S.P. Read Esq: Royal Ascot Day Four

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Friday’s fourth day of ROYAL ASCOT  and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Fine margins.

There are 95,040 inches in the Gold Cup trip of 2m 3f and 210 yards, yet in the end it came down to just the four inches that Big Orange nudged out Order Of St George in the most dramatic of finishes.

Winning or losing is binary but yesterday proved just how fine the balance can be.

Aidan O’Brien leads the trainer challenge going into day four on countback but will surely be mightily disappointed not to see his total increase by at least plus two today.

The unbeaten Caravaggio and the dual Guineas winner Winter will once again make or break the day for bookies, punters and traders alike.

Ben from Star Sports asks Big Mac below which of the pair he would be more likely to lay. It’s a good question.

I’m of the belief that they will both win but of the pair suspect the odds are right and Caravaggio is the most suspect.

He’s done nothing wrong, unbeaten now in five starts and winner of the Coventry here last year over the same six furlongs but on official ratings is rated only a pound clear of Harry Angel from the resurgent Godolphin team.

So, on ratings alone there is too much of a disparity in price. There is also the question of whether he will be as good on this quicker ground. It was good too firm when he won the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh but he was a 1/8 shot that day and I’m not sure whether we got a complete answer to the ground question.

There is also a continuing question mark about Aidan’s horses – he’s had a couple of horses run very poorly and he’s not dominating like usual so there are glimmers of hope for layers.

Backers will take the view that Caravaggio has done nothing wrong, is a potential superstar and capable of improving further. That’s all entirely possible too – but also factors I feel that are already built into the price.

I was really impressed with Harry Angel at Haydock and will back him each-way as an insurance.

I can’t seem him being out of the frame and if the fine margins go against Aidan again we get the bonus win.

I’ll settle for a one inch win today.

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• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.