We head into day four of Royal Ascot on Friday with another top-class afternoon of horse racing action on the flat. A seven-race card will be shown in its entirety by ITV Racing and the card features two Group One contests.
Brian’s seven selections cover the full Day 4 card. NAP is Precise in the 16:20 Coronation Stakes (Group 1) — Aidan O’Brien’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner looking to confirm form. NB is Venetian Sun in the 15:05 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) — last year’s Albany winner stepping back into top company. Two each-way plays are Insanity and Glyfada.
| Time | Race | Selection | Bet Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 | Albany Stakes (Group 3) | Sun Goddess | Win |
| 15:05 | Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) | Venetian Sun | NB |
| 15:40 | Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) | Insanity | EW |
| 16:20 | Coronation Stakes (Group 1) | Precise | NAP |
| 17:00 | Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) | Glyfada | EW |
| 17:35 | King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) | Causeway | Win |
| 18:10 | Palace of Holyroodhouse (Handicap) | Calico Blue | Win |
Get a Free Bet for Royal Ascot Day 4
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is available on all UK and Irish horse racing at the major bookmakers — if you take a price and the SP drifts to a bigger one, you’ll be paid out at the bigger price. With two Group 1 contests and three competitive handicaps on Friday’s card, BOG delivers genuine cumulative value across Day 4. Read our Best Odds Guaranteed guide for the bookmakers offering BOG.
14:30 Ascot — Albany Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Cl1 (2yo) 6f
Lots of promising fillies on show and perhaps none more so than SUN GODDESS (6/5), who bettered a hugely encouraging debut with an impressive five lengths’ victory at the Curragh last month.
The Sioux NAtion filly was stepping up to six furlongs and she overcame an early bump to travel well into the race and quickly assert to strike. Her debut effort at Naas was franked when the winner went on to place in a Group Three and open to plenty of improvement she can build on her impressive victory last time out to double her tally here.
Selection: Sun Goddess to win
15:05 Ascot — Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (No Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 6f — NB
VENETIAN SUN (11/8) went from strength to strength last term, winning the Albany on this card twelve months ago as part of a four-race haul that also saw her lower the colours of Gstaad in a Group One at Deauville before rounding off her campaign with a solid third at the Curragh behind Precise.
Karl Burke’s charge patently failed to see out the one mile trip of the 1000 Guineas, but she was impressive next time dropping back to this trip when routing rivals by three lengths to take the Sandy Lane Stakes from Division.
There will be no shortage of pace here which will be a positive and with fast ground no issue she looks set to prove tough to beat here.
Selection: Venetian Sun — Next Best
15:40 Ascot — Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m4f — EW
A chance is taken that INSANITY (EW) 33/1 can make the frame for Alan King and Rossa Ryan.
The Nathaniel gelding has a good record at this track, winning here during the 2024 Shergar Cup and placing twice since at Ascot although his last victory came last June at Ayr when beating Oneforthegutter.
He’s also made the frame in valuable handicaps last term at York which include off this mark and his effort in the November Handicap on his final start of the season can be ignored on account of the heavy ground.
He was entitled to have needed his reappearance behind Have Secret at Pontefract, but he’ll strip fitter for that outing and ther may still be some scope for him to improve off this mark. He can make his presence felt once more with ground conditions ideal and he can defy his big price.
Selection: Insanity — Each-Way
16:20 Ascot — Coronation Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo) 1m — NAP
PRECISE (4/6) outbattled reopposing stablemate True Love in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Starspangledbanner filly can repeat the dose.
Aidan O’Brien’s charge racked up a four-timer last term, beating the likes of Beautify and Venetial Lace and although she disappointed at Newmarket on her reappearance she did have excuses having endured a troubled preparation on the run-up to the race. She did travel quite well through the contest but weakened late on and probably didn’t give her true running.
That wasn’t the case at the Curragh and she showed the benefit of the outing to down her stablemate with an authoratitive performance. Ryan Moore prefers her over True Love which might be significant and the pair can win again and confirm form from the Curragh.
Selection: Precise — NAP
17:00 Ascot — Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) (Fillies) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m — EW
GLYFADA (EW) 8/1 might be worth chancing on the back of victories at Naas and Killarney more recently and the Camelot filly can make her presence felt in pursuit of a hat-trick.
Donnacha O’Brien’s charge was impressive latest when dropping back to one mile to beat What About Us by two lengths and that form was boosted when the runner-up went on to win next time out; the third also finished runner-up in a valuable contest at Gowran Park so the form of the victory looks solid.
She has won over further, but she seemed to improve for the sharper trip latest and still unexposed she can take another step forward.
Selection: Glyfada — Each-Way
17:35 Ascot — King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 (3yo) 1m4f
CAUSEWAY (2/1) is on a roll, winning all three starts this season which include a Group Three at the Curragh in May and Aidan O’Brien’s charge can continue his upward curve to make it four wins for the campaign.
The Wootton Bassett colt struck by a head over Zia Zabel, showing a good attitude to repel challengers and this greater test of stamina could unlock further progress.
The form of her earlier Tetrarch Stakes victory looks solid and she ought to prove a tough nut to crack here if continuing her race-by-race improvement.
Selection: Causeway to win
18:10 Ascot — Palace of Holyroodhouse (Handicap) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 5f
Lightly-raced CALICO BLUE (18/1) can run a big race in the day-four finale for Roger Varian.
A dual-winner last term, both at Chester, which included a five lengths’ demolition of Blazing, the Calyx colt made a very pleasing return to action at Sandown back in April where he was beaten less than one length by Black Star Boy where he didn’t aid his chances by racing keenly.
That form has taken a couple of knocks, but he’s likely to have come on well from that reappearance and he can do better on the back of the run so it wouldn’t come as a shock to see him run well here.
Selection: Calico Blue to win
Royal Ascot Day 4 Selections Summary
| Time | Race | Selection | Bet Type | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:30 | Albany Stakes (Group 3) | Sun Goddess | Win | — |
| 15:05 | Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) | Venetian Sun | NB | Karl Burke |
| 15:40 | Duke of Edinburgh Stakes | Insanity | EW | Alan King |
| 16:20 | Coronation Stakes (Group 1) | Precise | NAP | Aidan O’Brien |
| 17:00 | Sandringham Stakes | Glyfada | EW | Donnacha O’Brien |
| 17:35 | King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) | Causeway | Win | Aidan O’Brien |
| 18:10 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | Calico Blue | Win | Roger Varian |
Royal Ascot Day 4 ITV Schedule — Friday 19 June 2026
ITV Racing covers the entire seven-race Day 4 card from approximately 1:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. The feature races are the Group One Commonwealth Cup at 15:05 and the Group One Coronation Stakes at 16:20 — two top-tier races on the same card making Friday one of the strongest days of the meeting.
Friday 19 June 2026 — full Royal Ascot Day 4 card on ITV:
- 14:30 — Albany Stakes (Group 3, 6f, 2yo Fillies)
- 15:05 — Commonwealth Cup (Group 1, 6f, 3yo No Geldings) — feature race
- 15:40 — Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap, 1m4f, 3yo+ 0-105)
- 16:20 — Coronation Stakes (Group 1, 1m, 3yo Fillies) — feature race
- 17:00 — Sandringham Stakes (Handicap, 1m, 3yo Fillies 0-105)
- 17:35 — King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2, 1m4f, 3yo Colts & Geldings)
- 18:10 — Palace of Holyroodhouse (Handicap, 5f, 3yo 0-105)
More Royal Ascot and Horse Racing Content
- ITV Racing Hub — daily ITV Racing previews and tips
- Best Odds Guaranteed Explained — BOG bookmakers and how it works
- Non-Runner No Bet Explained — NRNB guide for ante-post bettors
- Tom Segal Pricewise Tips — pricewise pundit picks for the major meetings
- Horse Racing Betting Sites — UK welcome offers for racing punters
- Each-Way Betting Explained — how each-way bets work
- Lucky 15 Betting Guide — multiple bet structures explained
18+. Odds correct at time of publishing. Best Odds Guaranteed applies at participating bookmakers on UK and Irish horse racing — see our BOG guide for details. Each-Way terms vary by bookmaker. New customers only at each bookmaker. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org | GamCare.org.uk
Brian joined the team a couple of years ago but he has a long background in writing horse racing content and betting tips. Having worked for a number of publications in the past, such as RacingTips, Brian made the move to thatsagoal and is the main content writer across flat and National Hunt racing.