ROYAL ASCOT 2014. DAY FOUR FRIDAY 20th JUNE

DAY FOUR

WHAT A GREAT GOLD CUP THAT WAS, THE WELL SUPPORTED WINNER LEADING LIGHT JUST GETTING THE BETTER OF THE QUEEN'S ESTIMATE. SHAME BROWN PANTHER COULD NOT QUITE GIVE US THE 1-2-3 BUT IT WAS ANOTHER SUPERB DAY OVERALL. 

FEW QUICK NOTES ABOUT FRIDAY'S MEETING. THE OPENING RACE AT 2.30 THE ALBANY STAKES FOR 2YO FILLIES HAS A FIELD OF 24. FRANKIE DETTORI HAS BEEN RUNNING WELL FOR HIS RETAINED OWNER AND IS ON BOARD OSAILA [5th 16/1] AND PRICED ABOUT 12./1 WHICH IS FAIR BUT HER ONE RACE WAS A NOTTINGHAM MAIDEN AND THIS IS A BIG STEP UP ALREADY? THE AMERICAN TRAINED SUNSET GLOW [2nd 7/1] WINNER OF A BELMONT MAIDEN AND SURELY NOT OVER HERE FOR THE AIRMILES COULD BE INTERESTING BUT ONLY SHOWING AS A 5/1 SHOT. 

THE KING EDWARD VII STAKES OFF AT 3.45 A SELECT FIELD OF 9 NOW THAT WESTERN HYMN IS A NON RUNNER. THIS HELPS THE SIR MICHAEL STOUTE TRAINED SNOW SKY [NAP] AS HE WAS BEATEN BY THAT HORSE TWO RUNS AGO BEFORE WINNING THE LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL (DID NOT RUN IN THE DERBY ITSELF). 

THE 4.25 IS ANOTHER FILLIES EVENT THIS TIME IT'S THE CORONATION STAKES FOR 3YOs' AND LIGHTNING THUNDER LOOKS THE ONE FOR THIS AFTER A GOOD SHOWING IN THE 1000 GUINEAS FINISHING CLOSE TO THE WINNER MISS FRANCE. 

YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WITH THURSDAY BEING LADIES DAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SENSIBLE AND A BETTER MARKETING OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THESE FILLIES RACES ON THE SAME DAY !! 

AT 5.oo WE'VE THE 2m QUEENS VASE RACE, WON LAST YEAR BY YESTERDAYS GOLD CUP WINNER LEADING LIGHT. AIDEN O'BRIEN HAS CENTURY THIS YEAR AND WAS IN MANY 10 TO FOLLOW LISTS AT THE START OF THE SEASON BUT HASN'T LIT UP THE RACECOURSE AS YET. MAYBE THIS STAMINA TEST CAN SEE HIM GO CLOSER TO A WIN. THE MARK JOHNSTON YARD HAVE WON THIS RACE FREQUENTLY AND HE RUNS HARTNELL WHO WAS 2ND IN THE LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL AND BRED TO STAY THIS FAR. 

OUR FINALE AT 5.35 FOR FRIDAY IS A HANDICAP (BUCKINGHAM PALACE STAKES) ONLY 29 RUNNERS BUT WE STRONGLY RATE No4 HORSTEAD KEYNES HERE WITH JAMIE SPENCER RIDING FOR ROGER VARIAN. DESPITE AN 11lb RISE FOR HIS LATEST WIN IT'S POSSIBLE HE'S STILL IMPROVING ON TURF (EARLIER WINS ON AW).