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Royal Ascot Preview Days 4 & 5
Day four at the Royal Meeting is headlined by the Coronation Stakes where Lightning Thunder is out to go one better after runner-up finishes in both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas.
Neither Guineas appear to be outstanding editions but Lightning Thunder’s efforts make her the one to beat here all the same, with question marks hanging over the heads of most, if not all, of her main rivals.
Lesstalk In Paris flopped off a more conservative ride in the French Guineas but she has shown herself much better than that under more positive tactics in the past and surely she reverts to racing on speed here.
With that in mind she looks undervalued in by the marketplace.
The King Edward looks a good renewal with four of the ten runners last start winners.
Aidan O’Brien’s Adelaide dismissed of little at the Curragh last time but he did so in an impressive manner and the clock backed up the thinking that he is a horse with bigger things in store.
Snow Sky finished behind Derby-sixth Western Hymn at Newbury in April and both have improved since then.
Snow Sky is perhaps the one with more “blue sky” at this point with Western Hymn having been tested and come up short, despite running very well, at Epsom.
Saturday night is highlighted by the Diamond Jubilee where Aljamaaheer looks to build on the promise he showed as a sprinter first-up at Newmarket.
He was left with too much to do there but closed gamely and this looks idea now.
Haydock Sprint Cup 1-2 Gordon Lord Byron and Slade Power will ensure that a good performance is required to win the race and three-year-olds Astaire and Due Diligence both look capable of measuring up to the level.
The Hardwicke Stakes is a race that has had a big influence on the Melbourne Spring in recent years.
Half of the dozen runners in the 2012 renewal have raced down under (including 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente) and both Dandino and Mount Athos ran in the race last year before playing leading roles in Melbourne’s big spring handicaps.
The one with the best profile, and form to match any, this year is Telescope.
He has been well held by subsequent Group One winner Noble Mission in a couple of runs this season but the step to 2414m on firm ground looks a huge plus for him.
He should be on the improve here and shapes as the perfect type for a stable that is no stranger to success in the race with recent winners Sea Moon and Harbinger among the honour roll’s finest.
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