We have already had Frankel domination and a Frankie Dettori winner — and day four at Royal Ascot this afternoon can underline the potential of Little Big Bear in the sprinting division.
Both his trainer, Aidan O’Brien, and his sire, No Nay Never, have had a nice Festival so far, and the mount of the in-form Ryan Moore is hard to get away from in the Commonwealth Cup (3.05).
Little Big Bear’s stab at the Guineas and a mile was seen as an experiment. It failed, yet the powerful colt was right back to the script in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, with today’s rival Shouldvebeenaring in arrears. At odds against, he rates a bet, though speedy filly Lezoo, also a non-stayer in the Guineas, is a viable alternative under Dettori. Navassa Island can take the Albany Stakes (2.30) and provide Michael O’Callaghan with his first winner at the Festival.
A half-sister to Lezoo, she flashed home at Naas to run Porta Fortuna to a neck. That one had already had a run, so she ought to reverse that form, and top Irish rider Colin Keane is in the plate.
Moore has a lively each-way chance in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (3.40). When the Galileo-bred Okita Soushi finished third 12 months ago, he had only had three previous starts, and he stayed on well from a long way back then (a mile and six). It might not be ideal that he tackles 12 furlongs here, but his claims look pretty clear.
There have not been too many disappointing late non-runners this week, but the non-declaration of Mawj in the Coronation Stakes (4.20) was one. That has left the door ajar for Tahiyra.
The three-year-old fillies tog out again in the Sandringham Stakes (5.0) and perhaps Irish Guineas fifth Jackie Oh can take this, as half-sister Onassis did three years ago.
Four of the King Edward VII Stakes (5.35) sextet ran in the Derby. On that form, King Of Steel should win, but Arrest is fairer judged on overall form and can provide John Gosden and son Thady with another big winner.
Save some for the most difficult race of them all, the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes (6.10), with last year’s Norfolk runner-up Walbank a speculative pick.
