Day 4 followed the pattern of the other days at Royal Ascot.
It has been a very tough week for me, but to finally get a winner on the board gave me a little confidence.
Ardrestia was a good winner in the final race of the day; it was a shame she drifted out to 10/1, and I stuck her up at shorter prices.
Rebel's Romance 5/2 (1.5pt) – Ascot 3.05 (Hardwicke Stakes)
I'll be hoping that Charlie Appleby's yard finally starts to hit form as I like the look of Rebel's Romance in the Hardwicke.
On very quick ground, I struggle to see a horse that could actually beat him. It's not the strongest of races, and I think you can find holes in a lot of the form of the other horses. Like the first race of the day, I've tried to look elsewhere to see if I could get him beaten, but I really struggled to do so.
In reality, the fact that he is the good odds that he is, it's quite extraordinary. He is the highest-rated horse in the race by a fair distance, and based on what he has achieved, he should be shorter. I think he is a horse who goes under the radar because he is a globe-trotter and because we don't see him too often in the UK. He has racked up over £10,000,000 in prize money and has danced all the big dances. He was third in this race last year, and has since won Group 1s in Germany and America, as well as running in Qatar and Dubai.
Ghostwriter is the horse that has the unexposed profile for the trip. He can stay this trip if he is to have the mother's stamina, but I think it's a stab in the dark and last chance saloon to see if he is any good. His best form has come against City Of Troy over shorter distances, and he has had chances to win Group 1's since, where he has flopped.
Similar to yesterday, nearly every horse will be advised as singles as well:
3.40 – Great Generation 25/1 (0.5pt EW)
4.20 – Yah Mo Be There 28/1 (0.5pt EW)
5.00 – Korker 33/1 (0.5pt EW)
5.35 – Sallaal 8/1 (0.5pt EW)
6.10 – Wild Waves 5/1 (1pt)
Hopefully, we can end Royal Ascot 2025 with some winners, or at the very least some placed horses at big prices.
Apologies from me for the poor show this year for this great meeting. If you're one for favourites, you'll have had a fantastic time. I try and look outside the box at these meetings, but it hasn't paid off, and when I've fancied a shorter one, it's come back to bite me. It's racing, and at festivals like this, where the racing is so competitive, it is difficult. No excuses on my end, I need to do better, and I'm sure we'll recoup the losses at the other meetings like Glorious Goodwood and York's Ebor festival.
GambleAware