ROYAL ASCOT 2021. DAY FOUR FRIDAY 18th JUNE

Friday Weather update - Was hoping for a better day on Friday but there is a 90% chance of rain and indeed it's been coming down very heavily this morning. Might develop into some thunder later, the temperature also takes a dive in middle of June and a high of 15C is all we can expect today. Will update the going report if the rain is sufficient to alter it, it has now been changed to soft, causing a number of non runners today.
Official Going Report - Soft (becoming Heavy later).

DAY FOUR
Well done to all connected with yesterdays Ascot Gold Cup winner SUBJECTIVIST for trainer Mark Johnston and jockey Joe Fanning a superb ride from the front to take the stayers crown away from the favourite STRADAVARIUS who met all the trouble in running and never looked like winning his fourth title this year. Hope you finding a few more winners this week, and making most of the glorious sunshine as the thunder storms are due any moment.

2:30 Royal Ascot - Albany Stakes (2yo) [Group 3]
6f  15 runners
The opening race is at 2:30 it's the Albany Stakes a race for 2yo fillies and has a field of 15 runners declared for a 6f dash. The Crisford yard sent out FLOTUS to win by over 4L on debut at Goodwood though the form took a knock when the runner up that day came last next time out. Aiden O'Brien relies on PRETTIEST a winner of a Navan maiden and could be anything from this strong ownership. Hello You is another to consider having won her opener by 6L+ where the fourth that day Sunstrike also went on to win in her next race and reappears again this afternoon.
RESULT
1st - (13) Sandrine @16/1 [David Probert].

3:05 Royal Ascot - King Edward VII Stakes [Group 2]
1m 4f  6 runners
The King Edward VII Stakes is next off at 3:05 just the eight declared 3yo's here led by Gear Up [Mark Johnston]. Winner of Group races as a 2yo was probably tilting at windmills in the Epsom Derby and this drop in class is more likely. Winner of a classic trial at Sandown ALENQUER went off 25/1 there and is likely to be about 6/4f today. The horse he beat that day Adayar went on to win the Epsom Derby so must be taken seriously today. Both Title (Highclere) and Yibr [N/r] (Godolphin) represent strong owners and may well improve for time, this looks a bit too hot, so the main danger probably seems to be THE MEDITERRANEAN from Aiden O'Brien. 
RESULT
1st - (2) Alenquer @13/8f [Tom Marquand].

2020 Commonwealth Cup won by Golden Horde

3:40 Royal Ascot - Commonwealth Cup [Group 1]
6f  15 runners
A relatively new race at 3:40 is the Commonwealth Cup a Group 1 contest run over 6f for 3yo's. The event was only added to the meeting in 2015, is part of the British Champions Series and is worth just under £200k to the winner. CAMPANELLE [Won 5/1] came over from the States to win the Queen Mary last year and Frankie Dettori can once again get this filly to the front again. Diligent Harry [N/r] won at the all weather championship finals day but this ground, along with a huge field is a different proposition, Dragon Symbol lost by the smallest of margins in soft ground at Haydock last time and will see redemption, also has the highest rating here. The French raider SUESA is unbeaten after four runs at Chantilly, twice successful at group three level is one to take very seriously here in the famous colours of Mr George Strawbridge.
RESULT
1st - (13) Campanelle @5/1 [L Dettori].

4:20 Royal Ascot - Coronation Stakes (3yo) [Group 1]
1m (round course)  11 runners
Another fillies event at 4:20 is the Coronation Stakes run on the round mile track and limited to 3yo's, there are thirteen declared including representatives from the Uk, Ireland and Germany. Alcohol Free was 5th in the 1000 Guineas, not a bad run, and the famous Jeff Smith colours should be seen close to the fore. Aiden O'Brien has a pair of runners, Empress Josephine winner of the Irish 1000 classic, and Mother Earth who took the Newmarket version then runner up in France, not much between them though Ryan Moore has chosen the latter. O'Brien's sons Joseph and Donnacha saddle Pretty Gorgeous and Shale respectively. The German challenge is NOVEMBA, trained by former German Champion jockey Peter Schiergen and his runner was the German 1000 Guineas winner, the trainer has come over before to win the Coronation Cup so shouldn't be completely dismissed. POTAPOVA is a highly promising type who has landed both starts in novices with any amount in hand, cruising away to land  the odds at Redcar and Sir Michael Stoute's runners are always respected here.
Lively outsider - Fev Rover ran a huge race to finish third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, then didn't get a clear run in the Irish equivalent last month. Likeable sort who can't be discounted and available at around 25/1.
RESULT
1st - (1) Alcohol Free @11/2 [Oisin Murphy].

5.00 Royal Ascot - Sandringham Stakes
1m  22 runners
The biggest field today as thirty runners are declared for the straight mile contest, a race that Hayley Turner has won for the past two years so will be interested to see if there is support for her on Professional Widow (another 33/1 shot). Godolphin silks have been having a good week so far and they are doubly represented with Divine Light (W Buick) and A'Shaari (James Doyle) both trained by Charlie Appleby. I'll take a pair against the field which will include JP O'Brien's CAMDEBOO the filly won well at Cork on only second start and then ran with credit in a listed event back there, should go well. Also side with FAR HOPE who might not have beaten much at Brighton last time, but has acquitted herself well and the jockey claims a useful 5lb also rode a winner on Wednesday.
RESULT
1st - (6) Create Belief @6/1 [Ben Coen].

5.35 Royal Ascot - Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
1m 4f  14 runners
The penultimate race on Friday off at 5:35 is the Duke of Edinburgh stakes over 1m 4f. A very poignant race this year following the passing of Prince Phillip in April. Last years winner Scarlet Dragon returns for Alan King and reunited with Hollie Doyle, a repeat isn't out of the question, trainer also runs Raymond Tusk (Jim Crowley) as well as Tritonic (Ryan Moore). William Buick is having a decent week and could have a decent chance on WIN O'CLOCK here, productive throughout last year his decent 4th in a York handicap on latest start gives him claims again. While the lightly raced AADDEEY trounced his opponents last time, could still have more to come and another to side with against the field in a fairly open race.
RESULT
1st - (13) Quickthorn @7/2f [Oisin Murphy].

6:10 Royal Ascot - Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes (3yo)
5f  22 runners
The finale for Friday is another new race for 2021 named after the Scottish Parliament the Palace of Holyroodhouse stakes a five furlong dash for three year olds. A huge field of 25 were initially declared so not going to be an easy task, but we do fancy WARRIOR BRAVE already a winner three times and runner up in a listed contest at Sandown last weekend, is due to go up 7lb in the handicap as a result of that run so must be high on any shortlist today. Elsewhere also considering BOOMSHALA trained by Roger Varian, raced three times and won last two novice events now moves into handicap company clearly in good heart. The sequence of wins for MO CELITA may not be coming to end just yet under Oisin Murphy, especially if there are more thunderstorms as predicted, has also changed owners since that last Haydock win.
RESULT
1st - (8) Significantly @10/1 [C Lee].

And that's all for Friday, last day tomorrow, hopefully you are doing as well as we are this week. For all that talk when Ireland were dominant at Cheltenham I haven't seen them have many winners this week eh? We also have the England vs Scotland game to follow this evening in the European Championship kick off at 8pm.