Royal Ascot 2024: day four results and race reaction - how it happened

Royal Ascot: day four starts at 2.30pmCredit: Edward Whitaker

Welcome back for another electric instalment of Royal Ascot action on Friday.

Whether you are in top hats or t-shirts, for the next eight hours this is the place to be for all the news, results, tips and gossip from the track.

It is James Stevens in the hot seat for the next two days, any fancies or thoughts do get in touch via liveblog@racingpost.com or my social media @JamesStevens180. 

It is something of a fabulous Friday with two Group 1 races, a cracking Albany and the King Edward VII Stakes, which is essentially the Derby of Royal Ascot. Here's what we've got:

2.30: Albany Stakes
3.05: Commonwealth Cup
3.45: Coronation Stakes
4.25: Duke of Edinburgh Stakes
5.05: Sandringham Stakes
5.40: King Edward VII Stakes
6.15: Palace of Holyrood Stakes

Elite Status, one of the leading fancies for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, will not run on Friday due to a knocked joint.

He was a general 9-2 chance to land the big sprint having defeated some good opposition in his warm up at Newbury. He was bidding to give Karl Burke a third win at Royal Ascot this week.

Inisherin, also representing Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, has shortened to 2-1 since Elite Status' withdrawal.

Elite Status: misses the Commonwealth CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Royal Ascot Friday non-runners

2.30
1 Elite Status (knocked joint)

3.45
2 Devoted Queen (tied up)

4.25
2 Teumessias Fox (going)
6 La Yakel (abscess)

5.05
30 Lou Lou's Gift (bad scope)

The ground at Ascot remains good to firm for Friday.

The track was watered overnight, with 5mm put on the round and straight course.

It is forecast to be sunny and dry through racing, with potential highs of 23C.

Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels said on Friday morning: "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."

Ramatuelle has been the best backed horse on Friday with Paddy Power.

She has been cut to 15-8 (from 4s) for the Coronation Stakes (3.45) and taken over as favourite for Friday's feature with Opera Singer described as "very weak" in the betting.

The French challenger, representing Christopher Head and Oisin Murphy, finished third in the 1,000 Guineas on her last start in May. Opera Singer filled the same spot in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Paddy Power also report significant interest in Diego Velazquez in the King Edward VII Stakes (5.40).

The bookmaker's spokesman Paul Binfield said on Friday: "The French challenger Ramatuelle has been the best backed horse of the day and she's shortened up to 15-8. Opera Singer has been very weak and is 11-4 now having been 7-4 overnight.

"In contrast to Opera Singer, Diego Velazquez has been really popular for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore and he's 5-2 from 7-2. He's been very strong in the market with punters putting more on Moore."

Paddy Power market movers

3.45
Ramatuelle 15-8 (from 4s)
Opera Singer 11-4 (from 7-4)

4.25
Diego Velazquez 5-2 (from 7-2)

That's all the early news out of the way, let's try and find a winner. I am quite the fan of a Lucky 15 so I'm going for four on Friday.

Fairy Godmother
Albany Stakes (2.30)
A favourite but she looks pretty smart. The way she quickened to win a good race at Naas last time was impressive.

Shadow Dance
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25)
Showed some real promise last season, in particular his strong-travelling second to Alsakib in October. That rival ran well off top weight on Tuesday so the form looks good while Shadow Dance could improve having been gelded over the winter.

Jamie Spencer: will hopefully mastermind a Royal Ascot winCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Arisaig
Sandringham Stakes (5.05)
Finished really powerfully from the rear to win at Lingfield last time so Jamie Spencer looks a great booking. Looks an underrated filly off a low weight.

Vantheman
Palace of Holyrood House Stakes (6.15)
Obvious eyecatcher when second at York behind Jubilee Walk. Was drawn on the wrong side and is 5lb better off at the weights so I fancy him to exact revenge.

There's plenty of other tips for this afternoon's action. For members, Tom Segal had a 15-2 winner on Thursday and has six Pricewise selections while Paul Kealy has a 20-1 shot among his six tips.

The Punt's Harry Wilson is enjoying a fantastic week and his three-horse accumulator at 714-1 is free to read.

Good luck and let me hear your tips via email at liveblog@racingpost.com.

Ascot: bookmakers prepare for day four

Jonathan Harding is soaking up the early atmosphere at Ascot

Kyprios winning the Gold Cup on Thursday was a bad result for bookmakers and one on-course layer setting up this morning said they are simply planning to get out the prayer mat and hope for some beaten favourites.

He said he was at least encouraged by the shape of the markets today, particularly the Coronation Stakes (3.45), with little to split Ramatuelle and Opera Singer at the head of the betting.

Another on-course bookmaker reported that trade has been down this week, with a drop in the number of £5,000 and £10,000 bets, but picked up yesterday with a solid attendance.

ITV Racing have reported a rumour that Taylor Swift could be a surprise guest at Royal Ascot on Friday.

Ascot's director of racing Nick Smith said he "didn't know" if the rumour was true when asked by broadcaster Rishi Persad on The Opening Show before a quite bizarre plea for Swift to appear.

Taylor Swift: rumour that she could appear at Royal AscotCredit: VALERIE MACON

Smith responded to Persad: "I don't know whether that rumour is true but what I would say is that if Taylor is watching in London then she is very welcome. More importantly, from my side, so is Travis Kelce."

The global megastar completes her UK leg of a European tour this summer at Wembley Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. 

The pop star has been such a hit, the 15-date Eras Tour is estimated to have boosted the UK economy by £1 billion.

Meanwhile, Pete Tong is definitely appearing at Newmarket for a DJ set after racing on Friday. 

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore: head the standingsCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Three days into Royal Ascot and this is how the leading jockey and trainer standings look...

Oisin Murphy will ride the day's big market mover Ramatuelle in the Coronation Stakes (3.45) and expects the Group 1 highlight to prove a tactical race. 

The former champion jockey has ridden three winners so far at Royal Ascot week but said he was "hungry for more" when interviewed on Sky Sports Racing.

Murphy said: "Ramatuelle isn't over big but she's world class. She was very good as a two-year-old and she's done nothing wrong this year. Like Rosallion, who won over the same course and distance, I'm drawn [stall] one and will need luck in running but hopefully she can get it.

"She's no doubt the quickest horse in the race, she could win over six furlongs, so my job is to conserve energy and not be too far away."

Murphy also has leading chances with Kitty Rose and Jubilee Walk in the Sandringham (5.05) and Palace of Holyrood (6.15) respectively.

Jonathan Harding is on the scene at Ascot

I bumped into friend of the blog Oli Bell and the ITV Racing presenter has two fancies today.

"I'm very sweet on Inisherin (3.05). I think his win at Haydock was exceptional. It's a bit like last man standing in the Commonwealth Cup with a few big horses falling by the wayside. Jasour is a danger but I like Inisherin.

"I also think Skellet (3.45) will run well at a big price in the Coronation Stakes but despite a slight drift I think Opera Singer is the one to be on in that."

There's more TV talent on course with David Jennings and Johnny Dineen in attendance. You can see their preview of the day on the Racing Post's Good Morning Royal Ascot show recorded earlier this morning.

Jim Crowley: rides Jasour in the Commonwealth CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Signposts is an excellent stats source to look through if you are a Racing Post member. Here's two things which caught my eye for Royal Ascot this afternoon.

Roger Varian has a 21 per cent strike-rate with first-time geldings
A boost for the chances of Shadow Dance in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (4.25).

Jim Crowley is 2-2 on Jasour, other riders are 2-7
Crowley won on him at odds of 16-1 and 9-1 but the Clive Cox-trained sprinter is a leading fancy in the Commonwealth Cup (3.05).

Members can access the Signposts service every day via the digital newspaper or our best bets page.

Kylian Mbappe: will he feature for France tonight?Credit: Catherine Steenkeste

Away from Ascot, the Euro 2024 action continues on Friday and the Racing Post Sport team have provided their expertise. Three matches take place today:

Slovakia vs Ukraine (2pm): Slovakia produced the upset of the championships when beating Belgium. Ukraine, meanwhile, were hugely disappointing when beaten 3-0 by Romania.

Poland vs Austria (5pm): A tricky clash but a big one as a win means one of these are almost certain to sneak through as a best-place third finisher at least. Austria are favourites against Poland, who won a penalty shootout to get here and deny Wales trips to Hamburg, Berlin and Dortmund this summer (Yes, I am bitter).

Netherlands vs France (8pm): Two European giants clash in Leipzig but it is still unknown whether Kylian Mbappe will play after breaking his nose in France's tournament opener.

Henry de Bromhead: in carriage four of the royal procession on Friday Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead and his wife Heather will feature in the royal procession before racing.  

They will be in carriage four along with Strictly Come Dancing star Dame Darcey Bussell and husband Angus Forbes. 

The King and Queen will be joined in the first carriage by Lord and Lady Bamford.

1st Carriage
The King
The Queen
The Lord Bamford
The Lady Bamford

2nd Carriage
Princess Beatrice
Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
The Lord Frederick Windsor
The Lady Frederick Windsor

3rd Carriage
General Sir Patrick Sanders
Lady Sanders
Mr. Peter Troughton
Mrs. Peter Troughton

4th Carriage
Dame Darcey Bussell
Mr. Angus Forbes
Mr. Henry de Bromhead
Mrs. Henry de Bromhead

Author Jilly Cooper, Channel 4 property guru Phil Spencer and retired trainer William Jarvis are among those on prize-giving duties on Friday.

2023 Photographer of the Year Patrick McCann has been out and about at Royal Ascot ahead of racing. From pre-racing picnics to fashion on the course, here are some of the best of his early snaps . . .

Royal Ascot: pre-racing picnics in the car parkCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Racegoers arrive at Royal AscotCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos

Scene at Ascot on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Royal Ascot: lunch is served in car park oneCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

One of the positives from the week so far has been the attendance which has been up each day on last year. 

In 2023, a crowd of 57,353 were on track on Friday while Saturday is usually the busiest day on the course.

Aidan O'Brien: trains Albany favourite Fairy GodmotherCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

The Albany Stakes (2.30) is the first race of the day and less than an hour away.

Fairy Godmother heads the market for Aidan O'Brien, who is looking to win this race for a third time, but Godolphin's back-to-back winner Mountain Breeze has been very popular in the betting. Coolmore and Godolphin have yet to have a two-year-old winner at Royal Ascot.

Read the full race preview here.

The Albany Stakes is one of the most important two-year-old races at Royal Ascot with a view to the future. 

Restricted to fillies, it provides early clues for the following year's 1,000 Guineas and Mawj went on to Classic glory at Newmarket a season on from finishing second in the Albany in 2022. She lost to Meditate who went on to win at the Breeders Cup.

Meditate beat Mawj to win the Albany in 2022Credit: Alex Livesey / Getty Images

Leading fancies in Friday's race Mountain Breeze and Fairy Godmother are 12-1 joint favourites in the ante-post 1,000 Guineas market. Expect that to change after 2.30.

Stats man Dave Randall shares his best bet of the day...

Nine of the ten winners of the Group 1 Coronation Stakes since 2014 were officially rated 108 or higher. The same number were sent off 6-1 or shorter (9-29 +£10.18) and had previously run six times or fewer. Eight had competed in an English, Irish or French Guineas and six won their latest start. 

Elmalka: hot tip in the Coronation StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Elmalka overcame a modest beginning from an isolated high stall to win the 1,000 Guineas on her third career start and she should appreciate the demands of Ascot's stiff round mile. Her price is currently slightly higher than the above statistics but that could easily change in the run up to the race.

A stunning scene at Ascot on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ramatuelle was described as the best backed horse of the day this morning by Paddy Power and the gamble has continued, as she is as slim as 7-4 (from 4s) for the Coronation Stakes (4.25).

William Hill have also reported "the money hasn't stopped coming" for the French-trained challenger who has capitalised on a drifting Opera Singer to head the betting for Friday's feature.

Racing is set to start after the royal procession was completed. The Queen is wearing a blue hat for any backers in that market.