Day 4 at Royal Ascot....

Thursday, 19th June 2025

Day 4 at Royal Ascot….

Get my picks for Day 3 here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the handicaps on Day 4 at Royal Ascot….

I’m on MOUNT ATLAS in the Duke of Edinburgh at 3.40 – he’s up at 12s….

…. I’m on DASH OF AZURE at 10s & 9s in the Sandringham at 5.00….

…. and I’m on BROSAY at 22s & 20s in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at 6.10….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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I’m backing MOUNT ATLAS at the general 12s & 11s in the Duke of Edinburgh (3.40)….

He signed off last term after finding just Sun God too good in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket – with the rest 4l+ in arrears – on good to soft….

He ran a decent return at Kempton in the Rosebery in March – his first run since a gelding procedure….

…. and he might have done better still had the pace not faded – leaving him in front a lot further up the straight than ideal….

Last time at Chester he produced an improved performance in defeat – a career best – in the G3 Ormonde….

He finished 5th of the six but he wasn’t so very far away – and he wasn’t knocked about late on over a trip that might not be his optimum….

He’s up to a mark of 102 – rising 4lb for those defeats – and that’s not ideal….

…. but I think there’s more to come….

This will be his first go on really quick ground – and that lack of experience on such a surface might be seen as an issue by some punters….

…. but not me….

I’m mindful that trainer Andrew Balding has talked about this ‘very talented’ horse wanting ‘top of the ground’….

…. and I’m hopeful we’ll see another improved performance now that he gets an opportunity to bounce off a quick surface….

He’s already a course and distance winner….

…. he won a C2 handicap at the back end of last term, so we know he handles the track – something that can’t be said about the vast majority of tomorrow’s opposition….

DASH OF AZURE at 10s is the pick for the Sandringham (5.00)….

She’s had just four runs to date – beaten into second in the first three – but has improved for each assignment….

…. producing a comfortable win last time at Kempton where she came through with a telling burst of pace inside the penultimate furlong and put the race to bed – pushed out considerately by Richard Kingscote – never looking in any danger….

That was over the 7f trip, and the manner of that victory suggests a mile will be no issue whatsoever….

That was her first go this term – she’s entitled to strip fitter for it– and her first in a handicap….

…. she’s up 5lb to 86 for the win – but I reckon there’s much more to come yet….

It’s worth noting that Richard Kingscote is getting down to 8-8 to retain the ride on ahorse owned by top punter Tony Bloom….

Maybe Kingscote’s just showing willing – rides on good horses for big connections don’t grow on trees, after all….

…. or perhaps he thinks the opportunity is worth the sacrifices involved – and I always consider that a positive….

Finally, I’m swinging the bat at the 22s & 20s about BROSAY in the Palace of Holyroodhouse (6.10)….

Trainer Paul Attwater wouldn’t be the first name on a list of trainers most likely to produce competitive runners in Royal Ascot handicaps….

…. but his Muddy Mooy went deep at a big price in yesterday’s Kensington Palace….

…. and Brosay heads into tomorrow’s contest having improved markedly this term….

Last time at Sandown he might well have won had he not seen fit to jump the path that runs across the track inside the final furlong….

As it was he was beaten by Queen All Star who was winning for the third time from four races – she’s considered good enough at home to win black type….

And back in third was Redorange – who won next time out and is now rated 10lb higher in the weights….

That one reopposes tomorrow and is half the price of Brosay – up just 3lb in the meantime – in the betting….

He’s on a decent part of the track drawn in stall 22….

…. he showed last time at Sandown that a stiff 5f suits down to the ground….

…. and I see him as a big candidate to improve again and outrun his price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 5….

Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

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