Royal Ascot: Day four preview

Ladies Day was yesterday, but today focuses on the  fillies in the Coronation Stakes (3.45pm) at Royal Ascot. It promises to be an intriguing clash, not least because four of them finished in a heap in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

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Spacious, Infallible, Nahoodh and Lust Lashes finished second, fourth, fifth and sixth in the first fillies' Classic of the season and punters who take history as a guide are unlikely to look beyond this quartet.

The last five winners of this contest had all run in the 1,000 Guineas, a statistic which must leave the rest of the field a little apprehensive. Owners Cheveley Park have won this race four times since 1997, which therefore leaves stats punters with just two, Infallible and Specious. Picking between the two is difficult, and it hardly comes a s a surprise to see the two vie for favouritism for this Group 1 clash.

Most race-readers would tell you that Infallible is the one to be on after her scintillating success in the Nell Gwyn back in April. Close inspection of the form of that race brings rewards, as the third that day, Festivale, stuck her nose in front in the Sandringham Handicap here on day one.

So Infallible's form is strong, but it is her pedigree that throws up some questions, that we will not know the answers to until after the race today. Infallible looked like she was a 7f filly in the 1,00 Guineas, fading as she came up the incline that is known as The Dip.

Although today's going, which has been described by the clerk of the course Chris Stickles as "virtually firm" will help her get the trip, her trainer, John Gosden thinks that the going may have got a bit lively for her.

All being equal, at 7/2 and 4/1, it may be worth taking a punt on this and siding with Carribean Sunset. We know that Dermot Weld's filly goes on firm having finished under a blanket in the Irish 1,000 Guineas behind Halfway To Heaven, Tuscan Evening and Mad About You. 

Carribean Sunset had previously beaten Halfwway To Heaven at Leopardstown, but she suffered interference in the Irish ,1000 Guineas. Admirably consistent for a filly, she looks a big price at 12/1 given her achievements.

Others to consider on today's card are Ebadiyan and Amerigo against the hot favourite Patkai in the 2m Queen's Vase (4.55pm), while Brinze Cannon looks a likely winner in the King Edward VII Stakes (3.05pm)

Verdict: 1pt each-way Carribean Sunset @ 12/1

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