For day four we concentrate on the two Group 1s on the card, starting with the Commonwealth Cup. Equilateral and Sioux Nation head the market. The first named is trained by Charlie Hills and is a progressive broad colt with plenty of speed. He smashed in at Doncaster last time and deserves a lot of respect. He’d need to improve but there’s nothing to stop him doing so. Sioux Nation has been really popular in the betting. He won the Norfolk Stakes last year and has bags of speed and ability. He has won a Group 1 and his only below par efforts have been on softer ground. I really fancy him to win this.
Others to note include Invincible Army who won on soft ground here in May, while Sands of Mali might also prefer a bit of cut in the ground having demonstrated his liking for slower ground at Chantilly earlier in the season. Having said this there is nothing to say he won’t handle the quicker surface and there is no denying he is in great form after a game success in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
At long odds, Group 1 winner Unfortunately has slipped under the radar and could offer some each way value.
The market at the top of the Coronation Stakes is open enough. Alpha Centauri is a marginal favourite after winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas but rarely is this race that simple. Clemmie was in a different league to her rivals in the Cheveley Park Stakes last term so I truly expect her to bounce back to form.
I couldn’t be too confident of the others but Sir Michael Stoute’s Veracious is lightly raced and French 1,000 Guineas winner Teppal represents a decent chance for trainer David Simcock. Threading looks overpriced after a lengthy win at York last time. Tough race but Clemmie gets the vote. Good luck