Royal Ascot 2021 - Day 4



2:30 - Albany Stakes (Group 2) 6f

I was pretty keen on the chances of EVE LODGE earlier in the week but she was a non-runner and connections have decided this 6f contest may suit her better as the ground earlier in the week was a bit on the quick side. Forecast rain should suit, as mentioned previously her sire has been doing well recently, particularly on soft ground. She won herself on soft ground at Lingfield and although she has a bit to find on figures she may handle the conditions better than a lot of those in here. The draw may not be ideal but I think the odds compensate sufficiently.

EVE LODGE 16/1


4:20 - Coronation Stakes (Group 1)

I would be a lot stronger on PRIMO BACIO if this was on good ground (writing this assuming it will have softened up by race time), but there is a chance she will handle some give as her sire was a soft ground winner. Ed Walker’s filly absolutely sluiced up at York last month, she raced keenly early on and managed to quicken up off a fairly moderate pace which was very impressive. The second, Creative Flair, has since won a listed race and I’m going to have a small each-way play in the hope she handles conditions.

PRIMO BACIO 11/2



5:00 - Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) 1m

Followers of this blog will be well aware I’m not normally one for tipping favourites but when the favourite is 11/1 I think I can make an exception. That price for FRIENDLY shows how wide open this contest is, but I think if there is a top class horse in here it could be her, therefore this mark of 102 could still underestimate her. She was sent off 100/1 for the Irish 1000 Guineas but was only beaten just over 3 lengths and I think she was probably racing on the wrong part of the track. The ground was desperate that day and although there is rain forecast I can’t see conditions being as bad here and I think she has a great chance on handicap debut, with six places available each-way.

FRIENDLY 11/1


5:35 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) 1m4f

It is quite often the case that the draw is less important on the round course, that being said I would probably still rather be double figures than too low, as it usually gives more options when turning for home. MIRANN really caught my eye when I was going through this field and I think he looks a decent each-way play in this. He is a strong staying type so the fact he has been running so well over shorter trips recently is very encouraging. The son of Motivator was sent off favourite for a Leopardstown handicap over 1m5f and ran very well after being left with far too much work to do in the closing stages. He also looked unlucky last time out at the Curragh and he is sure to appreciate the forecast rain. I think he may have been laid out for this by his shrewd trainer and is worth a few quid each-way with extra places on offer.

At a bit of a wild price, I’m also going to have a small each-way bet on the outsider of the field here in KHAGAN. He was a useful performer out in France for Andre Fabre as a three year-old, running well in group races and unlucky not to land a G2. He has hardly set the world alight for new connections but he has been racing over inadequate trips on both starts on ground which probably didn’t have enough give for his liking, I also think his more recent run was better than his finishing position suggests. This yard does well with their French recruits and I wouldn’t be surprised if this gelding shows a bit more here.

MIRANN 12/1

KHAGAN 50/1

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