Royal Ascot Day 4 racing preview & best bets – Friday, June 23
| What | Royal Ascot 2023 – Day 4 |
| Where | Ascot Racecourse – High St, Ascot SL5 7JX, United Kingdom |
| When | Friday, June 23, 2023 |
| First Race | 2:30pm BST (11:30pm AEST) |
We look to the penultimate meeting of the Royal Ascot carnival on Friday afternoon with seven massive races on the ticket. We’ve got two Group 1 races as the three-year-olds step out in the Commonwealth Cup (1200m), then we look to the fillies for the Coronation Stakes (1600m). We expect a possible downpour for Day 4 on the radar; however, nothing should have the track in a deteriorating condition. The first race is set to get underway at 2:30 BST (11:30pm AEST).
Best Bet: Tahiyra
In the Coronation Stakes Tahiyra has come up a short-priced favorite and it’s easy to see why. She’s coming into this with immaculate form under her belt – initially running into second behind Mawj in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 7, then went on to score a dominant win in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas at Curragh on May 28. Based on these two efforts alone it’s very hard to be against her heading to Ascot, and now assured a soft run from a beneficial barrier, Tahiyra should justify the quote.
#7 Tahiyra (3)Next Best: Little Big Bear
In the Commonwealth Cup Little Big Bear must be considered the one to beat heading to the straight six furlongs at Ascot. Trainer Aiden O’Brien attempted to try this son of No Nay Never over the mile when heading to Newmarket first-up in the 2000 Guineas on May 6 and it simply didn’t go to plan. He didn’t run out the trip and subsequently headed back to 1200m at Haydock on May 27 and showed his scintillating best. Ryan Moore takes the reins this time and drawn the far side, it’s going to be a tricky task to deal with; however, the class of Little Big Bear should see him finish best, regardless of where the better ground may be.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#2 Little Big Bear (2)
3yo Colt | T: Aiden O’Brien | J: Ryan Moore (58kg)
Best Value: Matrika
The opening race is the Group 3 Albany Stakes and Matrika represents a terrific each-way price with top online bookmakers. She’s relatively unexposed with one start for one victory, coming at the Curragh on May 28. She dwelled the start before finding a mid-field spot with cover, then when asked for an effort by jockey Ryan Moore obliged nicely to score by one-length. Her breeding suggests a galloper that may get better over further ground, but for now she’s shown enough over the sprinting trip to be ultra-competitive in a race like this.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#9 Matrika (1)
2yo Filly | T: Aiden O’Brien | J: Ryan Moore (58kg)