There is no doubt that French raider Immortal Verse was the star of the show on Friday and her sensational performance in the Coronation Stakes was mightily impressive.  Her dazzling turn of foot was too much for her rivals and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her mop up in some of this season’s leading mile contests.

The weather is sure to have a huge impact on Saturday’s card and punters must consider the ground and draw when they tackle some the day’s two big sprints.  The heavens are set to open on Friday night and soft ground performers are surely the ones to be on.

Aidan O’Brien’s Await The Dawn is sure to be a tough nut to crack in the Hardwicke Stakes (3.05) and the odds-on shot deserves to be favourite for the Group Two contest.  He won on soft on his debut so the ground shouldn’t hold too many problems and his last two victories at Leopardstown and Chester were very taking.  However, his price has evaporated and the high profile defeat suffered by So You Think on Wednesday was confirmation that there are no certainties at Royal Ascot.  

The best bet is to take Await The Dawn out of the equation and bet on PASSION FOR GOLD (w/o Await The Dawn) (5/1, Paddy Power) in the ‘without the favourite market’ at Paddy Power.

The Godolphin inmate has some top class form to his name and his six length Group One romp in the Criterium de Saint Cloud as a juvenile was particularly impressive.  He was off the track for eighteen months after that success and looked in need of the run when he finished third behind Jet Away at Lingfield last month.

He appeared to be in desperate need of that run on ground far too quick and he scored smoothly last time out, reversing form with Jet Away and confirming his wellbeing before he had his sights raised.  He is well up to group class and he remains totally unexposed with a victory at the highest level already to his name.  Derby winning jockey Mickael Barzalona takes the ride and he can come out on top with the favourite out of the equation.

The feature on Saturday’s card is the Golden Jubilee Stakes (3.45) and Andrew Balding’s DALGHAR (12/1, Victor Chandler) could be the one to be on in the six furlong showpiece.

The selection makes his second start for his new trainer after he returned to action in the Duke Of York Stakes at York last month.  The five-year-old finished sixth behind Delegator there but he travelled like the winner for much of the way and he looked to be in need of the run when he tired rapidly a furlong from home.

The way Dalghar tanked up approaching the business end of the race was a good sign and he is almost certain to come on for the race.  He is proven on soft ground and the fact that he has top class form over 7f (often just failed to see out the trip) should mean that he won’t be tiring at a crucial time on Saturday.  His high draw is a plus and his form at Ascot and his second to the sensational Lady Of The Desert last season are a bonus.  He is a seriously classy performer and with the ground going against the exciting Elzaam, Aussie raider Star Witness and the improving Bated Breath, he can bounce back to winning ways in style.

Whereas the ground will do no harm to Dalghar’s chances on Saturday, they could have the opposite effect on PASTORAL PLAYER (14/1, William Hill) in the Wokingham Stakes (4.25).

Hughie Morrison’s four-year-old has impressed greatly on his last two starts and he could well be a group performer masquerading in a handicap on Saturday afternoon.  He has developed a reputation for being poor out of the stalls and getting way behind at the start of his races, but he has been on his best behaviour at Ffos Las and Newmarket last twice and he was very good when landing the Al Rayan Handicap on Guineas weekend.

Believed to be in need of the run there, he powered to victory like a horse that was finally getting to grips with racing and he could be better than his rivals here if he is in the right mood.  He is certainly on a roll and his trainer is in fine form, but the ground is a worry and it’s a shame the rain has come when it has.  Morrison remains hopeful that he will go with some give underfoot and the son of Pastoral Pursuits won with a bit of cut at Ffos Las last October so it isn’t without hope and he could still have a big say in a fiercely competitive handicap.

Nick Wilby’s selections:

3.05 Passion For Gold (in the w/o Await The Dawn market, 5/1 Paddy Power)

3.45 Dalghar (12/1, Victor Chandler)

4.25 Pastoral Player (14/1, William Hill)