Eye Of Heaven makes a sparkling start at Newmarket
Eye Of Heaven makes a sparkling start at Newmarket

There's £200,000 on offer in this Friday's free-to-play ITV7 and Dave Smith has the guide you need for the crucial races.


There's £200,000 on offer in today's free-to-play ITV7 and Dave Smith has the guide you need for the crucial races.


13:50 Royal Ascot - Albany Stakes - Group 3 - 6f

MOTHER EARTH should relish the step up in trip after finishing strongly in her maiden over in Ireland the last day. The ground may be a concern, given she's by Zoffany but she could have enough to see off Golden Melody who ran on well when getting organised at Haydock.

Sky Bet's latest Money Back offer
Sky Bet's latest Money Back offer

14:00 Newmarket - Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap - 7f

A trappy affair can possibly go the way of KING'S VIEW who has a handy draw and is due to go up 2lb for a nose defeat to a very nicely bred inmate of Mick Channon. Glen Esk is a strapping son of Kyllachy and won't be far away but was penalised 5lb for half a length defeat when last seen.

14:25 Royal Ascot - Norfolk Stakes - Group 2 - 5f

The form line of EYE OF HEAVEN's win at Newmarket looks very strong given that Tactical won the Windsor Castle and Get It was fourth in that race. The yard seem to have their juveniles in good working order and he could be better than the bare result of that victory at HQ given he had a tricky draw. Lipizzaner will appreciate a drop back in trip after being outpointed over 6f.

ITV7 - Play for free
ITV7 - Play for free

15:00 Royal Ascot - Hardwicke Stakes - Group 2 - 1m 4f

Plenty of competition in this renewal with ELARQAM's second to Lord North working out very well after the latter landed Prince of Wales' Stakes in scintillating fashion this week. Mark Johnston's charge was only beaten a head rallying to the line at Haydock and he can take this ahead of last year's scorer Defoe and Morando who will welcome even further rain.

15:35 Royal Ascot - Commonwealth Cup - Group 1

The form of the Irish 2000 Guineas has worked out quite well this week and that could mean ROYAL LYTHAM is a better horse than the price suggests. He was only beaten a length by superstar Siskin last season with Monarch Of Egypt a head in front. That race was on soft ground, he could be a big player.

16:10 Royal Ascot - Queen's Vase - Group 2 - 1m 6f

William Haggas has had a good resumption to racing and BORN WITH PRIDE has some strong form to bring to this race. He will need to use it to get past Berkshire Rocco who was pleasing when second to impressive Investec Derby contender English King.

16:50 Royal Ascot - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes - 1m 4f

No winner of this has come from a single figure draw in the last 10 years and it could pay to stick with that theory. To that end JONNY DRAMA makes plenty of appeal. Drawn in stall 20 and with Joshua Bryan's 3lb claim very useful, any repetition of his strong run in a Class 2 handicap at York last year will see him go close here. Indianapolis may just run him closest.


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