Day four of Royal Ascot is here and what better way to recover from a chastening performance from England last night than to dive head-first into a day of top-class racing.
And what a day it is. Back-to-back Group 1 are supplemented by the usual smorgasbord of high-class Pattern contests and head-scratching handicaps.
The Commonwealth Cup (3.05) is perhaps the best place to start as 14 of the best three-year-old sprinters on the planet meet for a tear up over Ascot’s straight six furlongs.
The late defection of the Elite Status dents the quality of the field a touch, as does the absence of the best spriter from last year’s juvenile crop, Vandeek.
In truth, the race looks wide open with Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin is the current market leader at 9/4, with the likes of Jasour, Starlust and Givemethebeatboys also well-fancied in what is a pretty open market.
Following hot on the heels of that race is the Coronation Stakes (3.45), in which Ramatuelle will look to get France’s account open for the week.Â
Second in the Guineas, she has been very strong in the market this morning, supplanting long-time favourite Opera Singer at the head of the market.Â
Porta Fortuna, 1,000 Guineas winner Elmalka and French Guineas winner Rouhiya round out a deep field of top-class fillies.Â
This race should go a long way to crowning the best three-year-old mile filly in Europe, despite the absence of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel – who is likely to tackle the Irish Oaks as her next assignment.Â
Whatever way you slice it this will be a cracking day of action and Telegraph Sport will be here to guide through every moment.Â