Royal Ascot 2026 Tips: Race-by-Race Preview for Day 4

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Fri 19 Jun 2026 03:37

Jon Vine 2 hours ago

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Precise & Zanthos headline Group 1 tips on Day 4 of Royal Ascot 2026
Value bets include Glyfada, Omni Man, and Sandal's Song each-way
Expert analysis suggests possible upsets across a competitive program

The Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes headline Day 4 of Royal Ascot. (Getty)

Royal Ascot 2026 rolls into its penultimate day on Friday, and two Group 1 races headline another excellent card.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips - Friday 19th June 2026
Race 1 - Albany Stakes Tips
Race 2 - Commonwealth Cup Tips
Race 3 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Tips
Race 4 - Coronation Stakes Tips
Race 5 - Sandringham Stakes Tips
Race 6 - King Edward VII Stakes Tips
Race 7 - Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes Tips
Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips Recap

A capacity field has been declared against Venetian Sun in the Commonwealth Cup, before viewers are treated to a 1000 Guineas rematch in the Coronation Stakes.

Below is our race-by-race look at day four of Royal Ascot 2026, while Live Racing & Sports Updates delivers the latest analysis, previews and coverage across all major sporting codes.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips - Friday 19th June 2026

Race 1 - Albany Stakes Tips

Sun Goddess has been backed as though defeat is out of the question, and it seems likely that Aidan O'Brien's filly will start at odds-on. 23. Topaz has been drawn alongside the market leader in stall 15, and Jack Channon's filly appeals as an each-way alternative.

Topaz made her debut on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket and caught the eye despite her inexperience. Jolivette took command entering the dip, but Channon's filly charged home late from the rear to finish just a neck behind the winner.

The daughter of Persian Force was given an educational ride by Finley Marsh and appeared to learn plenty as the race unfolded. Tom Marquand takes over in the saddle, and it would be no surprise to see Topaz challenge some of the more fancied runners.

Race 2 - Commonwealth Cup Tips

This race could split into two distinct groups, and if that happens, favourite Venetian Sun may find her central draw less than ideal.

Drawn on the inside rail, 22. Zanthos could make a bold bid from the front under Oisin Murphy. The former champion jockey partnered Simon and Ed Crisford's filly to victory in the Rockfel Stakes last season, where she held off The Prettiest Star after making all.

The Crisfords then sent Zanthos to the French 1000 Guineas on her return. She raced keenly from a wide draw and covered extra ground before fading on testing conditions that didn't appear to suit.

Zanthos never looked a natural miler as a juvenile, and a return to six furlongs on decent ground should play to her strengths. With Song Of The Clyde drawn nearby, she may get the company needed to help her settle. If allowed to dictate, she could take plenty of catching.

I'm also surprised by the price of 19. Midnight Tango, given the quality of her effort in the Commonwealth Cup Trial.

Ed Walker's filly almost caused a major upset in the Pavilion Stakes, flying home from the rear to finish within a neck of Coppull after starting at huge odds. It was a performance full of promise.

Slow starts often hampered her juvenile campaign, particularly when stepped up in trip. Even so, she won at Hamilton and was beaten only narrowly in the Empress Fillies' Stakes during the July Festival.

Midnight Tango returned with a career-best effort on Trials Day and arrives here completely under the radar. Walker and Kieran Shoemark have already landed a surprise Group 1 during Royal Ascot, and this filly could be another to outrun expectations.

Race 3 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes Tips

The entire field is separated by just nine pounds, which often favours the higher-rated runners in handicaps of this nature. Warrant Holder should give the King and Queen something to cheer about, but 9. Omni Man appeals at an each-way price.

Joseph O'Brien's gelding was held up in the King George V Stakes at last year's Royal meeting and kept on well to finish a close fifth behind Merchant. He then struck at Glorious Goodwood, powering home from the rear under Ryan Moore.

Since then, Omni Man has been campaigned exclusively in Pattern company and hasn't been competitive in two starts this season over shorter trips. The return to 12 furlongs and handicap company could unlock improvement.

There's also a case to be made for 14. Insanity, who has an excellent record at Ascot.

Alan King's charge won the 12-furlong handicap at the 2024 British Champions Day meeting and was beaten only a length in the same contest last year. He later suffered narrow defeats at York behind Asgaard's Captain and Grey Cuban.

Insanity shaped encouragingly on his return at Pontefract, and this step back up in trip looks ideal. Rossa Ryan and Alan King combined to win the Copper Horse Handicap earlier in the week and will be confident of another bold showing.

Race 4 - Coronation Stakes Tips

The obvious prediction is that the two Aidan O'Brien runners will dominate this contest, and 4. Precise should confirm her superiority over stablemate True Love.

True Love gained the upper hand when winning the 1000 Guineas, while Precise could manage only seventh. However, the winner had already enjoyed a run that season, whereas Precise was making her first appearance after a setback in March.

Wayne Lordan's mount was slowly away in the Irish 1000 Guineas and raced wide towards the rear for much of the contest. Once asked to quicken, she swept through the field and cruised past True Love to score by two lengths.

Ryan Moore sided with the wrong filly in both Classics, but that looks unlikely to happen again. Having chosen Precise on Friday, he appears to be on the stable's number one chance.

Race 5 - Sandringham Stakes Tips

The pace appears evenly spread across the track, so siding with one runner from either side of the draw looks the safest approach.

12. Glyfada makes her handicap debut and there are strong reasons to believe her opening mark of 91 underestimates her ability.

Donnacha O'Brien initially campaigned his filly over a mile and a quarter, where she shaped well before winning at Naas. Dropped back to a mile at Killarney, Glyfada produced her most impressive effort yet, quickening clear to beat a future winner with ease.

She barely came off the bridle when recording an RPR of 94, and the form has already been boosted. Drawn against the stands' rail in stall 31 and carrying just 8-13, Glyfada looks a major player.

At a much bigger price, 5. Spinning Lizzie also catches the eye.

Jamie Insole's filly has consistently competed at a useful level, including a respectable effort behind Precise in last year's Prestige Stakes and a hard-fought victory at Kempton over future Listed winner Ellusive Butterfly.

She struggled when forcing the pace in the Fred Darling and didn't quite see out ten furlongs in the Pretty Polly Stakes. A return to a mile looks ideal, and she is capable of making her presence felt on only her second handicap start.

Race 6 - King Edward VII Stakes Tips

6. Water To Wine appears to have scared off much of the opposition in Ascot's version of the Derby, resulting in another small field.

Causeway brings strong credentials for Aidan O'Brien, while Ancient Egypt should be more effective back on faster ground. However, nothing stands out from a betting perspective and this is a race best watched rather than played.

Race 7 - Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes Tips

Only two horses have managed to finish in the first five of this handicap from a single-figure draw, although the pace map suggests low numbers may not be at as much of a disadvantage this year.

American raider 7. Sandal's Song looks particularly interesting. George Weaver's colt finished third behind Charles Darwin in last year's Norfolk Stakes, with future Group 1 winner Wise Approach splitting the pair.

Sandal's Song wasn't seen again until returning at Keeneland in April, but improved significantly for that outing when runner-up in the William Walker Stakes at Churchill Downs last month.

That form reads well given the quality of opposition involved, and an opening handicap mark of 99 could underestimate him. James Doyle should be happy enough with stall 11, and it would be no surprise to see support arrive before the off.

Royal Ascot Day 4 Tips Recap

Race	Tip 1	Tip 2
1	Topaz
2	Zanthos	Midnight Tango
3	Omni Man	Insanity
4	Precise
5	Glyfada	Spinning Lizzie
6	No Bet
7	Sandal's Song

Verdict

Royal Ascot 2026 - Day 4 Preview

Our best & value bets for Royal Ascot day four are:

Precise

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Omni Man

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