Royal Ascot 2020: day four – live updates!

Updates from Friday’s card including Commonwealth CupTalking Horses: Varian can boost vintage Royal Ascot weekEmail Tony, tweet @tonypaley or comment below the line 2.42pm BST 2.41pm BST Derby winners in the Hardwicke are apparently becoming a thing, since we had Masar in this last year. Hopefully things go better for Anthony Van Dyck, as Masar just about fell over on emerging from the stalls, finished fifth and was retired after one more race. Anthony Van Dyck has better prospects, having shown up well when second in the Coronation Cup a fortnight ago, with Stradivarius behind in third. But this is a strong field, he’s on a six-race losing run and was said to need fast ground when he was 10th in the King George here last year. Defoe looked useful in winning this last year and he should be sharper for his Coronation Cup fifth; his yard has come right into form. The famously mudloving Morando needs the ground to stay testing, as a few of these are more talented in normal circumstances and there is no juice in his price after it halved last night. Elarqam is a more convincing candidate after his staying-on second to Lord North 12 days ago, that rival having since landed the Prince of Wales. A Group Two winner at York on soft ground last summer, Elarqam was beaten just over a length in the Juddmonte International and he can cap a huge week for Jim Crowley. Hamish has been backed, presumably because soft suits him well, but he has a bit to prove at this level and may be better for this first run back. Continue reading…
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