Day Four

The juveniles get the card underway once more on day four of Royal Ascot in the Albany Stakes. Fillies only for this affair run over six furlongs, a race that Jamie Spencer has won four times in his career, a phenomenal achievement given that the race only came into being in 2002. Mick Channon leads the way on the trainer side of things with three victories in the race, twice teaming up with Spencer for success.

The King Edward VII Stakes follows, three-year-old colts on the scene here over a mile and a half. In a similar story to the Oaks and the Ribblesdale, the Derby is not a great guide to this affair, certainly not in recent years, so those who arrive on the back of a visit to Epsom may be at a disadvantage once more. That said, the winners of the last two years have both come from that race so perhaps times are changing. Sir Michael Stoute has trained the winner four times since 2002 so he is the trainer who needs plenty of consideration.

The Commonwealth Cup is one of the more recent additions to the meeting. with just three renewals run. They have all gone to very smart types, with the 2018 renewal looking wide open at present. There is little between the likes of Sioux Nation, Invincible Army and Sands Of Mali at the head of the market, a string of Group triumphs between them. It’s a cracking contest in prospect and one that should be a great guide to the rest of the season at the top table.

The feature race on day four is the Coronation Stakes, the natural follow-up to those who were in the 1000 Guineas. It’s another with a tight market at an early stage with four of them vying for favouritism, including a pair for Ballydoyle. Irish 1000 Guineas winner Alpha Centauri is the one they have to beat if she is able to repeat that form, but she will face stiff challenges if she wants to be named the best miler of her age group.

The fillies remain in the limelight next on the card in the Sandringham handicap over the straight mile, another of the 5.00pm group of tough handicaps. The card ends with the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes over a mile and a half, another tricky one with just a single winning favourite in the last twenty-seven years!