ROYAL ASCOT 2020 [Behind Closed Doors]. DAY FOUR FRIDAY 19th JUNE

Friday Weather update -- A better day on Friday generally dry and sunny but not as warm as you would hope for in middle of June temperatures are a high of 17C, occasional showers possible.
Going -- Good to soft.

Day Four - Friday, June 19
Well done to all connected with yesterdays Gold Cup winner STRADIVARIUS, a gutsy display on soft ground hitting the front in the home straight under Ascot specialist Frankie Dettori and cruising to a 10L win beating Nayef Road. Hope you finding a few more winners this week, and are able to get served at the bar easier under this lock down lol. At least it's not so crowded here at home and the beers are served cold. 

1.15pm The Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)
5f  [£35,000  22 runners]
Our opening handicap on Friday is a sprint for 3yo's and headed by BAND PRACTICE who was sent over for the Breeders Cup last year after three wins as a 2yo and while that run was a step too far in his early career is clearly well regarded by the yard and his owners. WILL TO WIN was winning races over 6f last year and surprised to see the drop back in trip here, so preference is for the pair of ART POWER [Won 6/4f] and the filly MIGHTY SPIRIT who was 6th in last year's Queen Mary here.

Results:

1st    Art Power 6/4f  [S De Sousa]
2nd   Keep Busy 6/1
3rd    Dancin inthestreet 9/1
4th    Lambeth Walk 33/1

1.50pm The Albany Stakes (Group 3) 2yo fillies
6f  [£45,000  14 runners]
Out first Group 3 race today is the Albany Stakes a race for 2yo fillies and has a field of 14 runners declared for a 6f dash. Wesley Ward sends FLYING ALETHA over from USA and is always respected, might not want too much rain this week though. Might stick with the big yards here who are represented by MOTHER EARTH (AP O'Brien) along with WILLABELL (John Gosden) thought both need to improve having finished runner up on their only start to date.  

Results:

1st    Dandalla  13/2  [Ben Curtis]
2nd   Setarhe  11/4
3rd    Mother Earth  10/3

2.25pm The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) 2yo's
5f  [£50,000  14 runners]
This time it's the 2yo colts turn in a Group 2, can Cieren Fallon gain another 200/1 winner here on PAPAL BEE 😉. If that miracle doesn't happen again then maybe EYE OF HEAVEN is the one Mark Johnston's colt made a winning start at Newmarket and should be in the shake up along with THE LIR JET [Won 9/2] for Qatar racing from the yard of Michael Bell.

Results:

1st    The Lir Jet  9/2  [O Murphy]
2nd   Golden Pal  12/1
3rd    Imperial Force 15/2

3.00pm The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
1m 4f   [£125,000  11 runners]
Last years winner DEFOE returns to defend his crown today and should be well supported for this Group 2 event. He will have to be at his very best to see off the likes of last year's Derby winner ANTHONY VAN DYCK who was running well in defeat in the Group 1 Coronation Cup last time out and the trip is fine, the slight drop in class makes him hard to dismiss. With the stable, owner and jockey absolutely flying this week you must have an interest in ELARQAM with Jim Crowley looking to secure a top jockey title here. Outside could be MORANDO who is rated close to the principles while support for Sheikh Mohammad runner FANNY LOGAN [Won 17/2] could prove significant for the Gosden / Dettori team, was 4th in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mare's event at Santa Anita and it's great to see Frankie back in these famous colours again.

Results:

1st    Fanny Logan 17/2  [L Dettori]
2nd   Alounak  40/1
3rd    Defoe  6/1

3.35pm The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
6f  [£250,000 17 runners]
Our feature for Friday is the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for 3yo's and was won by Advertise last year, who will take the crown from this generation, especially with so few of the field having had a run this term. WOODED [Non Runner] did have a run winning at Chantilly in a Group 3 so has another step up to take here. KIMARI was runner up in last year's Queen Mary and this American raider must be respected was fourth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile and under a Frankie Dettori ride could have these in trouble. Aiden O'Brien runs four in this and it's LOPE Y FERNANDEZ that probably carries the strongest recent form into this and should not be very far away.

Results:

1st    Golden Horde 5/1  [A Kirby]
2nd   Kimari 5/1
3rd    Ventura Rebel 50/1

Advertise winner of the 2019 Commonwealth Cup

4.10pm The Queen's Vase (Group 2) 3yo
1m 6f  [£110,000  9 runners]
Just a select field of nine three year olds now for the stayers event where they'll start in front of the empty stands and we're headed by AL DABARAN who takes a big leap in trip and that tempers my enthusiasm today. BERKSHIRE ROCCO was runner up though staying on as if this extra couple of furlongs will help. Rare to see Frankie on an Aiden O'Brien horse, NOBEL PRIZE, when John Gosden has a runner in the field, ON GUARD, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in that particular contest. Support for HM The Queen's representative PUNCTUATION would be interesting as they had a winner on Wednesday and is an each way price as we write this so will have a place wager on that one together with Berkshire Rocco for the win.

Results:

1st     Santiago 100/30  [R L Moore]
2nd    Berkshire Rocco 3/1
3rd     Al Dabaran 6/1

4.40pm The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)
1m 4f  [£60,000 19 runners]
As usual we find ourselves looking at a big field handicap to conclude Friday with a race where the bottom weight MEDAL WINNER appeals as an each way selection, won a small race at Brighton but followed that up in handicap company a few weeks ago at Newcastle, should welcome the further step forward in trip and Oisin Murphy in the saddle is a bonus. One already proven over this sort of trip is DURSTON with victories at Doncaster and Chester then only missed out by a neck at Goodwood so if fit for seasonal return must go close. Was a couple of years back that GETCHAGETCHAGETCHA won for us at a big price here and I'll consider another each way chance in this field and has also proved he gets the trip too.

Results:

1st    Scarlet Dragon 33/1  [Hollie Doyle]
2nd   Deja  9/1
3rd    West End Charmer 4/1f

And that's all for Friday, last day tomorrow, hopefully you are doing as well as we are this week despite the lack of crowd, atmosphere but at least the travelling has been fine.