Horse Racing Tips: Sun to shine at Ascot on Friday

Royal Ascot continues on Friday, with the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes the two Group 1 races on the card. Away from Ascot there is also action from Market Rasen, Redcar, Newmarket, Goodwood, Ayr, Limerick and Down Royal. 

My horse racing tips for Friday includes a strong fancy in one of the big races at the Royal Meeting.

15:05 Royal Ascot - Venetian Sun @ 13/8

VENETIAN SUN looks one of the standout contenders in this year's Commonwealth Cup after producing a hugely impressive performance in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

Sent off as favourite, she travelled strongly throughout before quickening clear to score by three lengths, immediately putting her disappointing effort in the 1,000 Guineas behind her, and showing that she has trained on from two to three.

The Guineas defeat came over a mile and she never looked to see out the trip, but it was great to see she still had the same class over sprinting trips as she did last season.

She remains unbeaten at the distance, having won the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, followed by Group 2 and Group 1 victories later in her two-year-old campaign, including success in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Sprint.

With proven top-level form, course experience and a perfect prep run behind her, she brings one of the strongest profiles into the race and sets a very high standard. She'll be incredibly tough to beat on her top form.

17:55 Newmarket - Dashing Dick each way @ 16/1

DASHING DICK is easy to overlook based on his recent form figures, but there are reasons to believe he could be capable of a better showing.

The eight-year-old is now 1lb below the mark he defied when winning at Newmarket in November and returns to a track that has brought out the best in him throughout his career.

Several of his strongest performances have come on the July Course, including two wins and a number of placed efforts in competitive handicaps.

His three starts this season have all come over 6f and he has failed to make an impact, but the return to 7f, a trip he has won over before may suit him better

The booking of Australian rider Zac Lloyd, who has ridden several winners since making the move to the UK, catches the eye.

While others arrive in stronger recent form, Dashing Dick is well handicapped and would not be a surprise if he bounced back at one of his favourite tracks.

19:45 Newmarket - Fort Rock @ 7/2

FORT ROCK remains a relatively unexposed colt with just three starts under his belt and there is every chance his best days are still ahead of him. The Charlie Appleby-trained three-year-old won both of his starts as a two-year-old at Kempton, showing plenty of ability.

After a lengthy break, he returned in a competitive handicap, making his turf debut at Newmarket in May and shaped with plenty of promise when finishing third behind St Anton.

He travelled well for much of the contest and was only beaten by two lengths - it was a performance that suggested as though the run would bring him forward.

That effort earned a career-best on ratings and suggested he remains on an upward trajectory for a horse that is bred to be a Group horse.