Royal Ascot enters its fourth day with the highlight expected to come when Europe's best three-year-old fillies contest the Coronation Stakes.

The action kicks off with the group three Albany Stakes while another group one race, The Commonwealth Cup, will warm up the massive crowd for the big one at 4.20pm.

Today's action follows a brilliant Ladies Day on Thursday in which Big Orange triumphed in the Gold Cup.

Jockey James Doyle led the Michael Bell-trained 5/1 shot home after coming from behind on the final straight.

There were also victories for Sioux Nation, Benbatl and Coronet on the third day of the carnival.

Who will steal the show today? Follow all the live action here.

Friday's races at Royal Ascot

2:30pm The Albany Stakes (Group 3)

1st: Different League 20/1

2nd: Alpha Centauri 2/1f

3rd: Take Me With You 20/1

3:05pm The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)

1st: Permian 6/1

2nd: Khalidi 10/1

3rd: Crystal Ocean 9/4f

3:40pm The Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)

1st: Caravaggio 5/6f

2nd: Harry Angel 11-4

3rd: Blue Point 9-2

4:20pm The Coronation Stakes (Group 1)

1st: Winter 4/9f

2nd: Roly Poly 12/1

3rd: Hydrangea 16/1

5:00pm Queen’s Vase (Group 2)

1st: Stradivarius 11/2

2nd: Count Octave 8/1

3rd: Secret Advisor 10/1

5:35pm Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

1st: Rare Rhythm 20/1

2nd: Appeared 13/2

3rd: Star Storm 14/1

Buick - This one is for Charlie and all the guys at home

The long-absent Rare Rhythm provided jockey William Buick with his second winner of the day and fourth of the week by landing the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.

Charlie Appleby’s charge had not been seen in competitive action since finishing eighth in last year’s renewal of this mile-and-a-half handicap, but a lack of match practice was clearly not an issue.

The 20-1 chance was always up with the pace and dug deep in the closing stages to get the better of Appeared by two and a quarter lengths to clinch a sixth winner of the meeting for Godolphin.

Star Storm and Top Tug were third and fourth respectively.

Buick said: “This one is for Charlie and all the guys at home, they’ve prepared this horse tremendously well, they deal with him every day so this result is for the team. I’m just the rider on the day.”

Appleby said: “That was a great ride from William. We were confident this horse was fit enough, we’ve taken him to Chelmsford on two occasions so he was primed for today but I thought the ground would be quick enough, if I’m honest.

“So, from that draw on that ground, William has given him a brilliant ride. We were going to go forward and float across and couldn’t ask for anything more.

“He’s a horse we’ve always felt had plenty of ability, but he hasn’t been seen since this race last year, we were just waiting for better ground and then we mapped him out for the November Handicap but he met with a setback.

“We came here confident but not too bullish.”

Rare Rhythm wins Duke of Edinburgh Stks

1. Rare Rhythm

2. Appeared

3. Star Storm

We are off in the Duke of Edinburgh Stks

Latest betting odds

  • Wadigor 9-2
  • Sixties Groove 9-2
  • Mainstream 11-2
  • Appeared 7-1
  • Top Tug 8-1
  • Cape Cove 12-1

Duke of Edinburgh Stks predictions

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3


1 MAINSTREAM
2 SIXTIES GROOVE
3 CAPE COVA


MAINSTREAM, carrying the colours of the Queen, has strong claims in a typically open event.
After a frustrating run of near-misses in the second half of last season, the decision was made to geld the son of Dansili.
And it was the right call, judged by Mainstream’s third in a 12-furlong handicap on Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas undercard last month.
That form is white hot - winner Frontiersman has since finished second in the Coronation Cup, while runner-up Top Tug and fourth Big Country scored next time - so Ryan Moore’s mount is well treated off just 2lb higher.
Threats lurk everywhere, with Wadigor and Sixties Groove the most obvious dangers, and Cape Cova noteworthy at bigger odds.

(
Image:
Rex Features)

Frankie Dettori misses out once again

Stradivarius owner John Gosden immediately paid tribute to Frankie Dettori who had to miss out on Royal Ascot this year.

Dettori was due to ride Stradivarius but had to pull out of the big race meeting this week with a shoulder injury.

Gosden said: “It would have been another winner for Frankie but thank you for getting them ready.

“I am sorry you could not be here my old friend.”

Stradivarius wins Queen's Vase

1. Stradivarius

2. Count Octave

3. Secret Advisor

We are off in the Queen's Vase

Belgravia is the bookies favourite to take the honours.

You would not bet against Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien making it a hat-trick of wins?

Can anyone stop them?

Latest betting odds

  • Belgravia 5-1
  • Time To Study 7-1
  • Stradivarius 7-1
  • Desert Skyline 8-1
  • Wisconsin 8-1
  • Count Octave 8-1
  • Haripour 10-1

Queen's Vase Predictions

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3


1 DESERT SKYLINE
2 TIME TO STUDY
3 BELGRAVIA


DESERT SKYLINE is worth chancing at the trip.
Edged out a nose by Grey Britain in Listed grade at Newmarket last month, the David Elsworth three-year-old didn’t get the rub of the green at Epsom when third to Drochaid in the valuable 10-furlong handicap that opens the Derby card.
Desert Skyline steps up to Group 2 level here, but his form compares favourably with that of his opponents - with the promise of more to come.
And the fact wily fox Elsworth believes a mile and six furlongs will prove within range is interesting.
Mark Johnston and Aidan O’Brien have the best recent record in this race, so Time To Study and Belgravia warrant maximum respect.

(
Image:
PA)

Moore - She is getting more and more professional

Winter jockey Ryan Moore said:

She’s just doing what she has to do.

She’s getting more and more professional.

It’s a hard thing to do to win two Guineas and then come here.

She’s a very good filly and she’s beaten some very good horses from France and America.

(
Image:
REUTERS)

Winter wins Coronation Stakes

1. Winter

2. Roly Poly

3. Hydrangea

We are off in the the Coronation Stakes

Can anyone stop Ryan Moore and Winter?

They are the clear favourites for the 2017 Coronation Stakes.

The drama is set to unfold.

Latest betting odds

  • Winter 1-2
  • Dabyah 13-2
  • Precieuse 8-1
  • Roly Poly 14-1
  • Hydrangea 16-1
  • La Coronel 20-1
  • Tomyris 33-1

Winter looks ready

The big race of the day is almost upon us.

All eyes are on the famous double act of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore once again.

Winter is the big favourite and will take some stopping.

Coronation Stakes predictions

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3


1 WINTER
2 PRECIEUSE
3 DABYAH


WINTER cannot sensibly be opposed.
Since leaving David Wachman for Aidan O’Brien, the daughter of Galileo and 2010 Wokingham heroine Laddies Poker Two has taken her form to a whole new level.
Beaten a head by stablemate Hydrangea at Leopardstown in April on her debut for Ballydoyle, she was allowed to go off at 9-1 for the 1000 Guineas, for which O’Brien’s Rhododendron led the betting at 5-4, a month later.
But, when she quickened to the front with two furlongs of the Rowley Mile remaining under Wayne Lordan, the Classic was as good as done with, as Rhododendron, who had met with trouble in running, stayed on at the one pace two lengths behind.
Ryan Moore took over on 8-13 favourite Winter in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh at the end of last month, and a four-and-three-quarter-length margin from fellow O’Brien trainee Roly Poly and Hydrangea ranks as a personal best.
Churchill failed in his bid for the Newmarket-Curragh-Ascot treble on Tuesday, but it will be a shock if the same fate befalls Winter.
Punters can boost their return by seeking the second, with Fred Darling Stakes winner Dabyah and Poule D’Essai Des Pouliches heroine Precieuse prime candidates for minor honours.

(
Image:
PA)

O'Brien - He is obviously a brilliant horse

Caravaggio trainer Aidan O’Brien said:

He’s obviously a brilliant horse.

It was only his second run back and we’ve been afraid to do too much because we didn’t want to lose that brilliance that he has.

Ryan gave him a brilliant ride and his change of pace is unbelievable.

Ryan was very confident in him, he said he was just going to pop him out and let it happen and that’s exactly what he did, he said he’d come there very late and that’s exactly what he did.

He’s very quick - I don’t think we’ve ever had a quicker horse.

It was a big step up from his first run at Naas.

We knew it was against three-year-olds today but it will be older horses next time.

Six out of six for Caravaggio

Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite Caravaggio (5-6) engaged top gear late under Ryan Moore to win the Commonwealth Cup.

Jockey Ryan Moore kept his composure once again as he saw off the challenge to beat Harry Angel and Blue Point.

Caravaggio wins Commonwealth Cup

1. Caravaggio

2. Harry Angel

3. Blue Point

Aaaaaaaaand we're off in the Commonwealth Cup

Latest betting odds

  • Caravaggio 10/11f
  • Harry Angel 11-4
  • Blue Point 9-2
  • Bound For Nowhere 9-1
  • Intelligence Cross 28-1
  • Tis Marvellous 33-1

First sighting of Caravaggio

The big favourite for the Commonwealth Cup is paraded in the paddock.

Can anyone stop Caravaggio?

Commonwealth Cup predictions

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3


1 CARAVAGGIO
2 HARRY ANGEL
3 BOUND FOR NOWHERE


CARAVAGGIO defended his unbeaten record with a taking success on his return - and will take some stopping.
The Scat Daddy colt was a perfect four from four as a juvenile, including successes in the Coventry Stakes here last year and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August.
A setback intervened to keep Caravaggio off the track for the rest of the year and, during the winter, trainer Aidan O’Brien and ‘the lads’ at Coolmore opted to send him sprinting rather than seek to stretch his stamina out over a mile.
Accordingly, Ryan Moore’s mount made his belated comeback over six furlongs in the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at Naas 33 days ago.
And the way he thrashed Pyschedelic Funk by four and three-quarter lengths, hitting the front inside the furlong pole before careering away, suggests the correct decision has been made.
That rates the best form on offer and the fact Caravaggio has yet to be seriously tested makes him much the most likely winner.
Harry Angel, beaten by Blue Point here in April, impressed in victory at Haydock Park last time and should get closest to my selection, with American challenger Bound For Nowhere in the mix for the podium.

(
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Buick - Mark gave me a lot of confidence

Permian jockey William Buick was thrilled to make up for the disappointment of the Derby and praised the impact that trainer Mark Johnston had on him winning the King Edward VII Stakes.

Buick said: “Mark gave me a lot of confidence in the sense that he just wanted his horse to go forward and get across without asking him too much.

“I know Mark and the team were surprised how badly he ran in the Derby, but I couldn’t help as I had no explanation.”

Permian wins King Edward VII Stakes

1. Permian

2. Khalidi

3. Crystal Ocean

We are off in the King Edward VII Stakes

Will this be the Best Solution?

Crystal Ocean might be the clear favourite but Best Solution could have something to say about that.

He is being paraded around the paddock and could steal all the headlines.

We are minutes away from the King Edward VII Stakes getting underway.

King Edward VII Stakes Predictions

NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3


1 CRYSTAL OCEAN
2 BEST OF DAYS
3 SIR JOHN LAVERY


CRYSTAL OCEAN is sure to be popular - and deservedly so.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Sea The Stars was the object of a Derby gamble after winning a maiden at Nottingham in April.
And there was much to like about his third to Permian in the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York last month.
Stoute decided against going to Epsom, opting to come for the race that he has won six times - and punters should take the hint.
Permian could prove best of the quintet from Epsom, Sir John Lavery flopped in the Lingfield Derby Trial but is thought capable of better, and Best Of Days returns with his stable back in form.

Best of Days (
Image:
Rex Features)

Hamelin - A first winner is a dream for me

Different League jockey Antoine Hamelin says it is a dream to win his first race at Royal Ascot.

Hamelin said:

It was a very good performance, this is a great feeling. I love this filly.

It’s amazing, I’m really happy to be here.

This is great for me but it’s great for everyone back home at the yard.

A first winner at Royal Ascot is a dream for me.

(
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

She is a Different League to the others

French challenger Different League claimed top honours in the Albany Stakes.

Despite having won both of her previous two starts, Matthieu Palussiere’s filly was a 20-1 shot for the opening race on day four of the meeting in the hands of Antoine Hamelin.

The daughter of Dabirsim made a smart start and was soon leading the group that raced on the far side of the track.

Alpha Centauri, the 2-1 favourite, did her best to make inroads in the final furlong, but Different League never looked in real danger of being caught and passed the post a neck to the good.

Take Me With You fared best of those that raced on the stands side in third.