Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Day 4 of Royal Ascot 2024.
ROYAL ASCOT 2024 – DAY 4
Race 1 ALBANY STAKES (Group 3)
No5 FAIRY GODMOTHER
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Coolmore have regularly run fillies that end up Guineas contenders in this 1200 metres contest which is the newest of the juvenile races at the meeting. FAIRY GODMOTHER looks a strong arrow in that operation’s quiver following a couple of set-tos with Sparkling Sea that saw her open her account at Naas. Aidan O’Brien also fields HEAVENS GATE, who after a clear-cut triumph at the Curragh goes to post with an almost identical profile as her barnmate.
MOUNTAIN BREEZE has stylishly taken out races on the Rowley Course and rates one of Godolphin’s best chances of the week in this hat-trick bid under William Buick.
SIMMERING is a roughie that can’t be completely dismissed as she was a bit green when beaten on her York introduction. Her colours have already visited the winners’ circle this week.
Prediction: 1st FAIRY GODMOTHER, 2nd Mountain Breeze, 3rd Heavens Gate, 4th Simmering
Race 2 COMMONWEALTH CUP (Group 1)
No3 GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS (Each Way)
Trainer: Jessie Harrington – Jockey: Shane Foley
This isn’t the best Group 1 you will ever see owing to the defections of a couple of leading contenders. It’s a very hard race to weigh up, but I shall chance GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS to make experience count for Jessie Harrington. The selection was a Group 3 winner at two and made the perfect return when claiming a Listed race at Navan on testing ground. There wasn’t much wrong with her narrow defeat to Bucanero Fuerte at Naas while he claimed a minor cheque in the Coventry Stakes here 12 months ago.
INISHERIN forms part of a powerful twin attack on the race by owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid who is also responsible for ELITE STATUS. INSHERIN stormed home in the Sandy Lane at Haydock while Elite Status never looked like being caught in a dominating display at Newbury.
This pair go into battle with their tails up but JASOUR is another potential answer based on a Group 3 C/D triumph here last month which has been endorsed.
Prediction: 1st GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS, 2nd Inisherin, 3rd Jasour, 4th Elite Status
Race 3 CORONATION CUP (Group 1)
No5 OPERA SINGER (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
O’Brien was upfront in stating OPERA SINGER would need her first run back in the Irish Guineas. Taking stock of that, her performance to finish third to Fallen Angel was commendable, and gives her the foundations from which to build her season which could very well end up with a run at the Breeders’ Cup. She was the outstanding juvenile filly from Coolmore last year and is very much one to follow.
PORTA FORTUNA has proved a most consistent individual for Aidan’s son Donnacha and went down by just a neck to Elmalka in the Newmarket Guineas.
It should be a close run thing between her and the reopposing Elmalka and RAMATUELLE. The latter cut for home far too soon at Newmarket and might have prevailed had her jockey waited. Accordingly, he has been replaced, with Oisin Murphy now in the hot seat.
Prediction: 1st OPERA SINGER, 2nd Porta Fortuna, 3rd Ramatuelle, 4th Elmalka
Race 4 DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP
No9 DEAKIN (Each Way)
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Dylan McMonagle
The Irish have claims to sweep the board in the old Bessborough and the one that catches my eye is DEAKIN. The chestnut has looked a much-improved performer since being equipped with cheek pieces, scoring back-to-back triumphs last autumn at Roscommon and Thurles while returning to go down by just a neck to CRYSTAL BLACK at the Curragh.
That was a third success on the bounce for the latter who is very closely matched with my selection. ETHICAL DIAMOND is having just a fifth start on the Flat, having disappointed as a juvenile hurdler. It was by the narrowest margin that he was trumped by Saturn at Leopardstown in a display that smacks of more to come for Willie Mullins.
Sir Mark Prescott has already tasted success at the meeting and he could also have a say here with SEA KING. The five-year-old has won first time out for the past two seasons but has never been better. He’s highly regarded by the sage Prescott and after winning at Ripon will probably have more to offer.
Prediction: 1st DEAKIN, 2nd Sea King, 3rd Ethical Diamond, 4th Crystal Black
Race 5 SANDRINGHAM FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No17 INDELIBLE
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
This is the toughest day for punting of the week so far, and this relatively new distaffers’ race at the fixture will take a bit of working out. The one with an X-factor could be Shamardal filly INDELIBLE, who though proving easy to back showed battling qualities to prevail on her Doncaster return. This is an altogether different task but she’s impeccably bred, being out of a mare who was a Group 1 winner at home and overseas.
NOCTURNAL is similarly lightly-raced and needs respecting from the highest draw. High numbers were favoured in the Hunt Cup, and James Ferguson’s filly is one of Saffie Osborne’s best rides at the meeting.
FOREVER BLUE boasts a similarly engaging profile racing in the Wathnan Racing colours for Ralph Beckett. The daughter of Blue Point was an authoritative scorer at Haydock but her handicap bow presents a baptism of fire. The Irish challenge on this race is not quite as strong, but WITHOUT WORDS brings strong form to the table and could easily be involved.
Prediction: 1st INDELIBLE, 2nd Nocturnal, 3rd Forever Blue, 4th Without Words
Race 6 KING EDWARD VII STAKES (Group 2)
No10 SPACE LEGEND (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: James Doyle
Colloquially known as the Ascot Derby, this presents SPACE LEGEND with the opportunity to show his defeat by Meydaan at Goodwood was all wrong. The son of Sea The Stars gives every indication at home that he could be out of the top drawer, and I shall back him to bounce back in this step into Pattern company.
AGENDA could prove the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s runners despite Ryan Moore’s decision to partner DIEGO VELAZQUEZ. Agenda chased the shadow of the ill-fated Hidden Law in the Chester Vase but there was no disgrace in that defeat.
MACDUFF is a rangy individual who was all at sea on the Epsom cambers in the Derby. He needs to repair but looks over-priced considering how highly rated he is at Kimpton Stables. French challenger CALANDAGAN also enters calculations but this hasn’t been the most memorable meeting for Gallic runners so far.
Prediction: 1st SPACE LEGEND, 2nd Agenda, 3rd Macduff, 4th Calandagan
Race 7 PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE HOUSE HANDICAP
No14 PILGRIM (Each Way)
Trainer: David Barron – Jockey: Joe Fanning
The North can do well in a nightcap which looks impossible at first sight. PILGRIM was a wide-margin scorer at Musselburgh to follow a solid earning run at York, making him a danger to all if enjoying a good run through. His Knavesmire form over two seasons reads 421-3, giving him the look of a horse that might have gone under the radar. He’s trading at a double-figure price that encourages me to back him.
BLUE STORM hails from a Gemma Tutty stable that is excelling with its sprinters and Hollie Doyle’s mount comes firmly into the equation after winning a division of the Dash at Epsom.
DYRHOLAEY is unbeaten in three for Archie Watson who has fond memories of the Royal meeting. This colt by new stallion City Light can enter calculations, along with JUBILEE WALK.
Prediction: 1st PILGRIM, 2nd Blue Storm, 3rd Dyrholaey, 4th Jubilee Walk
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
5, 11 x 3, 4 x 5 x 9, 3, 16, 13 x 17, 21, 6 x 10, 1 x 14, 12, 20
R288
