Tony Paley 

Royal Ascot day four: Porta Fortuna wins Coronation Stakes – as it happened

Donncha O’Brien defeated his father Aidan in the Coronation Stakes with Porta Fortuna outlasting Opera Singer
  
  

Porta Fortuna, ridden by Tom Marquand, wins the Coronation Stakes
Porta Fortuna, ridden by Tom Marquand, wins the Coronation Stakes. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Royal Ascot is an incredible stage for spotting future talent, both equine and human. There were plenty of horses to take away from the action this week – no more so than Fairy Godmother and Calandagan on Friday – and while Ryan Moore cemented his leadership in the current jockeys’ standings it was a young 18-year-old rider this week who strongly suggested he might be challenging him in future years.

Billy “The Kid” Loughnane started Royal Ascot steering Rashabar to a shock 80-1 Coventry Stakes victory and continued the great work on Friday with victory aboard Soprano in the Sandringham Filles’ Handicap. He said afterwards: “This week just keeps getting better and better. It doesn’t get better than riding a winner here. I was so lucky earlier on in the week to have landed one and take the pressure off. I said on Monday night that I would be disappointed if I drew a blank for the week but, wow, the feeling doesn’t get old.”

The lad looks a serious talent in the making. Meanwhile, we’re back tomorrow for the final day - it’s a marathon not a sprint!

Pilgrim strikes in Palace of Holyrood Handicap (6.15pm)

Result:
1 Pilgrim (J Fanning) 18-1
2 Blue Storm (Hollie Doyle) 18-1
3 No Half Measures (George Rooke) 50-1
4 Woodhay Wonder (Tom Marquand) 10-1
28 ran

Updated

Palace of Holyrood Handicap (6.15pm)

And they’re off … Woodhay Wonder is out quick as they split into two big groups … Pilgrim comes through the middle for the great Nicola and David Barron training team. Another winner for the north!

Updated

Palace of Holyrood Handicap (6.15pm) betting

  • Shagraan 6/1

  • Jubilee Walk 13/2

  • Dorney Lake 9/1

  • Vantheman 10/1

  • Mukaafah 11/1

  • Dyrholaey 12/1

  • Sommelier 14/1

  • Woodhay Wonder 16/1

  • Billy Webster 20/1

  • Two Tribes 20/1

  • 22/1 BAR (28 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Updated

Palace of Holyrood Handicap (6.15pm) preview

If you are banking on this sprint handicap for three-year-olds to get you out of trouble, it is probably time to draw stumps and wait for tomorrow. That said, the distinct advantage of a low draw in the sprints this week is hard to ignore, and a low stall could be a real obstacle for a couple of the better-fancied runners, including Dorney Lake and Jubilee Walk. In the high stalls, Shagraan has been well-supported to give the rising young starlet of the weighing room, Billy Loughnane, a second win of the week, but there is also quite a lot to like about Dyrholaey, the mount of James Doyle from 26. He is unbeaten in three races, including two over six furlongs, but showed more than enough speed to figure back at the minimum trip in his latest start on the all-weather at Newcastle. He showed plenty of courage to secure the victory there and this stiff five furlongs could be ideal.

SELECTION: DYRHOLAEY

Updated

Calandagan scoots home in the King Edward VII Stakes (5.40pm)

Result:
1 Calandagan (S Pasquier) 11-2
2 Space Legend (James Doyle) 9-2
3 Royal Supremacy (Oisin Murphy) 40-1
14 ran

Great line!

King Edward VII Stakes (5.40pm)

And they’re off … Mondo Man is last and Macduff and Chief Little Rock lead as they set off for home … Chief Little Rock leads on the home turn … and Calandagan shoots past him for a very impressive victory, scooting clear for an easy win!

Updated

King Edward VII Stakes (5.40pm) betting

  • Diego Velazquez 9/4

  • Space Legend 5/1

  • Agenda 13/2

  • Calandagan 15/2

  • Chief Little Rock 12/1

  • Theory Of Tides 16/1

  • Voyage 18/1

  • Macduff 20/1

  • Mondo Man 25/1

  • Harpers Ferry 28/1

  • 33/1 BAR (14 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Updated

King Edward VII Stakes (5.40pm) preview

Ascot’s very own “Derby”, for three-year-olds over 12 furlongs, has been shunted into a bit of a graveyard slot since 2022, but four of the last five winners have won at Group One level later on in their careers, including King Of Steel, successful 12 months ago, who notched a memorable win for Frankie Dettori n the Champion Stakes back here in October. He was fresh from a second-place finish in the Derby itself when he ran here last year and none of today’s runners bring anything like that level of form to the table, but Diego Velazquez, the likely favourite for the Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore combo, was within five lengths of the winner in the French Derby last time on what was probably unsuitably soft ground. Agenda is another runner from Ballydoyle with a chance, having finished second to the ill-fated Hidden Law in the Chester Vase last time, although the trainer’s record in this race – three wins since 2004 – does not stand comparison with the long list of victories in many other events at the meeting. The Derby form is represented by Macduff (13th of 16) and the unfortunate Voyage, who unshipped his rider shortly after the start, while Space Legend, who looked unlucky not to win at Goodwood last time, and the unbeaten Theory Of Tides also merit close inspection.

SELECTION: THEORY OF TIDES

Updated

Soprano hits the high note in the Sandringham Handicap (5.05pm)

Result:
1 Soprano (Billy Loughnane) 14-1
2 Strutting (Miss Rachel King) 33-1
3 Uluru (M Guyon) 28-1
4 Indelible (Hector Crouch) 5-1
30 ran
Non Runner: 30

Updated

Sandringham Filles’ Handicap (5.05pm)

And they’re off … they’ve split into two groups … Arisaig is last and Sattwaa leads on the nearside as they enter the closing stages … Soprano gets up late to win for Highclere Racing. That will be another popular win for a syndicate horse. And it’s Billy The Kid in the saddle again!

Updated

Luke Harvey goes mindful …

Sandringham Filles’ Handicap (5.05pm) betting

  • Indelible 5/1

  • Kitty Rose 11/2

  • Cat Ninja 11/1

  • Fair Angelica 12/1

  • Soprano 12/1

  • Asiraig 14/1

  • Forever Blue 14/1

  • Without Words 16/1

  • Rochelle 18/1

  • Everlasting 20/1

  • 22/1 BAR (29 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Sandringham Filles’ Handicap (5.05pm) preview

The royal party is often starting to plan its retreat to Windsor Castle by the time the fifth race on the card comes around, but they will be elbowing each other out of the way for viewing space in the Royal Box today as Hard To Resist, the second runner of the week in the royal silks, goes to post for this handicap for three-year-old fillies. In all honesty, she looks like a bit of a “social” runner and will set off among the outsiders, although her breeder, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was probably dreaming of a Classic winner when she sent her mare Magnetic Charm to the top-flight stallion, Dubawi. More plausible winners include the lightly-raced Indelible, an easy winner at Doncaster first time up this year, and the top weight, Kitty Rose, second in a Group Three at Leopardstown in April, but there are darker horses lurking down the list too and Joseph O’Brien’s Without Words, previously raced only at Bordeaux, Toulouse and Listowel, appeals as one whose opening mark of 92 could well be an underestimate.

SELECTION: WITHOUT WORDS

Updated

The celebration of the week after Crystal Black wins the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes for the Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate

Crystal Black sweeps home in Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25pm)

Result:
1 Crystal Black (C T Keane) 11-1
2 Epic Poet (D Tudhope) 25-1
3 Ziggy (Tom Marquand) 11-1
4 Ethical Diamond (R L Moore) 7-4 Fav
Non Runners: 2,6

Updated

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25pm)

And they’re off … Cumulonimbus has the early lead and Bague D’Or is at the back as they start to turn for home … Mandoob is in second as they enter the home straight … Crystal Black comes late and fast to win with Epic Poet coming from way back to be runner-up.

Updated

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25pm) betting

  • Ethical Diamond 15/8

  • Shadow Dance 15/2

  • Deakin 9/1

  • Crystal Black 11/1

  • Bague Dor 12/1

  • Fairbanks 14/1

  • Ziggy 14/1

  • Safecracker 16/1

  • Party Central 28/1

  • Marhaba The Champ 28/1

  • 33/1 BAR (19 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Updated

Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25pm) preview

If this race has indeed been shifted to the “feature” slot for the benefit of overseas betting turnover, it has to be said that the punters in Hong Kong will not be disappointed. La Yakel and Teumessias Fox are both missing from the original list of 22 runners, but the 20 that remain should produce quite the spectacle, as the pace is sure to be strong and the closers will be reeling them at a rate of knots on the stiff run to the line. Ethical Diamond, with Ryan Moore booked to ride for the UK champion trainer over jumps, Willie Mullins, is a solid favourite at around 2-1, and the trainer/jockey combo has a fine record in Royal Ascot handicaps, with four wins from 12 starts since 2012 and a healthy level-stakes profit. They are not quite a copper-bottomed bet, however – Bring On The Night (13-8f) and Saldier (15-8f) have been costly failures over the last two meetings – and another Irish maestro, Joseph O’Brien, may fancy his chances of following up Okita Soushi’s success in this race 12 months ago with Deakin. The consistent Ziggy and Roger Varian’s Shadow Dance, who is making his seasonal debut, are also attracting support, and I’ll be having a bit each-way on the latter as he is generally held up and I think/hope that the race will play out to his strengths.

SELECTION: SHADOW DANCE

Updated

Fortuna flies home to win the Coronation Stakes (3.45pm)

Result:
1 Porta Fortuna (Tom Marquand) 7-2
2 Opera Singer (R L Moore) 10-3
3 Ramatuelle (Oisin Murphy) 15-8 Fav
9 ran
Non Runner: 2

Updated

Coronation Stakes (3.45pm)

And they’re off …. Opera Singer runs wide and shares the lead with Skellet … they are turning for home with those leaders still at the front … Opera Singer kicks clear but gets caught home by Porta Fortuna near the line. Son (trainer) Donnacha O’Brien beats (father) Aidan!

Updated

Who needs Taylor Swift when you’ve got Jilly Cooper!

Coronation Stakes (3.45pm) betting

  • Ramatuelle 15/8

  • Opera Singer 10/3

  • Porta Fortuna 9/2

  • Emalka 15/2

  • Rouhiya 12/1

  • Skellet 22/1

  • Content 40/1

  • See The Fire 40/1

  • Folgaria 66/1

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Updated

Coronation Stakes (3.45pm) preview

Opera Singer, last year’s Prix Marcel Boussac winner at Longchamp and third home in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time, was the overnight favourite for Ascot’s own Group One for three-year-old fillies, but she is uneasy in the market this morning and Ramatuelle, third behind Elmalka in a blanket finish to the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is the new favourite with the layers at around 2-1. Elmalka, meanwhile, is out to 7-1, a longer price too than Porta Fortuna, the runner-up at Newmarket, while Rouhiya, the French 1,000 Guineas winner, is longer still at around 12-1. Ramatuelle went for home a long way out at Newmarket before being reeled in close home by Elmalka, and will presumably get a slightly more patient ride today, but the prices still feel wrong to me and Roger Varian’s filly finished as though she will be very much at home on the uphill run to the line today.

SELECTION: ELMALKA

Updated

Fairy Godmother is favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket after overcoming adversity to get favourite backers off to a flying start on day four of Royal Ascot, lunging late to secure victory in the Albany Stakes.

After initially being settled towards the rear, the daughter of Night Of Thunder began to pull fiercely for her head shortly after halfway and was soon stuck behind a wall of horses.

But it is testament to Fairy Godmother’s latent talent that after being switched across to the stands’ rail, she fairly motored home in the hands of Ryan Mooreto get up and beat Simmering by three-quarters of a length. The winner’s front-running stablemate Heavens Gate was a neck further back in third.

“I gave her an impossible task and she got me out of a hole,” said Moore. “It’s incredible she was able to win from that position so it’s all credit to her. She’s a very good filly. Down at the start she looked different class, she suggested that before she ran, and when she won last time. Today, that was a big performance.”

Coral make Fairy Godmother their 6-1 favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, while Paddy Powercut her odds to 5-1 from 12-1. PA Media

Updated

Inisherin zooms home in Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm)

Result:
1 Inisherin (T Eaves) 9-4 Fav
2 Lake Forest (Tom Marquand) 12-1
3 Jasour (Jim Crowley) 4-1
14 ran
Non Runner: 1

Updated

Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm)

And they’re off … Orne leads … but Inisherin sweeps to the front and once he got the lead it was never in doubt. Two excellent performances in the first two races.

Updated

Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm) betting

  • Inisherin 5/2

  • Jasour 5/1

  • Givemethebeatboys 11/2

  • Starlust 17/2

  • Evade 14/1

  • Lake Forest 16/1

  • Pandoras Gift 18/1

  • Kind Of Blue 22/1

  • Malc 22/1

  • Military 25/1

  • 33/1 BAR – (14 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Updated

Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm) preview

The disappointing news this morning is that Karl Burke’s Elite Status, who would have set off as the second-favourite at around 9-2, is out, having knocked a joint, though it is some consolation for his owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum, also has the warm favourite, Inisherin, to run in his colours. He ran like a future sprinting star when he led the 2,000 Guineas field to well past halfway at Newmarket in early may and backed up that impression when running away with the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock next time. Interesting opponents include Evade, a winner at Epsom’s Derby meeting, and Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys, second in a warm-looking Group Three last time behind Bucanero Fuerte, who was a big fancy for today’s race before being ruled out by injury last week. The one I like the most, though, is Clive Cox’s Jasour, who has a slightly patchy record overall but has looked top-class when putting it all together, as he did over track and trip in Ascot’s trial for this race last time. Cox is a past winner of this race with Golden Horde, a similar type who ran in the same colours, and 4-1 looks a very fair price.

SELECTION: JASOUR

Fairy Godmother gets out of trouble to win Albany Stakes (2.30pm)

Result:
1 Fairy Godmother (R L Moore) 15-8 Fav
2 Simmering (J P Spencer) 9-1
3 Heavens Gate (W M Lordan) 8-1
16 ran
No 10 Liberalised (25-1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does
not apply.

Updated

Albany Stakes (2.30pm)

(Liberalised has been withdrawn at the start after getting worked up in the stalls)

And they’re off … Heavens Gate is up with the leaders … Simmering and Fairy Godmother are coming fast and the latter wins having been in all sorts of problems throughout the race having after being trapped behind the field.

Updated

Albany Stakes (2.30pm) betting

  • Fairy Godmother 9/4

  • Mountain Breeze 3/1

  • Twafeeg 17/2

  • Heavens Gate 10/1

  • Simmering 11/1

  • Liberalised 28/1

  • California Dreamer 28/1

  • Royalty Bay 33/1

  • Jayvee 40/1

  • Burning Pine 40/1

  • 50/1 BAR – (17 Starters)

  • Full betting via Oddschecker

Queen’s Hat Stakes (2pm)

1 (Duck egg) Blue 8-1

Updated

The Guardian Sport’s quiz of the week includes a couple of Royal Ascot teasers, including a question that concerns a jockey-turned-actor.

Albany Stakes (2.30pm) preview

This is “only” a Group Three race but the two winners of this race have gone on to win at Group One level later in their careers and you have to go back to Different League, in 2017, to find a winner that did not win at least a Group Two after winning here. And the latest renewal looks very much up to scratch, with the powerhouse operations of Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle and Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin stable in Newmarket represented by Fairy Godmother and Mountain Breeze respectively. The latter filly is unbeaten in two starts, but then so was Diamond Rain, Appleby’s runner in the Ribblesdale Stakes on Thursday, and she finished last of 12, so the trainer could definitely do with a winner to steady the nerves. She was impressive on her latest start at Newmarket, but then so was Fairy Godmother, who was beaten first time up but then showed the benefit of the experience when she took a Group Three at Naas next time. There are plenty of interesting and lightly-raced fillies up against them, though, and Timeform’s ratings at least suggest that neither of the top two in the market – who take out more than half of the book in percentage terms – are a long way clear of the opposition. In a race like this, I’ll always tend to look for an each-way alternative with realistic win possibilities if they improve as expected, and Simmering, third behind Arabie at York first time up when she looked like the best prospect in the field, very much fits the bill.

SELECTION: SIMMERING

Market movers update

Shortening

15:45 - Ramatuelle 7/2 -> 7/4

17:40 – Diego Velazquez 4/1 -> 9/4

18:15 – Shagraan 10/1 -> 7/2

Drifters

14:30 – Fairy Godmother 13/8 -> 5/2

15:45 – Opera Singer 6/4 -> 10/3

16:25 – Crystal Black 11/2 -> 18/1

Full details via Oddschecker

Anyone seen Taylor Swift yet? Rumours of her arrival at the track are swirling and while she hasn’t turned up Gyles Brandreth has!

Nice touch from Ascot in the racecard today:

Market movers

We have the fourth of our regular daily market movers bulletin in courtesy of the folks at Oddschecker. These are the horses supported overnight:

3.05 – Evade 22/1 -> 11/1
3.45 – Ramatuelle 7/2 -> 2/1
6.15 – Jubilee Walk 15/2 -> 5/1

Royal Procession (2pm)

The runners are in for the first event, the one that the bulk of the crowd are perhaps more captivated by than the actual races. Friday’s list does have a touch of glamour with Darcey Bussell in there … and there’s space in carriage four for for Henry de Bromhead and … Mrs Henry de Bromhead.

1st Carriage
The King
The Queen
The Lord Bamford
The Lady Bamford

2nd Carriage
Princess Beatrice
Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
The Lord Frederick Windsor
The Lady Frederick Windsor

3rd Carriage
General Sir Patrick Sanders
Lady Sanders
Mr. Peter Troughton
Mrs. Peter Troughton

4th Carriage
Dame Darcey Bussell
Mr. Angus Forbes
Mr. Henry de Bromhead
Mrs. Henry de Bromhead

Updated

We don’t think Taylor Swift, who is in London this week, will be in the royal procession but she is welcome to get along to Royal Ascot says the track’s director of racing Nick Smith.

It’s almost that time again ... the royal procession will make its way down the track as ever at about 2pm and we can expect the details of who will be in the carriages at 12 noon. The King is expected to be back racing again after being a non-runner on Wednesday but those in the carriages who are entertained at lunch in advance by the monarch at Windsor Castle are never revealed each day at Royal Ascot until 12 noon.

This is also the time when I mention the Serpentine gallery exhibition by artist Mark Wallinger I saw back in 1994 when one of his installations, called ‘Royal Ascot’, consisted of a series of video monitors on top of wheeled flight cases, each isolating the royal carriage’s leisurely progress down the track on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (respectively, as it was then) of the meeting with. The British Council points out in their description of the artwork: “This repetition of imagery, all backed by bright green turf, brings into play Andy Warhol’s late screenprints of Elizabeth II from his ‘Reigning Queens’ series (1985), a quartet of the postage stamp icon in camp conjugations of Hollywood make-up and bubblegum colours.

“In Royal Ascot Wallinger harnesses the aesthetic and pleasures of the racecourse, a strapping mount for entering into the debate about constitutional inertia – a debate that had garnered new piquancy (by 1994 the Queen and Prince Charles were liable for tax, and Buckingham Palace had opened to the public).” So there you have it.

Queen’s Hat Stakes (2pm) preview

There was always a lively betting market on the colour of the monarch’s hat when Queen Elizabeth II was attending the meeting and Ladbrokes are betting on what colour titfer Camilla will be wearing. Our form guides are the team at BestofBets.com who always keep a close eye on this novelty market and they state: “Bookmakers are predicting that the Queen will be looking delightful in a pretty pink when she arrives at Royal Ascot this afternoon. Although it should be said that Her Majesty isn’t afraid of wearing the same colours more than once, so it may not come as a massive shock should she be in either white or blue again today.”

  • Pink/Peach 4/1

  • Green 9/2

  • Cream/White 5/1

  • Yellow 6/1

  • Orange 6/1

  • Purple 7/1

  • Blue/Navy 8/1

  • Red 9/1

  • 20/1 bar

Here’s your line-up for today’s sport, courtesy of a classy Ascot tweet, er X, oh you know what I mean:

Here are the horses you can cross off today as they aren’t turning up

3.05pm Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

1 Elite Status (self cert – knocked joint)

3.45pm Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

2 Devoted Queen (self cert – tied up)

4.25pm Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap

6 La Yakel (self cert –abscess)

2 Teumessias Fox (self cert – going)

5.05pm Sandringham Handicap

30 Lou Lou’s Gift (self cert – bad scope)

The going for day four, as outlined in Greg’s preamble, is, wait for it, … still Good to Firm. We’ll be posting the going stick readings every day here at this time but it’s likely to stay the same given the weather forecast seems to be set fair. At present there still doesn’t seem to be any great advantage on either side of the straight track.

GoingStick readings at 8am:
Stands’ side: 8.6
Centre: 8.4
Far side: 8.4

Preamble

Good morning from Ascot on day four of the 2024 royal meeting – the last of the week back in the day, but now the afternoon that lets you know you are rounding the home turn and they are about to ring the bell.

The fourth day does not feel as though it has an identity in quite the same way as the rest – opening day, Prince of Wales’s Stakes day, Gold Cup day and closing day – perhaps because there are two Group One events on the card but neither is in the 4.25pm slot that stages the feature race on the other four cards.

Instead, the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap occupies the prime position on the programme, possibly because it works better for the World Pool betting operation in Asia (which pays a chunky flat fee to offer pool betting on the Ascot action in Hong Kong). By the time a big field of handicappers pounds around at 4.25pm, the Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes will be done and dusted, which feels like a bit of a waste but it’s just how they roll.

It would also be a little churlish to criticise too much given that this year’s royal meeting is currently bucking the trend of diminishing attendance at other major events so far this year. For the third day in a row, Thursday’s crowd was slightly up on the 2023 figure, and the 55k+ expected at the track today will enjoy a fascinating clash between several very talented and closely-matched three-year-old sprinters in the Commonwealth Cup at 3.05pm. Two of the three main 1,000 Guineas winners, meanwhile, are in the field for the Coronation Stakes at 3.45, alongside the third filly home in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and there is also a royal runner to look forward to in Hard To Resist in the Sandringham Stakes at 5.05.

The weather forecast in Berkshire continues to be bright and sunny, and the going remains good-to-firm after more watering overnight. Tips for the day’s seven races are here – and currently showing a small profit after three days, though it could easily be 0-14 from now on – and the action is underway at 2.30pm with the Albany Stakes for two-year-old fillies.

 

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