It’s King George day at Ascot on Saturday 26th July and the Group 1 feature has only attracted five runners, but still looks a fascinating renewal. Away from that contest there’s a hugely competitive International Stakes taking place as well on a stellar day at the Berkshire track. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the action and picks out his best Ascot tips here…
3:00pm Ascot – Moet & Chandon International Handicap
A bumper field line up for the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at 3:00pm and the likes of Akkadian Thunder and Aalto will be two contenders at the head of the market that have to be respected and could well be in with a chance of landing the prize. However, one that could outrun his double-figured odds is the top-weighted ZOUM ZOUM, who steps up to seven furlongs, but is one of the class angles in the race.
A fine winner of a Doncaster handicap off a mark of 101 last October, Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old will line up off a mark of 105 in this event, so will need to improve. Last seen finishing in mid-division in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot, it’s interesting that the Beckett team have opted to send Zoum Zoum back of seven furlongs from six here and with winning form over the trip then he could be one that storms home in the closing stages to land the prize.
3:35pm Ascot – Betfred Handicap
It could be an afternoon that sees the top weights dominate the competitive handicaps as in the Betfred Handicap at 3:35pm the William Haggas-trained BULLET POINT can defy 9st 12lbs and claim victory. Last seen finishing a fine second to the real top-class My Cloud in the Royal Hunt Cup, the Haggas charge is unlikely to bump into a Group performer in this contest and he can land the prize.
The four-year-old has been given a 3lbs rise for that Royal Ascot run, so will take his chance off 100 here, but he got the better of another of Saturday’s rivals Bopedro in the Hunt Cup, and can duly frank that form here. Prior to that Ascot defeat the son of Advertise had racked up three wins on the spin and he can duly return to winning ways on Saturday and can prove to be a real cut above his rivals.
4:10pm Ascot – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Jan Brueghel and Calandagan served up a thrilling battle in the Coronation Cup with the former coming out on top and the pair are well fancied to fight it out for King George glory at 4:10pm. However, whilst the pair are proven at the highest level they will face a real winning machine in the shape of REBEL’S ROMANCE, who was last seen winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and is capable of landing another big pot here.
A multiple Group winner at Meydan and in the United States, the Charlie Appleby-trained seven-year-old showed when winning at Royal Ascot that he can deliver on the big stage again. There’s no doubting that Jan Brueghel is the proven stayer in the race, but Rebel’s Romance could have a little more class than the Ballydoyle raider and is the value play.
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