I'm supremely confident my big Royal Ascot tip on Friday will be far too good for his rivals
OUT of the shadows and into the limelight — that's what I'm expecting for last season's champion juvenile at Ascot on Friday.
We've made it to Day Four of the Royal meeting, and
SHADOW OF LIGHT
(3.05) — last season's Group 1 Middle Park and Dewhurst hero — drops back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup.
Advertisement
1
Is Shadow Of Light a bit of a good thing in what would normally be a hugely competitive Commonwealth?
Credit: PA
Like many, I suspect he will take all the beating after his comeback third to stable companion Ruling Court and Field Of Gold in the 2,000 Guineas.
Shadow Of Light might well have won that race if he had been delivered a little later, but whatever the case, the drop to 6f should be exactly what he will enjoy and I just think he will be far too good.
I'm happy with stall 19, so come on, William Buick.
GOLD DIGGER
(2.30) can get the day off to a flyer in the Albany Stakes.
Advertisement
She looked special on debut at Yarmouth and it would be a famous winner here for Phil Cunningham and Richard Spencer.
I was there that day, and many thought Awaken would take all the beating for George Boughey.
She ran well, but was no match for Gold Digger, a Starman offspring who cost 260,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up sale.
She stays well and will be well suited to a Jamie Spencer special from off the pace. Stall 14 should not be an issue.
Advertisement
Most read in Horse Racing
ETHICAL DIAMOND
(3.40) was fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh last year when the 7-4 favourite.
But he was out in stall 18 that day and get a much handier box in stall seven this time.
The Willie Mullins challenger will hopefully be a stronger horse this time as he just weakened late on in 2024 and I suspect he will take all the stopping under Ryan Moore.
He was a fine fourth at Cheltenham in the County Hurdle.
Advertisement
For many the big one of the day is the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.
We get the chance to see what might be a monster in
FALAKEYAH
(4.20) and her draw (stall two) has worked in her favour.
Owen Burrows was considering the French Oaks after her demolition job in the Pretty Polly but also the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
I'm pretty sure she has the speed for this test.
Advertisement
She should be improving all the time as had only been to Wolverhampton prior to her Newmarket victory.
She looks an absolute tank. Jim Crowley takes the mount.
NEVER LET GO
(5.00) is the one for me in the Sandringham.
A strong gallop will be ideal for her and she has plenty of experience for Ed Walker.
Advertisement
Many in this race are stepping up in trip, but Never Let Go drops in distance and looks sure to be suited by a proper gallop.
Kieran Shoemark would not usually want to get down to a weight of 8st10lbs every day but he might just be rewarded here for making the effort.
She's up in the handicap for a Listed third when last seen but as a lightly-raced animal I'm not too fussed about that. An each-way wager.
Amiloc could easily win the King Edwards VII Stakes - also known as the Ascot Derby.
Advertisement
But
ZAHRANN
(5.35) might just be one of the best Johnny Murtagh has trained in his career.
The Aga Khan-owned colt and son of Night of Thunder was impressive in Listed company at Leopardstown last time and stayed this trip very well.
He was well backed and it looked as though the stable knew he's classy. I'll chance him each-way.
The day closes with
JORGE ALVARES
(6.10) in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap.
Advertisement
A lot of very fast horses here and I suspect something will come flying through late.
He could be the one each-way for Colin Keane and Ger Lyons.
The gelding has plenty of experience and ran really well when last seen at Curragh staying on strongly having been close to the pace.
He's up 1lb here but that shouldn't make any difference and he's raced up to seven furlongs so that bit of stamina could be useful.
Advertisement
Good luck one and all. Yeeehaaa!
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org
.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Read more on the Irish Sun
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare –
Gamble Aware –
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘There might be some issues' – Championship club could be forced to leave beloved 27,111-seater stadium for third time
CHARLTON ATHLETIC managing director Jim Rodwell has not ruled out the club leaving The Valley. The Addicks are back in the Championship for the first time since 2020 next season. Advertisement 2 Nathan Jones led Charlton back to the Championship last season Credit: PA 2 The club remain uncertain on the future of their home at The Valley Credit: PA But Charlton continue to be dogged by questions The Valley is under the control of the club's former owner Roland Duchatelet. He sold the club six years ago but retained ownership of the 27,111-seat stadium and the club's training ground. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL A 15-year lease was signed by the club in 2021, with 11 years remaining before it expires. The EFL require clubs to have at least ten years left on a stadium lease. Charlton director Rodwell admits talks are ongoing with Duchatelet over an extension. But he did not rule out the possibility that the club could eventually have to leave the site - home to the club for most of their 106-year existence. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He told "We've made no secret of the fact we would like to buy the stadium or enter into a longer term lease on the right terms. EFL club release 'gorgeous work of art' kit and even rival fans want to buy it "Those conversations are ongoing. We have a considerable period of time left. I know fans like certainty and so do businessmen. Advertisement 'It's always a possibility [we will have to move]. I think the desire would be to stay at The Valley. "It's a brilliant ground and great atmosphere. It's fit for purpose." He added: "Our [lease] is getting down to [ten years], so there might be some issues there." Charlton left The Valley between 1923 and 1924 for nearby Catford. Advertisement They played at the now-demolished Mount Stadium, before a proposed merger with Catford Southend FC fell through. Charlton left the Valley again in 1985 after the ground fell into disrepair and the club's debts spiralled. They ground-shared with Rodwell continued: "What is The Valley actually worth? It's worth a lot to Charlton but probably not a lot to a developer. Advertisement "What else could you stick on there? "I'm always a great believer that commercial reality would hit home. "There's always a deal to be done there. Talks are ongoing. They have been conducted in the right spirit."
The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Irish joy as Cercene upstages Zarigana in Coronation Stakes
CERCENE GAVE JOCKEY Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race's longest-priced winner at 33-1. Falakeyah's challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene. However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict. Murphy said: 'We always liked her. We left her a little longer but good fillies you always leave a little longer, you never put them over. Advertisement 'He got her switched off, he's confident and he's ridden for me 17 years now. 'This is 50 years of work, that's what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it's just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth. 'It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group One winner. She's by Australia – a sire I love – and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there and if she was an inch bigger I wouldn't have her! 'I was hoping Lake Victoria stayed in because we'd have a lesser race and then we'd have pace and ride her easier, you know what I mean. 'She travelled well, Gary gave her a great ride, and we were thinking that being by Australia she'd stay as well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her, but she's very tough and a dream to train. The plan was today so now we'll draw new plans.' Carroll said: 'It's unbelievable. I've been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy. 'I've been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he's been very, very good to me so I'm delighted I can repay him. 'She ran a blinder at the Curragh where the slow pace didn't suit. We went a bit better gallop there today, got to the front a furlong and a half out and she waited, the French horse came and headed me; to be fair to this one she's not big but she's very tough and she stuck her head out for me. 'It's hugely satisfying to win a Group One. They're so hard to come by. Good horses are very hard to come by. To do this, Royal Ascot, magic. 'After the Guineas run, a better run race there she'd have finished closer again, I think she's taken a step forward from there and she's ultra-tough, she doesn't know when to give up.'
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Cercene upstages Zarigana while Eithical Diamond shines on momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins
Cercene gave jockey Gary Carroll and trainer Joseph Murphy a day to remember when bravely holding off French hotpot Zarigana to land the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Billed as a clash between French 1,000 Guineas winner Zarigana and Owen Burrows' supplemented Falakeyah, it was the Irish outsider who stole the show to become the race's longest-priced winner at 33-1. Falakeyah's challenge faded tamely having raced keenly, but 6-4 favourite Zarigana looked prime to pounce in hands of Mickael Barzalona and in fact looked to briefly have passed Cercene. However, Irish 1,000 third Cercene was not to be denied and proved her Curragh performance was no fluke as she battled back to secure a half-length verdict. Murphy said: "We always liked her. We left her a little longer but good fillies you always leave a little longer, you never put them over. "He got her switched off, he's confident and he's ridden for me 17 years now. "This is 50 years of work, that's what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it's just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth. "It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group One winner. She's by Australia - a sire I love - and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there and if she was an inch bigger I wouldn't have her! "I was hoping Lake Victoria stayed in because we'd have a lesser race and then we'd have pace and ride her easier, you know what I mean. "She travelled well, Gary gave her a great ride, and we were thinking that being by Australia she'd stay as well. She was headed and came back again. She waited for something to head her, but she's very tough and a dream to train. The plan was today so now we'll draw new plans." Carroll said: "It's unbelievable. I've been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy. "I've been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he's been very, very good to me so I'm delighted I can repay him. "She ran a blinder at the Curragh where the slow pace didn't suit. We went a bit better gallop there today, got to the front a furlong and a half out and she waited, the French horse came and headed me; to be fair to this one she's not big but she's very tough and she stuck her head out for me. "It's hugely satisfying to win a Group One. They're so hard to come by. Good horses are very hard to come by. To do this, Royal Ascot, magic. "After the Guineas run, a better run race there she'd have finished closer again, I think she's taken a step forward from there and she's ultra-tough, she doesn't know when to give up." Earlier Ethical Diamond made it a momentous day at Royal Ascot for Willie Mullins when powering down the outside to win the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore. Mullins and his wife Jackie had taken part in the royal procession before racing and his dual-purpose performer had no trouble in justifying 3-1 favouritism. Fourth last year, he was 2lb higher having also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham - but the result barely looked in doubt and he came home two lengths clear of Mutaawid and Naqeeb. Mullins said: "Last year he just ran too free and things didn't work out for him, but he still ran a cracker to be fourth so I thought if we get things right this year he had a real live chance and it worked out that way. "We will give him a little break, bring him home; we will look at York next, a race like the Ebor. We'd love to (go to Australia) if we could get him qualified, that was my first thought coming in. "I think he would handle a trip to Australia, he wears the hood because he's a bit keen, but that'd be no problem. "There's a big one over hurdles in him too, but for the moment we'll concentrate on Flat racing." He added: "These are just fantastic days, Jackie was just saying to me coming in here today 'just enjoy it', and then to have a winner on top that is the cherry on the cake. "Tuesday was a little disappointing, but we live to fight another day and hopefully Reaching High (unlucky in the Ascot Stakes for the King and Queen) will be back for the same race next year. Ryan had nowhere to go, he was just locked in on the inside and that was that." Ed Walker's profitable season continued when Never Let Go (22-1) pounced late to win the Sandringham Stakes. Walker has enjoyed a string of Group-race successes this season but the victory will have meant plenty to the man on top, Kieran Shoemark, who has endured a trying time this season with the defeat of Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas. Low numbers once again dominated on the straight track, after three days of high numbers being favoured, with Never Let Go beating Cajole - trained by the Gosdens - by a length. The King and Queen were out of luck with their runner, Purple Rainbow, who was handy early but faded. Walker said: "When Kieran lost the job with John and Thady (Gosden), I said, 'I don't mean to be selfish, but I'm thrilled because it means I can use you more!'. He's a great jockey, a great guy and he will bounce back." He added of his winner: "I think she can go on. The family get better with time, she's still very raw and unfurnished and leggy."
