Army on the march in day four feature event at Ascot

INVINCIBLE ARMY can avenge his narrow Haydock defeat at the hands of Sands Of Mali by winning the Commonwealth Cup, one of the feature events on day four of Royal Ascot, writes the Ferret.

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 eking out a little improvement with every outing.

ALPHA CENTAURI gave Jessica Harrington a longawaited first Classic success and she can also step up to the plate to give the trainer an inaugural Royal Ascot winner in the Coronation Stakes.

This filly hit the crossbar 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.

WELLS FARHH GO looked very much in need of the outing when contesting the Dante Stakes on his return at York, but he should feel the benefit of that run in the King Edward VII Stakes.

DOUBLE: Invincible Army and Alpha Centauri.

SELECTIONS: ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Fairyland, 3.05 Wells Farhh Go, 3.40 INVINCIBLE ARMY (NAP), 4.20 Alpha Centauri, 5.00 Dathanna, 5.35 Thundering Blue. AYR: 5.55 Duke Of Yorkshire, 6.30 Universal Gleam, 7.05 In Focus, 7.40 Throckley, 8.10 Summerghand, 8.45 Eternalist, 9.15 Berlios.