Our resident tipster Ben Morgan gives his best picks for day four at Royal Ascot
2.30 – Signora to be crowned Queen
I think this is a deep race, and there could be some really nice fillies for the future here. I was very keen on SIGNORA at 6/1, but her price has now tumbled, and she is a win-only bet now.
I’d probably still play her however, as her debut run was full of promise, and we all know how much Aidan O’Brien‘s two-year-olds improve for their first run.
That two-year-old team have been on top form so far this week, and this well-bred filly will be looking to improve that fine team performance here. She has a favourite’s chance.
Further down the betting, I think IPANEMA QUEEN is interesting at a big price given the way she won her maiden last time out. The further she went, the better she got, which bodes well for this stiff 6f test here.
Amo Racing have since snapped up a share in her, which means David Egan takes the ride, and if she is still in with a chance at the furlong pole I think she could ruffle some well-fancied feathers.
3.05 – Light at the end of the tunnel for Appleby
Charlie Appleby has had a tough week so far, which will be frustrating for him as he hasn’t had a Royal winner since 2022, but I think SHADOW OF LIGHT is his glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
We have all seen how the Guineas form has been working out, and I think this fellow emerged with a lot of credit by finishing second.
There were doubts over whether or not he would stay the mile, and those doubts still remain, given he is lining up here over 6f but now returning to what we know he does best, I think he has a great chance here.
It isn’t a vintage Commonwealth Cup despite the big field, and I think he might just be the star in the pack here.
I will give a mention to IDES OF MARCH, who I thought ran better than the result suggested last time.
He was caught in no man’s land on the wing and has the same dilemma today to be fair, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he snuck a place at a tasty price.
3.40 – Karl Burke’s improver to come out top in Mosh pit like handicap
I think ALMOSH’HER should be the favourite here, given his profile and comments from connections so I found it quite amazing James Doyle hasn’t elected to ride him.
I thought he ran a great race when he won at York on stable debut and that form has been franked quite convincingly since.
I suggest he will take a big step forward from that race and improve again mentally and physically, given his lightly raced profile, which should mean he takes all the beating. It is a competitive handicap with 9lb separating the filed, but I like his chances at 7/1.
4.20 – Lace to tie them up in knots in Coronation
This is a very good edition of the Coronation Stakes, and I’m excited to see who comes out on top.
I’m not convinced Zarigana has the best form in the book, and this will certainly put her ability to the test.
Falakeyah has been a bit of a talking horse so far, but her ability to stay further could be crucial late on if they do go at a good pace here.
Whether she wants a mile around a bend, I’m not sure, and at a skinny price, I don’t want to be backing her.
I think the 1000 Guineas form is the place to look, and I would certainly be looking at the Sangster duo Flight and Simmering to run a lot better than they did at the Curragh.
However, I think the twice-raced CHANTILLY LACE has the most improvement to come and she is chanced at 12/1.
Ralph Beckett was brave putting her into the Guineas after only one run but she rewarded his faith with a big run to finish 5th.
I’d hazard a guess she has come forward a lot for that and the fact connections have waited for this race suggest they are confident she can reverse that form somewhat.
She looks to be a good each way bet at 12/1.
5.00 – Murphy hoping to be back before Nightfall
We’re going to need a lot of luck to win this but I’ve had MISS NIGHTFALL down for this race for a while now and I’m keen to see how she gets on.
She was a big eye catcher at Goodwood last time out when failing to get the breaks at the right time before steaming home for second.
She opposes with Silver Ghost (who I also respect) and I expect James Fanshawe’s filly to reverse that form granted clear sailing.
Oisin Murphy would have been in hot demand for this race so the fact he gets the leg up is a big positive also.
5.35 – Beckett 3-year-old to Loc horns in toughest test to date
It was hard not to be impressed with AMILOC last time at Goodwood and the way he came from back to front was quite something.
No other horses made up any sort of ground that day so the fact he did so in such style got everyone marking him down as one to follow.
He isn’t going to be an attractive price but this is his toughest test to date and will have to improve again but from what we saw at Goodwood I think he could be quite special.
Of the bigger prices I rate Convergent highly and his form is there for all to see but I’m going to have an each way saver on REGAL ULIXES.
He wouldn’t have gotten into the handicap on Day 3 off a mark of 93 so that forced connections’ hand to run here instead but I think he can still figure.
His form reads well and I think he might just be a bit of a sleeper. I doubt he will be 28/1 again after this race.
Amiloc / Regal Ulixes
6.10 – Can’t touch the Hammer
HAMMER THE HAMMER has been mightily impressive on his last two starts and I think he has every chance of backing those performances up here.
If he did that would confirm my suspicions that he is a Group horse in a handicap as he will have to do it off top weight here.
The fact he is against his own age group makes conceding weight slightly easier as I am not sure some of these will ever be able to get close to him no matter how much weight he concedes.
He might not be able to blast off as far as he has been doing but if he gets the fractions right I am expecting a dominant performance.
