King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes preview and tips
We've got the views from all the leading connections and a tip from Man On The Spot ahead of Saturday's feature action at Ascot.
3.40 Ascot - King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes
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Views from connections
Sir Michael Stoute - Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word
"They have separate owners and it's a logical race for both of them mid-season. The official handicapper has 1lb between them, so there's not a lot between them and we don't work them together at home. They're very easy and straightforward horses. There's nothing complex about either colt.
"Crystal Ocean has won all three of his starts this year and he's won at Ascot over the course and distance. We ran him in the Leger last year - the owner-breeder was very keen and liked that idea. I didn't think he'd quite get the trip and I think he didn't quite get the trip. He looked like the winner all the way down the straight and just ran out of petrol. He'll never go beyond a mile and a half again.
"The ground may be fast, but actually he's impervious to ground, so I'm not concerned about that. He's entitled to go and take his chance, for sure.
"That would have been Poet's Word's best performance to date, in the Prince of Wales's. The second (Cracksman) may not have been at his best, but even so, the others were a long way back. It was a good performance. He ran very well in the Sheema Classic (over a mile and a half), too, so he is effective over that trip as well.
"He has been recording high levels of form and seems versatile in terms of distance - 10 or 12 furlongs. He has won at the track, too, and his preparation has gone well.
"It is a very high-level race and is always competitive. My horses have decent form and are first and second favourite. They may not finish first and second, but they are entitled to be in there."
Aidan O'Brien - Hydrangea and Rostropovich
"Hydrangea is in good form. She's had two runs (this season) and she's back up a mile and a half again.
"She got a mile and a half last year and maybe a mile is a bit tight for her now. We're looking forward to seeing what happens."
"Rostropovich is in good form. He's a solid horse. He had a very good run in the Irish Derby, gets a mile and a half, handles quick ground and seems to be in good form since the Curragh.
"I think he has improved since stepping up in trip."
Sylvester Kirk - Salouen
"It gives the place a different feel when you've got a fellow like him knocking around. He gives everyone a lift and you could not wish for a horse who is more honest, genuine, consistent or easy to deal with.
"We keep aiming at the highest level and Saturday will be another big ask, but we'd rather take our chance at the top level again.
"It's frustrating not to have got his head in front for a while, but we'd probably only end up bumping into an improver if we dropped him in grade.
"He's consistent and if he puts his best foot forward he should again be there or thereabouts."
Man On The Spot verdict
Poet's Word, bidding to become the first five-year-old to win this in 20 years, was beaten out of sight by Cracksman in the Champion Stakes here last year but reversed that form in last month’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes when John Gosden’s colt, who just edged out Salouen in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, again showed signs of temperament. Cracksman may not even run in this unless the ground eases, though rain is forecast. CRYSTAL OCEAN, a stablemate of Poet’s Word, goes from strength-to-strength and is unbeaten this year. Last year’s St Leger runner-up is a high-class middle-distance performer nowadays judged on his win in the Hardwicke Stakes here last month when he quickened to lead off a strong pace and only had to be pushed out to maintain a healthy advantage. Coronet could be overpriced considering she finished ahead of Salouen when just edged out in a Group 1 at Saint Cloud last month having won the Middleton Stakes at York on her reappearance. Hydrangea has been well below par this year so Irish Derby second Rostropovich may prove the pick of the Ballydoyle duo.
1.50 Ascot - Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes
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Views from connections
Ed Walker - Royal Intervention
"She is very exciting. She won very well in the Empress Stakes at Newmarket and this was the obvious next steeping stone. Given the look of the entries, the race has cut up a bit and we'd be very hopeful that she can successfully make the step up in grade. Obviously, it's warmer than the Empress was, but she's in great form and is growing up and improving all the time. We'd be very hopeful."
Richard Fahey - Nicki's Angel
"She's a filly we like. She is still learning her trade. We sort of lost her a bit after York. I gave her a bit of time and she's been working very well, so it will be interesting how she gets on. The step up to six furlongs will suit. She's improved and she will need to."
Chris Richardson, managing director for owners - Angel's Hideaway's
"It was unfortunate what happened at Newmarket and I feel sorry for poor Frankie. We were expecting her to run well, but we obviously weren't expecting the winner to beat us given she finished behind us at Ascot. She's come out of the race well and John is very pleased with her, so we'll have another go."
Man On The Spot verdict
Rab Havlin deputises for Frankie Dettori on Angel's Hideaway with the Italian serving a suspension after causing interference on board John Gosden’s filly when she finished second in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket. An earlier fourth in the Albany Stakes here reads well and it would be no surprise if she recaptured the winning thread but ROYAL INTERVENTION looked something special when running away with a Listed contest at HQ last month and she gets the vote. Sandown third Chapelli should be suited by the extra furlong, along with Nicki's Angel, and Scintilating and Aquarius both made winning debuts and are open to plenty of improvement.
3.00 Ascot - Gigaset International Stakes
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Views from connections
Dean Ivory - Flaming Spear
He said: "I haven't had him all that long and I don't really know enough about him to tell you how he'll run. I'm a bit concerned about the ground and the weather. It's so hot at the moment it takes a lot out of horses just travelling to the races. He might be drawn (stall 19) on the wrong side, we'll just have to wait and see. I'd prefer to be in the middle so you'd have a choice of where to go, but we don't have that choice from where we are. I'm more negative than positive, to be honest."
Roger Fell - Burnt Sugar
"We've been happy with him since Newmarket. A bit of rain would definitely help him as he does prefer a cut in the ground. I thought it was good ground when he won at Newmarket."
Roger Varian - Spanish City
"Spanish City ran a huge race in the Bunbury Cup having raced without cover for a long way and he performed well over the course and distance in the Victoria Cup previously. He looks handicapped to win a big pot like this, but he's definitely best on fast ground and he wouldn't want the thunderstorms to materialise."
Stuart Williams - Via Serendipity
"I'd rather not have been drawn 29 if I'd have had a choice. But he ran well in the Victoria Cup at Ascot, over the course and distance, and he's been in good form since, so I'd be hopeful."
Man On The Spot verdict
Five of the last nine winners of this have started at 25/1 or bigger and this year’s renewal looks equally impossible to fathom. Only one of the last winners has started from a single-figure draw so that’s a worry for the likes of Oh This Is Us, Cardsharp and the Richard Fahey trio Zap, Gallipoli and Clubbable. Burnt Sugar had six of today’s rivals behind in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket two weeks ago but he has picked up a small penalty and it would be no surprise if some of those just behind reversed the form. Makzeem wasn’t the best away that day but still held every chance until well inside the final furlong, though FIRMAMENT was on his heels and also comes into the reckoning. David O’Meara’s charge is a standing dish in handicaps of this nature and was fifth in this last year when 10lb higher, ahead of Makzeem, Shady Mccoy, Flaming Spear and Burnt Sugar. Il Primo Sole is back over his winning trip having run well in hot contests over a mile since scoring at Kempton and Jersey Stakes fifth Arbalet could also go well but no three-year-old has won this since 2003. Ripp Orf was beaten off this mark at Newmarket last week and will do well to bounce back but Chessman is relatively unexposed in handicaps and not without a chance.
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