Frankie Dettori had a disappointing start to Royal Ascot but he has been back on the up since a winner on Wednesday and he has a serious chance to add another Group One winner to Thursday’s Gold Cup success when Lezoo (3.05) goes to post for the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, the highlight of the fourth day of the meeting.
Little Big Bear, a Group One winner last season, is a strong favourite for the six-furlong contest, having returned to winning form at Haydock last time after failing to stay the mile in the 2,000 Guineas. Lezoo, though, has a very similar profile, but is available at a much bigger price.
Ralph Beckett’s filly, who gets a 3lb allowance from the favourite, was a non-staying eighth in the 1,000 Guineas but her juvenile form includes a Group One win in the Cheveley Park Stakes and anything close to that level will put her right in the mix at around 8-1.
Ascot 2.30 Porta Fortuna and Navassa Island fought out the finish of the same Group Three at Naas last month which Meditate won before following up in this race last year. The time was strong and they were nearly five lengths clear of the third, but unlike the winner, who beat her by a neck, Navassa Island was making her racecourse debut and has obvious scope for enough improvement to turn around the form.
Ascot 3.40 There was a great deal to like about the way Aimeric travelled and quickened on the way to victory at Doncaster last month, not least as he had to switch with a furlong to run. Off just a 4lb higher mark, he has obvious prospects of a follow-up.
Ascot 4.20 Tahiyra is odds-on to follow up her defeat of Meditate in the Irish 1,000 Guineas after Mawj, who took the English equivalent at Newmarket, failed to appear among the final declarations on Tuesday. Meditate has a length-and-a-half to find on the Curragh form but never looked a likely winner there and the favourite will be very hard to beat.
Redcar 1.20 Lastingham 1.50 Fiftyshadesofred 2.20 Okeanos 2.55 Rockonmecca 3.30 Wild Side 4.05 Liseo 4.45 Orchestra 5.16 Cinque Verde
Market Rasen 1.35 Dicey Rielly 2.10 Green Or Black 2.45 San Fermin 3.20 Rory And Me 3.55 Northern Bound 4.30 Izzy’s Champion 5.05 Six And Out
Royal Ascot 2.30 Navassa Island 3.05 Lezoo (nap) 3.40 Aimeric 4.20 Tahiyra 5.00 Chelsea Green 5.35 King Of Steel 6.10 Prince Of Pillo (nb)
Goodwood 5.12 Rainyniteingeorgia 5.47 It’s All About You 6.22 Vega Sicilia 6.55 Desperate Hero 7.30 Midnight Lion 8.05 Acotango
Newmarket 5.20 Chief’s Will 5.55 Alnoory Star 6.30 Clan Chieftain 7.05 Never Ending 7.40 Cancan In The Rain 8.10 American Belle 8.45 Annie Maher
Musselburgh 5.30 Chinese Spirit 6.05 Agnes Grey 6.40 Menelaus 7.15 Dickieburd 7.50 Latin Five 8.25 Hills Of Gold 9.00 Monaadhil
Ascot 5.00 Two beaten runners behind Chelsea Green at Newmarket in May went in next time and she must have fair prospects of a follow-up at around 12-1.
Ascot 5.35 Four of the six runners lined up for the Derby, and there is no obvious reason why King of Steel, who was making his seasonal debut at Epsom, should not confirm the form of his second-place finish behind Auguste Rodin.
Ascot 6.10 On the assumption that Prince of Pillo needed the run after a 246-day break at Haydock Park last time, he could be worth an interest at a big price from what should be a favourable draw in stall 24. He posted several very useful runs as a juvenile and Keith Dalgleish has booked an eye-catching jockey in James Doyle.
