Preview - Royal Ascot - Day Four

After a monumentous third day, made by Yeats' amazing fourth Royal Ascot Gold Cup, the penultimate day has a lot to live up. Nevertheless, we are treated to another four Group races, with the feature being the Coronation Stakes, in which three 1,000 Guineas go head-to-head.

The Albany Stakes, a Group three for fillies over 6f, gets the ball rolling and it looks set to be a battle between Ireland and America. Aidan O'Brien has the exciting Lillie Langtry in the line-up, but she must overcome Wesley Ward's speedy Aegean if she is to prevail. Lillie Langtry impressed many when she romped to victory on her last start. She was beaten soundly by Kitty Kiernan on her debut at Naas in May, but when the pair re-opposed at the same venue just two weeks later, Lillie Langtry improved significantly from her first run and won in the style of a useful filly. That race was won by last year's winner Cuis Ghaire so has some bearing on this race. With Johnny Murtagh banned for the final two days, Seamus Heffernan takes the ride. The Yanks have had two good winners this week and Ward believes Aegean is the best of his squad that has travelled over so she is worth huge respect. She is unbeaten in two starts and has solid form since she gave a length beating to subsequent Queen Mary winner Jealous Again, who bolted up by five lengths two days ago. She has been well backed and will try and burn all her rivals off, even though she has it prove now running on turf for the first time. Chachamaidee made a very pleasing debut and won very nicely for Tom Queally, but Henry Cecil's inexperienced filly is up in grade and must make improvement to trouble the market principles. The same applies for Sweet Sonnet, representing Godolphin. She was slowly away on debut but made up ground to snatch victory in the final 100 yards at York, but this looks like a huge gulf in class. Kurtanella, from the Richard Hannon stable who have been in fine form this week, needs to improve from her maiden win but improvement cannot be ruled out.

The Group two King Edward VII Stakes over a mile and a half gets underway half an hour later and Derby flop Black Bear Island looks to continue his progression before his trip to Epsom. He won the Dante Stakes at York after staying on in superb style to wear down his stablemate, Freemantle, who did nothing for the form when being soundly beaten yesterday. Black Bear Island was a live fancy for the Epsom showpiece but he failed to handle the testing undulations and he finished a long way behind the leading pack. A much better performance can be expected today and he will go close. South Easter has a big chance based on his Group three win at Chester in May. He went into that race an unknown quantity after finishing second at Newbury on debut and he produced a small shock despite being well fancied. He is up two furlongs today but the trip should be within range and he has a good attitude, accounting for many at this level. Native Ruler is another hoping to build on his encouraging run in the Dante, where he stayed in good style. He looks the type to get better with experience and he could well be in the frame. Aqwaal won nicely at Newbury on his previous start and comes here off the back of three wins. His best form has come on softer ground which would be a worry and he is up in trip today, it would be unwise to rule out improvement just yet. Debussy ran a huge race in the Derby on his last start and stayed the trip okay, but may have to improve again to trouble some unexposed rivals. Free Agent and Father Time have both been slightly disappointing and have it to prove.

The fillies take centre stage in the Coronation Stakes and it looks a very competitive renewal with three 1,000 Guineas in the line-up. Ghanaati is a deserved favourite after a clear-cut success in the English 1,000 Guineas in May, where she beat some highly regarded rivals. She went into the race unsupported and without a run on turf, but she took classic glory and she could well follow up here with conditions to suit. Ghanaati looks a fair price and will go close for Richard Hills. Elusive Wave makes the journey over from France and has won five of her six starts, most notably in the French 1,000 Guineas last time out. She made all the running that day and did not see a rival as she held on by half a length. This filly used to be trained by Richard Hannon but she was sent to Jean-Claude Rouget and has not looked back. With her trainer in fine form, she is expected to run a big race. Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again lines up after giving her trainer David Wachman his first classic victory in the Classic a month ago. Well supported for the race, she won by a neck on ground soft enough for her and her class saw her through. Even though a winner on fast ground, she has all her best form on a soft surface and she may be up against it here. Rainbow View makes a quick reappearance after a pleasing performance in the Oaks at Epsom. Dropped back to a mile here, she may appreciate it as she has looked stretched over further this season. She was a disappointing favourite in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket but ran a better ran in the Oaks, being denied a clear passage at a vital stage. She is a course and distance winner having won the Meon Valley Stud Stakes here as a two-year-old and she looks sure to make the frame under Jimmy Fortune.

The fourth race looks very difficult to solve and contains many old rivals doing battle yet again. A Listed race over 1m 2f, Ed Dunlop's Stone of Scone is forecast favourite and has ran well at the trip this season. He needs to cut to be at his best so this fast surface is a worry but he stays well and could go well. Moonquake has Stone of Scone back in third when winning a handicap at York last time out. He stayed on strongly to lead that day and with similar conditions, he will run well for Frankie Dettori. Re Barolo will go well for trainer Marco Botti and jockey Christophe Lemaire. He won a Listed contest on the all-weather in February and has ran well in defeat this season. On his last start, he ran a blinder over this trip in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar in May and stays well. He looks a good each-way bet. There are a long list of horses with chances, including Salute Him and Baron De'L, who travel over from Ireland, and Perfect Stride, who was beaten at Goodwood in a competitive race when last seen.

Another Group three, the Queen's Vase over 2m, gets underway afterwards and it contains many unexposed horses. Dhushan is favourite and looks to have a good chance based on his easy maiden win at Chepstow over 1m 4f, where he made all the running and pulled clear of a good opponent with having to be fully extended. He looks sure to stay the extra four furlongs and even though inexperienced having only had two runs in his career, he is very intresting and may make the running again under Philip Robinson. Mastery represents Saaed Bin Suroor and carries a penalty after his win in the Irish Derby. He stays well and may make the frame. Mark Johnston has two in the race, Sabotage and Holberg. Sabotage won his maiden in easy fashion, winning by six lengths eased down over a mile and a half, he could be anything and is a good each-way bet. Holberg is a tough sort but looks up against it here. Yankee Doodle represent Aidan O'Brien and has stamina in abundance so will go well here, as will Stately Home, from the same stable, who was beaten by a good one on his last run.

A devilish handicap rounds up the day and it looks tough to solve. With so many alternatives, it is hard to make a solid selection. Something is interesting based on his old form and he looked unlucky not to win last time at Epsom. He has raced off higher marks in the past and deserves to land a nice race so today may be the day. He found lots of trouble at Epsom, and beaten a length, probably should have won without the traffic problems. Trainer Dandy Nicholls is in good form and he should go well at a nice price. Mutheeb looks to have a very stiff mark so is overlooked and Seasider is interesting for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He has a mark of 85 and could be well in if good enough. Redford is classy but his mark is fairly high and he has his best form on soft ground. Mister Hardy is chasing a four-timer but has gone up a lot in the weights and will have to improve.

Ascot Day Four - Selections:

- 2:30 - Lillie Langtry, 6/4.

- 3:05 - South Easter, 11/2.

- 3:45 - Ghanaati, 5/2.

- 4:20 - Re Barolo, e/w at 10/1.

- 4:55 - Dhushan, 3/1.

- 5:30 - Something, e/w at 10/1.

Ascot Day Four - Results:

- 2:30 - 1st - Habaayib, 16/1, 2nd - Lillie Langtry, 11/8 fav, 3rd - Chachamaidee, 16/1.

Habaayib produced a very taking performance to win by a length and half from the well-backed Lillie Langtry. After winning her maiden at Nottingham in fine style, her connections were unsure which race to go for this week, however they plumped for this and the decision paid off. After travelling well for most of the journey, always along the inside the rail, she quickened up well when asked by Richard Hills and was always holding Lillie Langtry inside the final furlong. Aidan O'Brien's filly put up a good performance back in second, showing improving from her win last time out. She was always prominent under Seamus Heffernan and quickened up well to chase the leader. Even though she stayed on with some purpose, she could never muster enough to pass the winner and she looks a nice prospect for next season. Chachamaidee ran superbly on just second career start and was only two lengths behind the leading pair. She looked good when winning her maiden and improved to make the frame here, she is another interesting filly for next year. American fancy Aegean ran no race and weakened out of it after setting a solid pace. Kurtanella was brought down at half-way after suffering interference.

- 3:05 - 1st - Father Time, 9/1, 2nd - Your Old Pal, 14/1, 3rd - Black Bear Island, 9/2.

Father Time moved stylishly through the race and stayed on well to score by four lengths. He was up in trip today after running well in the Lingfield Derby Trial but he was expected to win last time out, only to come second. He was given a super ride by a confident Eddie Ahern and he was travelling the best with four to go. Once he was asked to lengthen he did so and gave trainer Henry Cecil yet another winner at the Royal meeting. Your Old Pal stayed on stoutly to get second, afte being at the back all the way before making headway up the rail. Black Bear Island was weak in the betting but ran a good race to finish third. He is an improver and may get compensation. South Easter was supported into 7/2 but when looking likely to make a telling move he was cut up and all momentum was lost. He didn't seem to stay the trip. Debussy made the running but was another to weaken up the run in. Native Ruler was fancied but could only plug on, a way behind his winning stable-mate.

- 3:45 - 1st - Ghanaati, 2/1 fav, 2nd - Reggane, 9/1, 3rd - Rainbow View, 13/2.

Ghanaati put in a performance of the highest order and prove her Guineas win to be no fluke. Her trainer and jockey expected her to go close, especially as she had improved physically from her Newmarket win. She was well backed beforehand and was always settled in third. With four furlongs to go, her confident parter, Richard Hills wanted to get closer to the leader and made up the ground in a matter of strides. She lengthened very impressively and was not seriously asked throughout. She is now worth a fortune and we may see her out again before the season is up. Reggane ran on nicely but finished two lengths behind the leader. Rainbow View was held up in last place for most of the trip but made eyecatching late headway. She never threatened but ran on again, as she has done this season in her other races, and she may win another race. Elusive Wave got upset in the preliminaries beforehand and jinked when Ghanaati ranged up alongside, she was disappointing. Again never featured under Ryan Moore.

- 4:20 - 1st - Perfect Stride, 8/1, 2nd - Moonquake, 11/2, 3rd - Salute Him, 10/1, 4th - Re Barolo, 14/1.

Perfect Stride battled on gamely to give Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore another Royal Ascot winner. He was always prominent and was under pressure as the leader Moonquake was travelling well. As Frankie Dettori's mount went for home, Perfect Stride found more and edged past the Godolphin runner to score by half a length. Salute Him was staying on late, as was Re Barolo who was in last place for a long way. He was motoring inside the last furlong but was not close enough to trouble the first two. Favourite Stone Of Scone never featured and wants softer ground.