Royal Ascot 2025 Day Four Tips

14:30 – Albany Stakes (Fillies’ G3)

Aidan O’Brien has took out the Coventry, the Queen Mary and the Norfolk and other trainers must be in agony at his riches.

Unsurprisingly, he has the favourite here with Signora, who will surely improve for her debut, but 15/8 doesn’t look a gimme – or does it?

I am going to play a couple against her here with GREEN SENSE and VENETIAN SUN who are both available at bigger prices than I expected.

GREEN SENSE was a nice winner on debut at the Curragh, and it was noted that she hadn’t done too much work prior to that and that she was naturally very talented. She then finished 2nd to Lady Iman at Naas, with Signora in behind her.

VENETIAN SUN was an expensive buy, and she only won a novice race at Carlisle, but she is clearly held in high regard – in fact she has probably been Karl Burke’s filly talked about the most in build up to the meeting.

That Carlisle form looks solid with the 2nd, Argentine Tango, going on to win the Hilary Needler at Beverley. I also quite like the fact she stayed on so powerfully to win there as Carlisle is a stiff finish which should help her when coming to Ascot.

I have backed Green Sense at 11/2 and Venetian Sun at 11/1.

GREEN SENSE 11/2 1PT EW (4 places)

VENETIAN SUN 11/2 1PT EW (4 places)

15:05 – Commonwealth Cup (G1)

I was pretty bullish that SHADOW OF LIGHT was going to run a big race in the St James’ Palace, but it looks like avoiding Field Of Gold was probably the right decision.

This is a race needing a good winner else it could lose its Group 1 status and Charlie Appleby’s colt would certainly be a good one.

Shadow Of Light clocked a record penultimate furlong of 11.04s in the 2000 Guineas before probably just getting outstayed. They had to go for that after winning the Dewhurst last season – but he clearly won’t lack the speed to drop back to 6f.

He should have plenty of pace to aim at and he will be very tough to beat.

SHADOW OF LIGHT 13/8 2PT WIN

15:40 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

This looks an ultra competitive handicap, and Willie Mullins runs Ethical Diamond here who should be a big player, if, and a big if, she settles.

I have a couple in here against the field though and they are MOUNT ATLAS and ALMOSH’HER.

I was very worried when I saw Mount Atlas running in the Ormonde Stakes at the Chester meeting as I thought he could blow his handicap mark by getting too close. He ran very well, beaten under four lengths, maybe not getting home over the extended trip and only got a 4lb rise in the weights for that.

I think the drop back in trip is perfect, the ground will be perfect and as an extra positive he has won at Ascot before – he is a very strong fancy.

He has been well backed from 10/1 into 7/1, but I think anything over 5/1 would make him a brilliant each way bet.

Almosh’her has been targeted at this race since winning decisively in a handicap at the Dante meeting at York. He beat Stressfree that day, who has won since off a 4lb higher mark. Almosh’her only went up 5lb for that win, which looks very lenient as I thought he was good value for his win there, not doing that much when he got in front.

Karl Burke also has said he believes he is well handicapped and has also been backed from 7/1 into 5/1 but he still rates a solid each way bet.

MOUNT ATLAS 7/1 1PT EW

ALMOSH’HER 5/1 1PT EW

16:20 – Coronation Stakes (Fillies’ G1)

The market cannot make its mind up here with both Zarigana and Falakeyah vying for the spots and fluctuating between 2’s and 3’s.

I would have fancied Falakeyah for this quite strongly if her prep had been smoother but it clearly hasn’t been straightforward. She was very good in the Pretty Polly at Newmarket and she could take some whacking if totally ready.

Zarigana, I am lukewarm about, I’m not sure how good that French 1000 Guineas was as it was quite a bunched finish. I can certainly pass her by at 2/1.

I have backed CHANTILLY LACE, hoping this would cut up more than it has, but I still give her a decent each way chance at double figures – in fact the 20/1 is massive.

I thought Ralph Beckett’s filly ran a nice race in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket when not in love with the track – and also severely lacking experience compared to most of her rivals in that. She has a lot of untapped potential and should come on for her seasonal debut.

CHANTILLY LACE 20/1 0.5PT EW

17:00 – Sandringham Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap)

I think we are seeing one of the maddest gambles of the week here with Miss Nightfall being backed from 16s into as short as 9/4. Surely an insane price for all her chance is obvious.

DASH OF AZURE has also been backed in from 10s to 7s but I think that still has some juice as a mark of 86 could be very generous for her.

She bumped into Desert Flower on debut, Hold A Dream next time up (2nd in a listed race since) and then Bermuda Longtail (also 2nd in a listed race since). She then duly obliged at Kempton on handicap debut, picking up well and staying on strongly. She is open to further progress, and I have backed her at 7/1 each way with five places.

The other filly I have backed is CARTWHEEL, who has been routed here since she fell short in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket. Dylan Cunha knows the time of day and I thought she ran a really nice race in that affair against classier rivals than she faces here. She is off a mark of 87 and I think 50/1 looks a big each way price.

DASH OF AZURE 7/1 1PT EW

CARTHWEEL 50/1 0.5PT EW

17:35 – King Edward VII Stakes (G2)

This race has produced some smart winners in recent times, and they are generally well found in the market, with only one of the last ten winners being double-digit odds.

Amiloc is looking to maintain his unbeaten record and he is the one to beat in my view and think his form is above that of Zahraan. I don’t fancy Puppet Master at all and think he is short at 5/1 - surely he shouldn’t have beat Stay True at Lingfield!

I gave NIGHTWALKER a chance in the Derby a few weeks ago but the ground totally went against him and he disappointed. It wasn’t just him that disappointed from the Dante mind, so that certainly has to be a concern.

However, I am sure he is a horse who needs this trip, and conditions are back in his favour. He was certainly staying on well at the finish in the Dante after being very slowly away. He is available at double-digit odds and the Gosden team are flying this week – I can see him running on strongly – it will just be a case of whether he has the class.

NIGHTWALKER 12/1 0.5PT EW

18:10 – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

I have been pretty bullish on HAMMER THE HAMMER for this race for a while as anybody that knows me will tell you. I got the 16/1 available ante post but would still be advising people to back him at anything over 5/1.

He hacked up at Southwell before landing a hat-trick when making a mockery of stall ten at Chester when well in at the weights. He has been put away for this and although a mark of 100 could be stiff – he just looks to have everything required for this race.

He has experience, is super-fast and stays further than the minimum trip which is always handy. I think this is a group sprinter and hope he shows it here.

I would have backed Adresia as a saver at 16/1 but she has been smashed into 6/1 so that ship has sailed, but she was an eye-catcher at Windsor on seasonal debut and should relish a strong pace like she will get here.

HAMMER THE HAMMER 6/1 1PT EW