MEGAN NICHOLLS ROYAL ASCOT DAY 4 PREVIEW & TIPS

It’s the fourth and penultimate day of what has been a quite phenomenal week of racing at Royal Ascot, which means there is still time to find some winners!

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls has checked the form guide and has come up with some suggestions.

Friday Racing

Royal Ascot 2.30 – Albany Stakes

I think Mountain Breeze (11/4) is very talented.

She’s been very impressive twice at Newmarket. She is closely related to Pinatubo, who was a very talented horse himself and he did stay further than six. Actually, the entire family stay further and I think she will get further in time.

She could be one to keep an eye out in races throughout the year heading towards the Guineas next season – that’s the type of calibre I believe she is in.

If there is plenty of pace on, which there usually is, that will suit her, because I do think she will be strong to the line.

These two-year-old races are always open because horses can improve so much from each start.

I’m going to put in an each-way of Jayvee (28/1) for Brian Ellison, who struggled to lay up in the Marygate early, but absolutely flew home and she wasn’t beaten far at all.

Being up in trip can help her, she was a real eye-catcher at York that day, and she would have learned a lot.

Megan’s Selection: Mountain Breeze WIN; Jayvee E/W

Royal Ascot 3.05 – Commonwealth Cup

I think this is going to go the way of Sheikh Obaid, I’m just torn as to which one will win.

However, because he did me good last time, I’m going to stick with Elite Status (7/2 2nd fav). He looked back to his best at Newbury. He was obviously talented at two but he regressed a little bit over the season. I don’t know whether it was because his maturity level was changing or what but he looked back to his best last time out.

There’s plenty of pace in the race and he’ll just be able to sit in behind them. He’s got a high cruising speed and can just wait in behind the leaders. He is drawn on the right side, so I’m going to stick with Elite Status, who deserves to get his head in front at this level.

Inisherin (9/4 fav) is his main danger, in my opinion. His first time at this trip at Haydock, he looked better than ever. Kevin Ryan will definitely have been training speed into him since and he looked a proper sprinter.

Whether the bare form of that race is quite strong enough, I’m not so sure, but visually, it was so impressive. That’s the only question, which is why I’m leaning towards Elite Status.

Megan’s Selection: Elite Status WIN

Royal Ascot 3.45 – Coronation Stakes

This has driven me mad – it is such a hot race.

There are loads of talented fillies in here and we are spoilt with the field, to be honest.

Opera Singer (13/8 fav) is officially highest on ratings. She probably has improved for her run in the Irish 1000 Guineas. I think she likes to make the running and there isn’t an awful lot of pace to take her on, so she could be dangerous on the front end.

Ramatuelle (4/1) will be ridden with a little bit more patience. She ended up in front too early and kicked too soon in the 1000 Guineas, but she’s got bundles of talent. She ended up just behind Porta Fortuna (13/2) in that race, who I didn’t think did an awful lot wrong. She will love the faster ground.

And then you have Elmalka (4/1). I don’t think the race will suit her quite as well this time as there isn’t going to be so much speed on. At Newmarket, when they went fast out, she was able to fly home.

So for me, it’s between Ramatuelle and Porta Fortuna, and I am just going with the former. It’s a positive booking having Oisin Murphy on board. He’s had a good week and his confidence will be high. He will ride her with a little bit of cover – handy, but with cover – and use that turn of foot later on.

I think she does see the mile out – she was just used up at the wrong time at Newmarket so she deserves another chance at this trip. Round the bend will suit her and she is a very talented filly.

Megan’s Selection: Ramuteulle WIN

Royal Ascot 4.25 – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes

I am going for an each-way here in Shadow Dance (11/1), who ran a massive race in the Old Rowley Cup Handicap when we last saw him.

He is still unexposed and was improving last year. He has been gelded over the winter, which I don’t think will have done any harm, and he could just be open to progression again this season.

I’m looking forward to seeing him back in action. He is lightly raced in comparison to a few in this field. It’s quite a bold shout on his seasonal reappearance, but this horse has plenty of ability and I’m going to take a bit of a punt on him each-way.

Megan’s Selection: Shadow Dance E/W

Royal Ascot 5.05 – Sandringham Stakes

I’m going with Indelible (7/2 fav).

She is two from two at this trip. She won nicely at Doncaster under a penalty. She is obviously from a lovely family. She is drawn low - there’s plenty of pace middle-to-low, which is a positive - so I am going with her to win.

The other one I like is Without Words (12/1), who ran a good race on her stable debut and will take a good step forward from that. She won’t be far away.

And also the Gordon Elliott-trained Zaynab (10/1), who finished ahead of Flight Of Fancy (11/1) at the Curragh. Zaynab was doing her best work late on – flying home – so a strong pace and a good test will really help her. It’s a stiff mile and I think it could suit.

Megan’s Selection: Without Words WIN; Zaynab E/W; Flight Of Fancy E/W

Royal Ascot 5.40 – King Edward VII Stakes

I have changed my mind about 10 times for this race but I’m going with Space Legend (7/2 fav).

He was a little keen at Goodwood early on, but I think he was just immature more than anything. He ran on well once in the clear, having not really had any daylight when needed. He was only just beaten by Meydaan, who finished fourth in the Queen’s Vase.

So the form hasn’t worked out too badly, the extra furlong shouldn’t be a problem from what we’ve seen and he’s probably unexposed compared to plenty in this field.

Megan’s Selection: Space Legend WIN

Royal Ascot 6.15 – Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes

I’m going with Jubilee Walk (13/2 fav).

He has won his last three. At two, he ran a decent maiden at Nottingham in behind Vandeek, and he’s been nicely placed by James Ferguson this year.

A wind operation seems to have helped him progress further this year and he’s two from two in handicaps, so far.

He got given a seven-pound rise for his victory at York, but that’s no surprise because he won very convincingly that day. The quick ground obviously suits him, and he showed plenty of speed at York.

I believe he’s drawn on the correct side, in stall four, and he could still be improving at the moment.

For the places, I’ll go with Shagraan (12/1), with being back at five furlongs a big plus for him. It’s still early days with Mick Appleby, while jockey Billy Loughnane already has a winner this week and I just think there is unfinished business with this sprinter yet. He could still be on the improve.

Megan’s Selection: Jubilee Walk WIN; Shagraan E/W

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation