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Date: Friday 20th June 2025

Royal Ascot Day 4 Preview – 2025

Friday at Royal Ascot always has a slightly different feel to the first three days, with some high-class Pattern races mixed in with fiercely competitive handicaps. The trends remain extremely useful though, particularly in the three-year-old contests and in the sprint handicaps where profile often matters more than reputation.

Using the final racecards and the key trends for each race, these are the Turf Talk ratings and selections for Royal Ascot Day 4.

RACE 1 - ALBANY STAKES
Horse Rating
Signora 209
Green Sense 205
Venetian Sun 201
Gold Digger 196
Ipanema Queen 191
Fitzella 188

Main Selection: Signora (15/8 available)

The Albany trends strongly favour a filly arriving off a recent win with six-furlong form already in place, and she looked the clearest fit on that basis. She came from exactly the sort of yard you would expect to be targeting this race, and with the right draw and profile she looked the one to beat on paper.

Second Selection: Green Sense (11/2 available)

Another filly who matched the shape of the race well and made plenty of appeal on the trends. She had the right recent run and enough form at the trip to suggest she would be very competitive if handling the step into stronger company. At the prices, she looked a very fair backup selection.

RACE 2 - COMMONWEALTH CUP
Horse Rating
Shadow Of Light 220
Jonquil 214
Babouche 210
Whistlejacket 206
Arizona Blaze 202
Time For Sandals 197

Main Selection: Shadow Of Light (15/8 available)

The Commonwealth Cup trends usually reward a high-class, properly established six-furlong horse with the rating and Group form already in place, and he looked the strongest fit in the field. He had the right profile, the right level of form and looked exactly the type this race often falls to when the market gets it right.

Second Selection: Jonquil (11/2 available)

He did not have quite the same obvious profile as the selection, but still had enough on the figures to make him a serious danger. He brought the right mix of rating, class and sprinting experience into the race and looked one of the more likely runners to capitalise if the favourite failed to fully produce his best.

RACE 3 - DUKE OF EDINBURGH STAKES
Horse Rating
Ethical Diamond 209
French Duke 205
Mutaawid 201
Naqeeb 197
Hand Of God 193
Mount Atlas 189

Main Selection: Ethical Diamond (9/2 available)

The Duke of Edinburgh trends point strongly towards a four or five-year-old with a workable mark, recent Flat form and proven ability at around a mile and a half, and he looked a very clean fit. He also had the profile of a horse still capable of improving in this sphere, which made him particularly interesting in a race like this.

Second Selection: French Duke (6/1 available)

Another who made plenty of sense on the race trends and looked likely to be competitive if things fell right. He had the right age, enough staying form and the type of profile that often goes very close in these Royal Ascot handicaps. He looked the most solid alternative to the selection.

RACE 4 - CORONATION STAKES
Horse Rating
Zarigana 214
Exactly 210
Cercene 206
January 202
Chantilly Lace 198
Falakeyah 193

Main Selection: Zarigana (7/4 available)

The Coronation Stakes trends are normally very reliable and she looked the standout on them. She had the rating, the Group-level form and the recent run pattern you want for this race, and looked exactly the type of miler who should go very close in this company. On profile alone she was the one they all had to beat.

Second Selection: Exactly (14/1 available)

She was not as fashionable as some of the others, but still made a lot of appeal on the figures. She had enough class, enough mile form and the type of progressive profile that can make a filly very dangerous in a race like this. At the odds, she looked one of the more interesting alternatives.

RACE 5 - SANDRINGHAM STAKES
Horse Rating
Miss Nightfall 207
Dash Of Azure 203
Tabiti 199
Silver Ghost 194
Purple Rainbow 190
Oolong Poobong 186

Main Selection: Miss Nightfall (4/1 available)

The Sandringham often goes to a lightly-raced filly in the right handicap band who has already shown enough mile ability and still has more to come. She looked a very solid fit on that basis and had the type of profile that can work especially well in this straight-mile setup. She made most appeal as the main pick.

Second Selection: Dash Of Azure (7/1 available)

She also matched a lot of the key race patterns and looked the type to run very well in a big-field fillies’ handicap. Her recent form was good enough to put her firmly in the mix and she looked one of the more plausible dangers if the selection found trouble in running, which is always a risk in this race.

RACE 6 - KING EDWARD VII STAKES
Horse Rating
Amiloc 211
Zahrann 207
Wimbledon Hawkeye 202
Nightwalker 198
Green Storm 194
Opportunity 189

Main Selection: Amiloc (2/1 available)

The King Edward VII usually goes to a colt with a rating north of 102, enough experience to cope with the occasion and the potential to improve over a mile and a half. He looked the strongest fit on those trends and had the profile of a horse who was still progressing. On paper, he looked the right favourite.

Second Selection: Zahrann (7/2 available)

He did not quite look as straightforward as the selection, but still had enough in his favour to make him the clear second choice. He brought solid form, the right sort of rating and the sort of staying profile that can be very effective in this race. If the favourite underperformed, he looked the most likely one to benefit.

RACE 7 - PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE STAKES
Horse Rating
Hammer The Hammer 206
Realign 202
Adrestia 198
Redorange 193
Zayer 189
Ruby’s Profit 185

Main Selection: Hammer The Hammer (11/2 available)

This race tends to reward a three-year-old sprinter with plenty of five-furlong experience, a recent run and a mark that still leaves room for manoeuvre. He looked the best fit on the main trends and had already shown enough speed and consistency to suggest he would be very competitive in a race of this nature.

Second Selection: Realign (9/2 available)

Another who made a lot of sense on the figures even if the draw and race setup could always complicate matters in these sprint handicaps. He had the right recent profile and enough strong five-furlong form to be taken seriously. If getting the gaps at the right time, he looked very capable of running a big race.