Royal Ascot: rest of day 4

The Commonwealth Cup for 3yo´s over 6 furlongs at 16.40 CET is a new race which fits well into the programme and has been rewarded with Group One status for its first ever running. This is justified by a large and high class entry and it is one of the best races of the week.

It is also an international field, with two runners each from France (no chance in our opinion) and the USA as well as a strongly fancied Irish runner, Anthem Alexander (Eddie Lynam/ Pat Smullen). She won the Queen Mary at this meeting last year from Tiggy Wiggy (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes), although the latter then beat her twice later on, and there is little between them. ;Limato (Henry Candy/ James Doyle) could well be the best British 3yo sprinter, but lost his unbeaten record last time when defeated by Adaay (William Haggas/ Paul Hanagan) at Haydock; however the ground was against him that day and he can reverse that form on today´s faster going. However we expect the Americans to come out on top now- either the supplemented Cyclogenisis (George Weaver/ John Velasquez) or preferably Hootenanny (Wesley Ward/ Ryan Moore), also a winner here last year and according to his trainer, in the form of his life right now.

Wesley Ward has an excellent record at this meeting and can also take the opening Albany Stakes for 2yo fillies with Back at the Ranch (Joel Rosario), although this race with 19 runners - 9 of them still unbeaten- is extremely tricky. The following King Edward VII Stakes for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles at 16.05 only has 7 runners and we hope to see Ol´Man River (O´Brien/ Moore) make a comeback here; he was regarded as one of the stable´s main Derby hopes over the winter, but flopped disastrously in both the 2,000 Guineas and the Dante; he can bounce back now with the stable in irresistable form.

The card ends with the Queen´s Vase for 3yo´s over 2 miles - budding stayers and two of the last 3 winners went on to take the following year´s Gold Cup. None of the runners has ever attempted this distance before so we have to take a lot on trust here. Aloft (O´Brien/ Moore) is the obvious favourite, but are not at all sure that he stays this trip; we shall take a chance on German-bred Vive Ma Fille (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), a brother to the German group race winner Vif Monsieur and whose trainer also knows how to win these long distance races.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Illuminate - Back At The Ranch - Laxfield Road
2. Race: Stravagante - Ol` Man River - Festive Fare
3. Race: Limato - Hootenanny - Tiggy Wiggy
4. Race: Lucida - Found - Ervedya
5. Race: Arab Dawn - Warrior Of Light - Ajman Bridge
6. Race: Aloft - Bantry Bay - Great Glen