Royal Ascot 2026: Precise and True Love round three in the Coronation Stakes

The three-year-olds star on day four of Royal Ascot and ITV Racing commentator Richard Hoiles has given his thoughts on the day’s action for Betway.

Royal Ascot rolls on to day four with little respite in terms of the number of runners in the juvenile races and the handicaps.

But a couple of the smaller fields of the week for the Coronation Stakes and the ‘Ascot Derby’ the King Edward VII.

The Commonwealth Cup also offers a fast flying field of 22.

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No issue in the Albany

Another one of Royal Ascot’s trademark juvenile races, this time for the fillies.

Over a furiously run six furlongs, the race is always frantic.

Despite the O’Brien bandwagon rolling on, Hoiles has sided elsewhere.

“Aidan O’Brien saddles yet another favourite here in Curragh winner Sun Goddess.

“She looks short enough in a race where the yard have had five of six favourites beaten down the years all of which started less than 2-1.

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“Silent Beauty looked very impressive when winning at Yarmouth and could well live up to her £1m price tag.

“Dark Issue 18/1 (14:30 Ascot) overcame two significant stats on debut and so could be under rated.

“The first was she made a winning debut at Goodwood, one of the hardest tracks in the country to do so (149/2170 A/E 0.84).

“And she is by Dark Angel, who whilst being an admirable sire has a very poor record with two-year-old debutantes (78/1020 A/E just 0.76).

“His overall juvenile record as a sire of juveniles is much better (A/E 0.94) and it shows how they progress well as they gain experience.

“Even a reasonable amount of progression could see Dark Issue right in at the finish.”

Sun to shine in the Commonwealth

In the short history of the Commonwealth Cup, Karl Burke has won the race before.

That was ten years ago with Quiet Reflection and he has another good chance with Venetian Sun.

Despite many challengers, the filly is Hoiles’ choice.

“Keeping this pretty simple as Venetian Sun 13/8 (15:05 Ascot) looked to appreciate the return to sprinting in the Sandy Lane.

“There seems no reason why any of her rivals from that race should reverse the form.

“That includes Division who had run so well at Ascot earlier in the season after blowing the start.

“Venetian Sun’s form lines stand close inspection, most notably her defeat of Gstaad in the Prix Morny.

“She won the Albany of this card 12 months ago and Karl Burke has already had a winner of the race with Quiet Reflection another filly who also used the Sandy Lane as her prep race.

“She looks a very sold favourite.”

O’Brien brigade continues

One of the longer handicaps on the card, the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes boasts a royal runner.

However, Hoiles has sided against the home favourite, opting to side with the flying Joseph O’Brien.

“Joseph O’Brien is having a great week and one of his runners here, Omni Man 12/1 (15:40 Ascot), caught my eye earlier on the season on his return at the Curragh.

“He dwelt that day and was never involved.

“But the sectional times pointed to the fact he finished with running left, and he was not given anything like a hard time.

“He was hardly likely to be suited by the drop back to a mile last time, but it had the desired effect of brining his mark down a handy 3lb.

“He was a creditable fifth in the King George V last year.

“His subsequent win at Goodwood does have him off a higher mark.

“But this has clearly been the target.

“Hopefully, Dylan Browne McMonagle can show the same artistry from stall 4 (a little lower than ideal) that he showed on Limestone earlier in the week.

Touleen to have her say on the Coronation

This year’s edition looks set to be a shootout between two O’Brien stars.

True Love won the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket beating Precise into second.

But Precise gained her revenge emphatically inn the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.

Hoiles believes these two will fight it out but has offered an alternative to round out the podium.

“The current score this season between Precise and True Love stands at 1-1 with Ryan Moore on the wrong side of both of those results.

“This time I think he has made the right call in riding Precise over this stiff mile.

“Fast ground, a strong tailwind and a steady pace all helped True Love last the trip at Newmarket.

“Whilst Precise, who had a setback in her preparation looked the stronger stayer at the Curragh.

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“There isn’t a great deal of obvious pace again here but the climb up from Swinley Bottom makes it more of a test at the trip which favours Fillies Mile winner Precise.

“She is however a very short price.

“So, with the hope that the dead eight runners remain through to the off and hence there are three places, then Touleen (EW) 11/1 (16:20 Ascot) may represent a more interesting angle.

“Her run in 1000 Guineas was a good deal better than it appeared, making up 10 places late on in a steadily run race.

“Hopefully the stiffer test will also suit her, and she can give Precise a race.”

Zooming to victory

Another race for the three-year-old fillies, this time over a mile.

The Sandringham has attracted a full field of 30 and Hoiles is wary of the race’s unpredictable nature.

That said, he still has a selection.

“There are few better placers of horses than William Haggas.

“So, after a staying on fifth in the Fred Darling it was a surprise to see  Zooming 28/1 (17:00 Ascot) backed up quickly and dropping a furlong at Goodwood just a fortnight later.

“Not surprisingly she made little impact, but she is a nice strong looking filly and this mile should play much more to her strengths.

“It is to my mind always one of the hardest races of the week, so I prefer a small investment at a decent price.”

Derby redemption

The King Edward VII Stakes, also known as the Ascot Derby, boasts a few on the comeback trail from Epsom.

Hoiles is siding with his Derby selection, seeing as the rain has stayed away.

“One of the smaller fields of the week.

“Having been scuppered by the attritional conditions at Epsom, Ancient Egypt 17/2 (17:35 Ascot), who was my Derby selection, is worth giving another chance to.

“Granted it remains to be seen how horses recover from a gruelling race.

“But this small field gives him the chance to dictate and recency bias, coupled with the many believing that Epsom will leave its mark, combine to make him look over the odds.

“Causeway is progressive and Water to Wine unbeaten, but the latter is priced on potential rather than achievement.

“They take a very large share of the market between them.

“Ancient Egypt can boss this from the front and as a result outrun his odds.

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Simple at Ascot

The final race on the card is the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes, another three-year-old handicap.

Another head scratcher, like most handicaps here but Hoiles has his eye on one to take the spoils.

“Not unlike the Sandringham a big field of unexposed three-year-olds.

“Many of whom have the potential to improve significantly, makes this a fiendishly difficult end to the card.

“Simplify 18/1 (18:10 Ascot) just got picked off at York by Dickensian having made her move a little early off a very strong pace.

“That was in Listed company so a mark of 96 looks workable.

“Whilst she is more exposed than most, she looks more likely to give her running.

“Jazl is very much respected but a 10lb rise for Leicester is quite a hike to overcome.

“This just makes me favour the filly who also has a more versatile draw in 18 to cope with any bias that may be evident come the end of the card, than Jazl who from five will be committed to being on one flank.

You can read Richard Hoiles’ thoughts on the fourth day of Royal Ascot on his Betway blog.