With the weekend approaching, Royal Ascot continues apace, with two Group 1s to enjoy on Friday. The card also plays host to the King Edward VII Stakes, often seen as Ascot’s Derby equivalent.
Joe Napier picks out our lucky 15 tips for the day. All four run at the royal meeting.
Royal Ascot Racing Tips (Friday 19 June)
The fourth day of Royal Ascot features two Group 1s, one of only two days at the meeting which possess multiple. Joe has a tip in the top level Commonwealth Cup among his four for the card.
2.30 Ascot – Libertango (1pt win – 9/1)
The vibes from Ballydoyle must be really good regarding Sun Goddess, as Queen Mary winner Victorious could easily have contested this race. Nevertheless, odds close to Evens in a 25-runner race when any of her rivals could be anything are desperately short. Of those closest in the betting, Libertango impressed most on debut. The fourth that day had already finished runner-up on debut and ran respectably in the Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The daughter of No Nay Never battled well to defeat the runner-up at Leicester, the pair well clear of the third. That was a very likeable effort and she was an expensive two-year-old purchase. She must be working fairly well and George Boughey and Billy Loughnane can get on the scoresheet again.
3.05 Ascot – Venetian Sun (1pt win – 11/8)
Although Karl Burke has started the week poorly, Venetian Sun should be too good in the Commonwealth Cup. His filly won the Albany Stakes over track and trip last season as a juvenile. Indeed, she won her first four career starts, landing the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville last August. That day she had Gstaad in behind in second before finishing a respectable second at the Curragh over 7f in the Moyglare Stud Stakes. She did not stay the full 1m in the 1000 Guineas to begin this campaign. However, dropped back to 6f, she was so impressive at Haydock in the Sandy Lane Stakes. A repeat of that performance at a track she has already won at will likely be enough even if some of her more notable rivals progress.
3.40 Ascot – Omni Man (1pt win – 14/1)
Joseph O’Brien appears to have been building Omni Man back to form so far this season. He ran a decent race in the King George V Stakes last season against his fellow three-year-olds. He swiftly followed that up by winning comfortably at Goodwood upped 3lb. Among his runs since, he has finished third at Listed level, while soft ground is a reasonable excuse at Deauville and the Curragh. More eye-catchingly, O’Brien ran him over 1m at Leopardstown most recently. That he did not contend there is no issue, as it is very likely the big summer festivals were the target once more. His mark of 101 is 8lb above his last winning one, but that would have appeared reasonable after that Goodwood success. He could easily be primed for this.
5.35 Ascot – Water To Wine (1pt win – 6/5)
Causeway has the form in the book for Aidan O’Brien, but the promise of Water To Wine is too much to ignore. John & Thady Gosden’s charge went into many Epsom Derby notebooks after his Newbury maiden win in April. He won by over four lengths that day and the form could hardly have been franked more fittingly than when runner-up Alderman finished a superb fifth in the Derby itself. The Gosdens have been more patient with the selection. They opted instead for one more novice run instead of the Classic. He hosed up at odds of 1/12, but put 11 lengths between himself and the second. He could be inordinately talented and is worth backing to prove that.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 19 June
2.30 Ascot – Libertango (1pt win – 9/1)
3.05 Ascot – Venetian Sun (1pt win – 11/8)
3.40 Ascot – Omni Man (1pt win – 14/1)
5.35 Ascot – Water To Wine (1pt win – 6/5)
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 19 June
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Royal Ascot – first race 14:30
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Friday 19 June, which include selections at Royal Ascot.
When were Friday’s Lucky 15 tips for Royal Ascot published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Friday 19 June were published at 3.33pm on Thursday 18 June.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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