Latest Updates Ahead of Day 4 at Royal Ascot

Your one-stop shop for Royal Ascot news on Friday . . .

Mullins out for more Royal success

British and Irish champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins is backed to enjoy a second Royal Ascot winner of the week with Ethical Diamond in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25).

The perennial trainer landed the Copper Horse Handicap with Belloccio on day one of the royal meeting and saddles 2-1 favourite Ethical Diamond in the 1m4f contest.

Since joining the Closutton yard from Michael O'Meara last year, the four-year-old has raced three times over hurdles, including when tenth of 12 in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, he was switched to the Flat at Leopardstown last month and finished a nose second behind Saturn, who franked the form when landing a Curragh handicap last time out.

The mount of Ryan Moore heads the betting in the 19-runner field, with the Roger Varian-trained Shadow Dance, Deakin and Bague D'Or also prominent in the market.

Posted at 2pm

Punters siding with Porta Fortuna to reverse Guineas form

The second of two Group 1 races on the penultimate day of the royal meeting is the Coronation Stakes (3.45), in which there is an ongoing battle for favouritism between Opera Singer and French raider Ramatuelle.

Opera Singer finished third behind Fallen Angel in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her last outing, while Christopher Head's Ramatuelle filled the same position behind the reopposing Elmalka in the English 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Although the two leading players continue to fight it out at the head of the market, it's the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Porta Fortuna who is one of the movers in the betting. The daughter of Caravaggio is a general 9-2 having been as big as 7-1 with some firms overnight.

Tom Marquand's mount was beaten a neck by Elmalka in the Newmarket Classic last month and should relish conditions, having won both starts on good to firm ground.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: "After a big day for punters yesterday, we’re excited for day four of Royal Ascot, and there have already been some big market moves. The money hasn’t stopped coming for French filly Ramatuelle in the Coronation, now a 2-1 chance (from 3) and Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna is also popular there, 9-2 (from 13/2), while Opera Singer is weak at 3-1.

"In the Albany, our Top Price Guarantee race today, Godolphin’s Mountain Breeze has seen support at 3-1 (from 4). Eyecatchingly, George Boughey’s Soprano has almost halved in price in the Sandringham, and is now as short as 11-1 (from 20).

"It remains to be seen if today will swing our way or not, with plenty of punters returning for more after their fine Thursday."

Posted at 12pm

Elite Status: will not run on day fourCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Major player Elite Status out of Commonwealth Cup

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid will only be represented by 5-2 market leader Inisherin in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (3.05) after Elite Status was declared a non-runner for Karl Burke.

A knocked joint was the reason behind the Carnarvon Stakes winner being withdrawn from the first of two top-level contests on day four of the royal meeting.

The Kevin Ryan-trained Inisherin, who posted a career-best effort on Racing Post Ratings when landing the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock last month, has been the long-time favourite for the 6f contest.

However, there is plenty of movement in behind and the Stuart Williams-trained Pandora's Gift continues to receive support in the betting.

The three-year-old daughter of Churchill is a best-priced 16-1 (from 20) with bet365 to extend her winning run to five. The mount of Sean Levey, who already has a Group 1 victory to his name at Royal Ascot this year courtesy of Rosallion's strike in the St James's Palace Stakes, is as short as 12-1 with other firms.

Pandora's Gift completed the four-timer when landing a Listed contest on the all-weather at Chelmsford last month and is making her first appearance on turf. In her five starts, she has won four and finished second on the other occasion.

Last-time-out winners Jasour and Starlust are single-figure prices, while the unbeaten Kind Of Blue, who is trained by James Fanshawe, is attracting support at bigger odds.

Posted at 9.30am

Going update: conditions remain quick for day four

The going on day four of Royal Ascot remains good to firm after officials watered the whole track overnight to maintain conditions.

A total of 5mm of water was applied by clerk of the course Chris Stickels and his team for the penultimate day of the royal meeting and conditions are expected to remain quick throughout racing.

Speaking just before 8am, Stickels said: "There is no change. We're good to firm and we've watered 5mm overnight on the whole track. We're expecting another sunny day in the forecast today."

Posted at 8am