102) and the 3rd Dark Vision won here off 100 earlier this week. On that form Johnny Drama is entitled to be thereabouts at the business and. At odds of 14/1 he is the e/w NAP of the day.

Royal Ascot Day 4: Johnny Drama e/w @ 14/1 NAP (6 places)