Friday 19 June 2020

Royal Ascot Day 4 - Cup of cheer


Slim pickings on the winning front, sadly, for Philippos followers yesterday with just Battleground (11/4f) doing the honours in the Chesham Stakes. If you followed my last race life-changing combination trifecta suggestion to the letter you'd have been out of luck, even though a combined exacta on the same three horses actually produced a winning dividend of £182.60 for £1 staked!

On we go to Day 4 where the feature race is the Commonwealth Cup a race for the sport's big sprint stars. Once again, the weather and the going will likely have their say in the results. The sprint course at Ascot is stiff with a slight climb to the finish. All today's selections will need to be able to maintain their momentum right up to the winning line on ground currently described as 'soft'.

In the UK, you can follow just about all the action on terrestrial TV c/o ITV Racing. The broadcaster is making a great fist of its coverage despite the empty grandstands and strict social distancing measures that apply to jockeys and trainers.

Hopefully Philippos can deliver another winner or two today. Good luck! (Follow me on Twitter: @moneyandmedia).

PHILIPPOS

Royal Ascot Friday 19 June 2020

Going: soft

As these are crazy Covid times, I'm suggesting three bets per race: 1) a selection with a good chance of winning; 2) an each-way suggestion capable of out-running his or her odds; 3) where the fields are large enough, an "exotic", a combination bet that can produce huge dividends for a small outlay.

Eg, a 50p combination exacta of three different horses (that requires two of the three selections to place first and second) costs £3. A 50p combination trifecta of three horses costs the same, but you need to place first, second AND third.

NAP: Golden Melody
NB: Nobel Prize

1.15 Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap 5 furlongs
An extra race, this one a sprint confined to 3yo runners, added as a one-off to this year's race programme. 22 runners declared where about half have yet to race in this topsy-turvy season. Will this count against those horses?

Win: Dancin Inthestreet
Each-way: Lambeth Walk
Life-changer: combination exacta, Dancing Inthestreet, Lambeth Walk, City Walk

1.50 Albany Stakes Group 3 6 furlongs 
Races such as the Albany are for juveniles (ie those age 2yo) and have been shunted to the back end of this week's meeting to best accommodate a Covid-affected timetable. A sprint for fillies only where the going could well be on the tacky side by post-time. Ideally, selections should already have show form on ground with a bit of cut and will need to be able to see out every inch of this stiff 6 furlongs.

Win: Golden Melody
Each-way: Undertake
Life-changer: combination trifecta, Golden Melody, Undertake, Setarhe

2.25 Norfolk Stakes 5 furlongs
Another juvenile sprint, this time confined to colts and geldings. At 14 runners, hardly the biggest field in the race's prestigious history. Traffic problems for the runners shouldn't (shouldn't!) be a problem.

Win: Lipizzaner 
Each-way: The Lir Jet
Life-changer: combination exacta, Lippizaner, The Lir Jet, Imperial Force

3.00 Hardwicke Stakes Group 2 1 mile 4 furlongs
A middle-distance contest of no little standing. That said, it's still unusual to see a Derby winner running in such a contest but that's what we've got here unless connections decide to pull him out at the last minute. There have been rumours.

Win: Fanny Logan
Each-way: Eagles By Day
Life-changer: combination trifecta, Fanny Logan, Eagles By Day, Spanish Mission

3.35 Commonwealth Cup Group 1 6 furlongs
The feature contest on a card crammed with sprint races. The race is confined to 3yo, so it features a few Guineas hard-luck stories from a fortnight ago dropping down in distance. Potential shock on the cards.

Win: Lope Y Fernandez
Each-way: Shadn
Game-changer: combination exacta, Lope Y Fernandez, Shadn, Ventura Rebel

4.10 Queen's Vase Group 2 1 mile 6 furlongs
The race distance has been chopped back a couple of furlongs in recent years. But it remains a stayers' contest of note for 3yo and therefore is often viewed as a trial for the St Leger run later in the season.

Win: Nobel Prize
Each-way: On Guard
Life-changer: combination trifecta, Nobel Prize, On Guard, Born With Pride

4.40 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Handicap 1 mile 4 furlongs 
Tricky middle-distance handicap to close the card.

Win: West End Charmer
Each-way: Dal Horrisgle
Life-changer: combination exacta, West End Charmer, Dal Horrisgle, Medal Winner

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