On Day four of Royal Ascot, we have two Group 1 races, but the one I have decided to focus on is the Coronation Stakes.
Ascot 4.20 – Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies)
Over the years, we have seen some top-quality fillies come to the Coronation Stakes and win and then go on to bigger and better things. The roll of honour consists of Porta Fortuna, Tahiyra, Inspiral, Alpha Centauri and many more.
We don't have every horse turning up that we'd like to see, but it's still a very good renewal and an interesting race.
We don't have the UK or Irish 1000 Guineas winner turning up, but we do have the French 1000 Guineas winner. Zarigana is the current favourite, and I think if this race was run in France, she would be much shorter in the market. She won the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards' room when She's Perfect got demoted for small interference. That is the best form on offer in this race, and if she can handle a quicker surface, she has to be tough to beat.
| Royal Ascot Day 4 free bets | Offer | Free bet link |
|---|---|---|
| Puntit | £20 in free bets | Get the offer >> |
| Betvictor | £50 in free bets | Get the offer >> |
| Star Sports Bet | £20 in free bets | Get the offer >> |
Ryan Moore has switched rides and has gone for January over Exactly, who he rode in the French 1000 Guineas. That is and isn't a surprise at the same time. It's a surprise as January doesn't have the same level of form as Exactly, but it's not a surprise because she might have improved since we last saw her. Based on what we do know, she has to improve a fair amount to win this, but she will be strong in the market because of the man on board.
For me, Falakeyah is the potential superstar filly in the race. What she did at Newmarket in the Pretty Polly was breathtaking. She took the bull by the horns and won from the front, not seeing a rival. The pace she showed that day was electric, which is why I believe the drop back to a mile is not going to inconvenience her in the slightest. The eye test was an immediate wow, now she has to prove she can compete against better opposition. She is drawn in stall 2, which isn't ideal as a slow start will mean she could get boxed in, but she went from the front last time out, so they might employ the same tactics.
Other than the ones I've named, it would be a bit of a shock to see another winner. Kon Tiki was an improver at York in a Listed race last time out. She was 88-rated when she won that, so she had a big injection of improvement. I thought the performance was quite taking, and I think she could run into the places, but winning is a big ask.
Chantilly Lace was fifth in the UK Guineas, so she has a solid chance of placing as well. However, the yard form is a concern, and I wouldn't want to touch a runner from the Beckett stable due to that.
I tipped up Cathedral last time out in a race I was very confident she would win. She was against the older horses on her return to the track and was receiving a lot of weight. She looked fairly clueless and in need of a run, but she is also from the Beckett yard.
GambleAware