Royal Ascot Day Four tips – CopyBet

The first of Friday’s Group 1s is the Commonwealth Cup and the 6f sprint for three-year-olds is shaping up to be a cracking race. Charlie Appleby runs SHADOW OF LIGHT, who was crowned Europe’s champion two-year-old last season.

He made his debut in a Yarmouth maiden back in July and won with plenty in hand, with the one-length margin underestimating him somewhat. Unsurprisingly, a 7lb penalty did little to stop him at Newmarket next time and he went on to score cosily once again.

Shadow Of Light put his defeat in the Gimcrack far behind him, as he absolutely bolted up in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes a month or so later. The step up to 7f wasn’t a problem in the Dewhurst on his final start at two, even though the soft ground wouldn’t have been ideal.

Running very well in the Guineas first time out this season, he finished third behind stablemate Ruling Court and the exceptional Field Of Gold and was only a length away from winning. Connections clearly feel he retains enough pace for 6f and he surely won’t be far away.

The thoroughly unexposed FALAKEYAH steps into Group 1 company for the first time and she’s very much in the ‘could be anything’ category. Owen Burrows’ filly has only had two starts so far and both runs have resulted in impressive victories.

She bolted up in a Wolverhampton maiden over an extended mile on debut in November and there was never a moment’s worry. Slow to get going and a little keen in the early stages, she was learning through the race and quickened clear in the style of a smart filly.

This daughter of New Bay was similarly impressive when winning a Listed race at Newmarket on seasonal debut and you would imagine she’s likely to step forward again. Returning to a mile should be no problem and this three-year-old is one to watch.

Lightly raced and unexposed handicappers often have the edge in thoroughly competitive races such as the Sandringham and Ed Bethell’s OOLONG POOBONG could be the one to side with. Having only had four handicap starts so far, there should be more to come.

She won a Newcastle novice over 6f on her second start back in August, travelling strongly before kicking on to score by a length. Her final start at two came in a very competitive nursery at Doncaster and she ran a cracker to finish second by a neck.

Connections have stepped her up to 7f this season and she travelled powerfully once again before winning by a couple of lengths at Haydock last time out. The step up to a mile could encourage more improvement and Bethell’s filly won’t be too inconvenienced by a 5lb rise.