Aidan O'Brien pair Lipizzaner and Lope Y Fernandez proving popular in market

Lipizzaner and Lope Y Fernandez have been backed to strike for Ballydoyle in the Norfolk Stakes and Commonwealth Cup on day four.

Paddy Power report the twice-raced Lipizzaner, drawn in stall 14, to have been supported into 11-4 (from 4) for the Group 2 two-year-old event.

Lope Y Fernandez finished third to Siskin in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas a week ago and is vying for Commonwealth Cup favouritism at 9-2 (from 11-2) with Pierre Lapin. O'Brien's Royal Lytham, ridden by Pat Cosgrave, has also attracted support at big prices and is 20-1 (from 33).

The progressive Hamish has been supported for Hardwicke Stakes glory with the William Haggas-trained four-year-old into a general 7-1 (from 10).

James Doyle's mount was as big as 12-1 on Thursday morning and has winning handicap form on soft ground.

The going at Ascot improved on Friday morning to soft, good to soft in places on the round course and good to soft on the straight course (from soft) for day four.

Light rain is falling at the Berkshire track with 0.6mm arriving since the end of racing on Thursday.

It is expected to clear by this afternoon with temperatures set to peak at 16C. A dry day with occasional showers is expected on Saturday.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "The rain started at around four this morning and we’ve had close to a millimetre since. The straight course has dried up a little since yesterday and the weather is supposed to clear up later."

Royal Ascot day four card

Commonwealth Cup hope Wooded is a notable absentee this afternoon, having been taken out yesterday evening due to travel restrictions and unsuitable ground for the Francis Graffard-trained colt, while the Hardwicke field has been reduced to ten after Spanish Mission was declared an absentee.

Will To Win, declared for the opening Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap, is another missing out due to unsuitable ground conditions.

Wokingham Stakes joint-favourite Mubakker has been declared a non-runner due to the going.

The lightly raced four-year-old headed the market for Saturday's big sprint handicap with fellow 6-1 shot Bielsa but trainer Sir Michael Stoute has taken out his contender.

Mubakker returned to action with a ready victory at Newcastle but was a well beaten seventh behind Tinto on his sole start on soft ground last year.

Another horse set to miss the royal meeting on Saturday is Gold Cup fifth Mekong with trainer Jamie Osborne unlikely to run the stayer in the Queen Alexandra on Saturday.

Day four schedule

1.15 Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap SSR
1.50 Albany Stakes ITV/SSR
2.25 Norfolk Stakes ITV/SSR
3.00 Hardwicke Stakes ITV/SSR
3.35 Commonwealth Cup ITV/SSR
4.10 Queen’s Vase ITV/SSR
4.40 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes ITV/SSR

Non-runners

1.15 Will To Win (going)
2.25 Get It (going), Emirati Dirham (stiff)
3.00 Spanish Mission (going), Desert Encounter (going)
3.35 Wooded (going)
4.10 London Arch (going)
4.40 Dal Horrisgle (going), Koeman (going), Universal Order (going), Byron Flyer (going)

Saturday
1.50 Mehmo (going)
4.10 Mubakker (going)

Market movers

1.15 Keep Busy 15-2 (from 10)
2.25 Lipizzaner 11-4 (from 4)
3.00 Hamish 7-1 (from 10)
3.35 Lope Y Fernandez 9-2 (from 11-2), Royal Lytham 20-1 (from 33)
4.10 Born With Pride 5-2 (from 3)
4.40 Indianapolis 10-1 (from 16)

Essential details

Ascot
Going: Soft, good to soft in places (round course), good to soft (straight course; from soft all over)
GoingStick readings: 6.8 stands' side, 7.0 centre, 7.1 far side, round course 6.1 (at 8am)
First race: 1.15
Stalls: straight course – centre, round course – inside

Newmarket
Going: Good to soft (from soft, GoingStick 6.8 at 6.45am)
First race: 12.20
Stalls: 1m4f – centre, remainder – far side

Tipperary
Going: Yielding, good to yielding in places
First race: 1.00

Gowran Park
Going: yielding, soft in places (from good, good to yielding in places)
First race: 4.15

Lingfield
Going: Standard to slow
First race: 4.25
Stalls: 5f and 1m – outside, remainder – inside

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