FRIDAY'S card at Royal Ascot features two fascinating Group 1s, with the Commonwealth Cup at 3.40 and the Coronation Stakes at 4.20. The Commonwealth Cup has a field of 21 including Campenelle from the Wesley Ward team, who is yet to have a winner at the time of writing and the unbeaten French raider Suesa. Sacred, for William Haggas, drops back in trip after not staying the mile in the 1,000 Guineas, whilst Supremacy, the Middle Park winner, must bounce back from a disappointing first run of the season, although there were excuses (see below).
In the Coronation Stakes it is all about Ireland at the head of the market with Mother Earth, Empress Josephine and Pretty Gorgeous, whilst Novemba, the German 1,000 Guineas winner, is an overlooked contender. Sir Michael Stoute has Potapova in the field, who has to take a big step up but could do it, whilst Alcohol Free is right in the mix.
The expected deluge for Thursday’s racing didn’t arrive and writing here on Thursday morning the current forecast for Friday looks unlikely to change the quick going so I have changed some selections.
Enjoy your day at Royal Ascot 2021 and if #AtHome watch every race on ITV Racing.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
2.30 Ascot – Albany Stakes Group 3 (6f)
Flotus (nap) looked so exciting on debut at Goodwood last month when recording an eye-catching victory when beating Prism by nearly five lengths over today’s trip on soft going. He looked green in the first half of the race ahead of powering away smoothly from the rest of the field. This race had a pretty good speed figure and there will be plenty of improvement to come from this filly by Starspangledbanner, who was ground versatile. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 11/4 win
3.40 Ascot – Commonwealth Cup Group 1 (6f)
Supremacy won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket as a juvenile. He would have been much shorter had he not finished last on seasonal debut here in the Pavilion Stakes at the April meeting, although there were excuses as he returned home with a high white blood cell count. Trainer Clive Cox has reported him right back to form and let’s remember he is the highest rated at 118. The quick conditions are going to suit him too as he won on good and good to firm last season. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 7/1 each way
4.20 Ascot – Coronation Stakes Group 1 (1m)
Mother Earth my Unibet nap for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket will relish the quick conditions more than some of her rivals. Mother Earth was always travelling well in the 1,000 Guineas and then was second at Longchamp to Coeursamba in testing conditions, which didn’t suit her. Given a break, she can stamp her authority here. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 3/1 win
5.00 Ascot – Sandringham Stakes Handicap (1m)
Prado is ridden by Unibet Ambassador Jamie Spencer, who has ridden the winner of the Sandringham twice in the last five years. Prado ran in Group company last season at Goodwood, when second to Isabella Giles and then in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster when sixth. Her only start this season was here at the April meeting when Prado missed the break but ran on encouragingly to finish fourth without being given a hard race. Prado will come on plenty for that run and Jamie Spencer will deliver his trademark late challenge. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 20/1 each way
5.35 Ascot – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (1m 4f)
Aaddeey won his last start at Newmarket on quick ground over this trip in May beating Rodrigo Diaz (won next time out) as he liked with the third nine lengths back in third. The handicapper raised this four-year-old by thirteen pounds for that success and that doesn’t look prohibitive to this gelding scoring his third career victory on his sixth start. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 6/1 each way
Zabeel Champion has form figures of 2111 in 2021 and looks laid out for the race by trainer Mark Johnston, who has won this four times. We haven’t seen Zabeel Champion since the Guineas meeting when he just beat Global Storm (third on Tuesday in the Copper House Stakes) and Grand Bazaar, who reopposes today. This four-year-old colt has won on all types of going, is as determined as they come and has more to offer. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
Unibet 12/1 each way
6.10 Ascot – Palace Of Holyroodhouse (5f)
Fantasy Master is worth an each-way wager from stall 20 in an open looking contest.
Last season Fantasy Master won twice and was runner-up to the smart Nelson Gay at Sandown on seasonal debut ahead of disappointing at Newmarket. Next time up this colt was a close fourth to Rebel At Dawn when running on well. That was much better and the stiff five at Ascot look sure to suit. Ground conditions will be fine, and the Michael Appleby yard are in good form. Unibet's 15 To Go free bet offer runs on all Royal Ascot races.
