Army looks to be Invincible in Cup
C O’Donoghue ................................................................. 158 (20) R Hannon 9-0 ..................... T Marquand (47) R Hannon 9-0 (D) ................ S Levey (40) M Botti 9-0 (D) .................. A Atzeni (26) A P O’Brien (IRE) 9-0 ........................ R L Moore (40) M D Sanchez (SPA) 9-0 ..... S Pasquier (28) B Meehan 9-0 ............................... O Murphy (40) D M Simcock 9-0 (D) ............................... O Peslier (35) M Johnston 9-0 (D) ......................... W Buick (252) Sir M Stoute 9-0 .......................... L Dettori (41) A Balding 9-0 .......... D Probert BETTING: 3 Clemmie, 7-2 Alpha Centauri, 5 Billesdon Brook, 11-2 Teppal, 10 Coeur De Beaute, 12 Capla Temptress, 14 Anna Nerium, 16 Threading, Veracious, 25 Others. INVINCIBLE ARMY can avenge his narrow Haydock defeat at the hands of Sands Of Mali by winning the Commmonwealth Cup, one of the feature events tomorrow on day four of Royal Ascot.
James Tate’s charge was beaten just a nose in the Sandy Lane Stakes - a race that has proved a pretty decent pointer to this six-furlong race since its inception three years ago.
The duo went toe to toe that day and while Sands Of Mali held sway at the line, Invincible Army looked as though he could have got up in another couple of strides.
Having previously won over this course and distance, Invincible Army looks certain to be suited by the inevitably strong pace and appears to still be ekeing out a little improvement with every outing.
He will have to find a bit more with the likes of Sioux Nation and his old rival, but James Doyle is sure to have a good gameplan in place.
Alpha Centauri gave Jessica Harrington a long-awaited first Classic success and she can also step up to (24) R Charlton 9-5 (21) I Furtado 9-4 (23) R Fahey 8-8 (BF) (24) T Easterby 8-6 (D) (24) P Kirby 8-3 the plate to give the trainer an inaugural Royal Ascot winner in the Coronation Stakes.
This filly hit the bar when beaten just a neck in the Albany last year and while her subsequent progress was not exactly linear, she finally came of age when winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Soft ground was likely her undoing when disappointing, but she bounced off quick going at the Curragh as she saw off Could It Be Love in clear-cut fashion. The Ascot ground is all set to be fast. (3) Roger Fell 5 8-13 (D2) ....... T Hamilton 94 (21) K C-Brown 6 8-13 (D2) ..J Bryan (5) 62 (21) Stef Keniry 4 8-10 (BF) ........... L Keniry 69 (11) M W Easterby 11 8-8 (D3) ............ H Shaw (5) 106 (10) Adrian Nicholls 6 8-7 (D) ....... A Beech (7) 64 (21) R M Whitaker 4 8-3 .............. P Mathers 95 BETTING: 5 La Isla Bonita, 6 Fyrecracker, 13-2 Justice Pleasing, 8 Munthany, Vincenzo Coccotti, 10 Talent Scout, My Girl Maisie, 12 Size Matters, 14 Others.