Friday 17th June 2022
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Royal Ascot 2022 Previews Sponsor:
We kick things off on Day 4 at 2:30 with the Albany Stakes which is Group 3 action for fillies over a distance of six furlongs. I’ve sided with the Aidan O’Brien trained Meditate here who’s currently 4/1 and set to be ridden by Ryan Moore. She arrives here sporting a perfect record of two victories from two starts and was most recently seen when winning a Group 3 event at Naas back in May. There likely is a lot more to come from here and I think she could prove to be another filly that’s straight out of the top drawer for her powerhouse connections.
It’s the 3:05 up next which is the Commonwealth Cup that’s a Group 1 affair that’s also contested over six furlongs. Perfect Power heads affairs here and he’s a very likable sort who’ll be well-fancied to run a big race. I’ve taken him on though, and I’ve done that with Ehraz who’s a 6/1 chance for the combination of Richard Hannon and Jim Crowley. He’s by Showcasing and is a course and distance winner having shed his maiden here last year in impressive style when winning by over four lengths. Last time out at Newbury he should’ve won, having made a lot of late headway to only be denied into second by a shoulder and just miss out on the listed honours. I think there’s a lot more to come from him though and despite having a bit to find on ratings I think he could take a considerable step up and run well here.
Moving onto the 3:40 which is the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes which is a Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over a distance of a mile and four furlongs. This is a 19 runner extremely competitive affair, and as a result of said competitiveness I’ve taken a chance on one at a huge price here in State Of Bliss at 40/1 for the team of Mark & Charlie Johnston and Joe Fanning. He’s a four-year-old who’s not the most consistent horse in the world, however, he is a course and distance winner and that victory came off a mark that was only four pounds lower than the one he’ll contest off in this particular assignment. He’s already won this season as he got his head in-front at Ripon back in April, his most recent outing though came at Epsom where he finished fifth of sixteen in another hot handicap after being hampered two furlongs from home. He’ll need to post his best performance to date to win this but I think he has a chance of outrunning his odds.
Next up is the 4:20 which is the Group 1 Coronation Stakes that’s contested over the round mile. The team of John & Thady Gosden and Frankie Dettori haven’t had much luck at all so far, however, I think that could well change here as I think this will go to Inspiral who’s currently a best price of 3/1. She’s not been seen since October of last year when she won the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, that success propelled her to the top of Guineas markets, however, she had to miss said assignement due to meeting a setback. It remains to be seen just how tuned up she’ll be for this, but I think she has star quality about her and if she’s anywhere near her best she will be very tough to beat.
It’s more handicacp action at 5:00 as the Sandringham Stakes takes centre-stage for the fillies. I’ve opted for another one at a big price here and I’ve done that with Invigilate at 20/1 for Sir Michael Stoute and Jimmy Quinn. She signed off her campaign last term with victory at Leicester and made her return to the track at Nottingham last month when she ran a solid race on her handicap debut, finishing second by a length. It’s likely that she will build on that effort here and whilst these are a lot deeper waters, she could have considerable progression to come and she’s a sister to the very smart Expert Eye who once sported these silks to Breeders Cup Mile success.
The penultimate race of the day is once again the 5.35 which this time is the King Edward VII Stakes, a Group 2 affair that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. Changingoftheguard sets the standard here for Ballydoyle on what he’s shown so far this season, however, I’ve sided with the Godolphin runner in Ottoman Fleet at 15/8 for Charlie Appleby and Jimmy Quinn. He’s a gelding by Sea The Stars who got off the mark at the second time of asking when last seen at Newmarket winning the listed Fairway Stakes by half of a length. It’s likely that this step up to a mile and four furlongs will really suit him and what’s even more likely is that he has a bundle of progression still in him. It will take a big performance to get the better of the Ballydoyle hotpot but I think he could well be up to the task.
Signing things off again is the 6:10 which comes in the form of the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes which is a handicap over five furlongs. This is another huge field as no less than 28 runners currently take their place in the line-up. I’ve taken a chance on another Wesley Ward horse here though in Ruthin at 12/1 who’s to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. She went off favourite for the Chesham here last year and ran a decent race when finishing 7th in what was another huge field, twenty seven runners on that occasion. She made a winning return to the track at Keeneland last time when taking a listed contest by half of a length, she’ll have a lot of speed and if getting away well she’ll steal lengths at the start. The question will be if she can hang on at the business end of things.
Everything Racing 