The Irish horse racing broadcaster provides his best bets for the fourth day of racing at Royal Ascot.
15:05
The step up to just shy of 1m4f for the first time promises to be a major plus for PONIROS
7/1
and he should be a major player in what admittedly is a highly competitive affair. A maiden winner over a mile as a juvenile, Ralph Beckett’s charge has filled the runner-up berth on both starts this term and there was certainly no disgrace in chasing home the talented King’s Gambit in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last time. The winner is a short-priced favourite for the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes later on today’s card and it was noticeable how strongly Poniros finished off there – he had gone past his conqueror shortly after the line – having initially hitting a flat spot when let down.
17:05
FOLLOW ME
22/1
comes into this assignment on a real roll and may be capable of providing Betway ambassador Ross O’Sullivan with a famous Royal Ascot victory. Picked up by current connections in November after showing good form in his native France, the Shalaa colt has impressed in recording back-to-back successes at the Curragh. He did particularly well to get out of a tight spot when landing a 7f handicap on Irish Guineas weekend, appearing to score with plenty more in hand than the margin of 3/4 length implies, and the extra furlong here could elicit further improvement.
17:40
Should the form of his Newbury victory receive the anticipated boost earlier in the afternoon King’s Gambit may well shorten even further for this, but while the Charlton horse deserves huge respect old rival BRACKEN’S LAUGH
17/2
appeals as a value alternative. Trainer Richard Hughes has always held this Zoffany colt in high regard and he showed why when beating King’s Gambit – who had the benefit of two previous outings but was conceding 6lb – on his debut in a novice event last autumn. Far from disgraced in Group 1 company in France subsequently, he returned with a decisive success at Chelmsford before the third on that occasion Capulet reversed the form under a canny ride in Chester’s Dee Stakes last month. Connections have resisted the temptation to aim higher in order to wait for this and with Danny Tudhope taking over for the first time everything looks in place for a big run from Bracken’s Laugh.
18:15
KING’S TIME
10/1
looked one to keep on side when landing a premier handicap with something to spare on his return from a long layoff and is taken to continue making up for lost time. Although a 12lb rise for that Cork win might seem a lot the Exceed And Excel gelding is open to plenty of improvement after just six career starts and remains at the right end of the handicap for this.
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