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Four horses carrying Qatar Racing colours will line up on day four of Royal Ascot, including the very smart three-year-old fillies Now Or Never and La Rioja. Goldmember, who was set to contest this afternoon's Queens Vase, has been withdrawn on account of the prevailing soft ground.

La Rioja and Now Or Never have been given Group One missions, with the first-named tackling the Commonwealth Cup (15.40) over six furlongs, and Now Or Never (pictured below) running in the one-mile Coronation Stakes (16.20).

Eleven horses line up in the Commonwealth Cup a recent addition to Royal Ascot and a race designed to give a top-level opportunity to three-year-old sprinters of which La Rioja is one of three fillies. A dual winner for Henry Candy's stable last season, she was fifth on her season's reappearance at Haydock just over two weeks ago, and on Saturday enjoyed an early morning, away-day at Newbury in company with stablemate Twilight Son.

Candy says: ‚"It was good work and Oisin [Murphy] was well pleased with her.‚"

La Rioja won the Gr.3 Dick Poole Stakes on soft ground last year, but Now Or Never, who is one of 13 declarations for the Coronation Stakes, would appreciate a quicker surface, says trainer Michael O'Callaghan. He will be hoping Ascot avoids the showers which have been hitting southern Britain this afternoon.

Other Qatar Racing runners today are Bletchley, who runs in the Gr.3 Albany Stakes (14.30) for two-year-old fillies, and Lustrous Light, a challenger for the Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes (15.05).

Bletchley, a daughter of Qatar Bloodstock stallion Makfi, won a maiden fillies' race at Nottingham on the opening day of this month, but that was over five furlongs on firm ground, and today she tries six furlongs on a softer surface. Trainer Ralph Beckett says: ‚"I was delighted with her first effort, particularly as she was green. She is drawn well in stall four, and although she is inexperienced she is a tough filly who won't be fazed by the occasion.‚"

Lustrous Light, who is by Galileo, was unraced at two, but ran well on debut at Navan a month ago and duly opened his account when returned to that track two weeks later. Trainer Ger Lyons expects him to be sharper for the experience.

Oisin Murphy rides La Rioja and Bletchley, Colin Keane renews his acquaintance with Lustrous Light, while Kieren Fallon partners Now Or Never.

Fallon was unplaced on Blue De Vega in yesterday's Tercentenary Stakes at the Royal meeting quicker ground would have helped his cause and in a rough running of the Ascot Gold Cup, Pallasator was among those caught up in traffic before the final bend. Even winning jockey Ryan Moore, who won on Order Of St George, said: "It was a nightmare the whole way."

Pallasator was eased home by Murphy when all chance of being placed had gone.

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