17:35 Royal Ascot

Thursday 21 June 2018

All14:3015:0515:4016:2017:0017:35

King George V Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 17:38 | Winning time: 2m 28.36s

(11)

Cross Counter¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 98

8/1

Dual winner at Wolverhampton for this yard and ran well to finish runner-up in a novice contest at Sandown (1m2f, good) earlier this month. One to note on handicap debut.

Form: 1-12

(10)

Downdraft¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 96

6/1

Winning for the second time when successful over 1m2f at Navan (good) earlier this month. Races off an 8lb higher mark here and shapes as if this step up in trip will suit.

Form: 54-121

(18)

Communique³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93

9/2

Broke his maiden when successful over 1m2f at Newbury (good-to-firm) just over a month ago. Work to do if he's to reverse Sandown running with Dubhe here.

Form: 22-321

(21)

Dukhan³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James McDonald| T: H Palmer| OR: 93

14/1

Novice stakes winner on the AW over 1m last October. Some decent efforts in defeat since but held by Communique on their running at Newbury last time.

Form: 241-236

(9)

Billy Ray²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 93| D

33/1

Heavy ground maiden winner over 1m4f at Salisbury in April. Fair effort when sixth in a Listed contest at Goodwood (1m3f, good-to-soft) subsequently and making his handicap debut.

Form: 06-216

(13)

Lucius Tiberius¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 93

14/1

Maiden winner at The Curragh (1m2f, good-to-firm) last month and finished a fair third over 1m4f at Leopardstown in a Listed contest subsequently. Top jockey in the saddle on handicap bow.

Form: 63-213

(1)

Lisheen Castle^v1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 92

66/1

Debut winner at Hamilton (soft) last August but struggled in two starts this term and fitted with a visor for the first time in this contest.

Form: 142-27

(20)

Baileys Excelerate²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 92| D

28/1

Victorious over 1m4f at Haydock (good) on his most recent appearance. Made all that day and will have to defy a 7lb rise in the weights if he's to follow up in this contest.

Form: 3122-81

(14)

Making Miracles³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 91| D

10/1

Off the mark at the eighth time of asking when winning at Leicester (1m4f, good-to-firm) last time. This looks a much more competitive affair.

Form: 225-221

(7)

First Eleven^t1³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 91

6/1

Easy winner over 1m3f at Newbury (good-to-firm) last time out. Better ground that day appeared to suit and he looks a leading contender with a tongue tie worn for the first time off a 14lb higher mark.

Form: 962-21

(16)

Baghdad³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| D

9/1

Successful in a 16 runner handicap at York (1m4f, good-to-firm) last month. Will have to defy a 10lb rise in the weights if he's to register a third career success on this occasion.

Form: 5041-31

(3)

Cassini^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90

16/1

Novice stakes winner over 1m2f at Windsor (good) last time out. remains open to improvement and is likely to appreciate this step up in trip on handicap debut.

Form: 33-1

(15)

Elegiac¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: David Egan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89

16/1

Ended his two-year-old campaign with an impressive AW success over 1m and was narrowly beaten at Wolverhampton over an extended 1m on seasonal debut recently. Stepping up markedly in distance.

Form: 31-2

(4)

Lucky Deal¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88

20/1

Dual winner including over 1m3f at Carlisle (good-to-firm) last time out. Raised 2lb for that victory and one of a number of runners for his leading trainer.

Form: 31-241

(12)

Corgi¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jim Crowley| T: H Morrison| OR: 88

12/1

Broke his maiden when winning on handicap debut over 1m2f at Sandown (good) last time out. Had placed over C&D in maiden company prior to that and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 42-231

(8)

Occupy⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 88

20/1

Maiden winner on the AW last year and stepped up on seasonal debut when finishing 3L second at Nottingham (1m2f, good-to-firm) last month. Making his handicap debut.

Form: 1-63

(2)

Perfect Illusion²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 88| D

50/1

Dual winner on the AW earlier this year but struggled since switched to turf suffering heavy defeats in competitive contests the last twice. Making his handicap debut on this occasion.

Form: 1187

(6)

He's Amazing³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: C G Cox| OR: 87

20/1

Winner over 1m2f at Newmarket (good-to-firm) last month but had a couple of these in front of him at Newbury subsequently and more is needed here.

Form: 32-215

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(19)

Dubhe⁵⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: C Appleby J: James Doyle

Forecasts

Communique (9/2), First Eleven (6/1), Downdraft (6/1), Cross Counter (8/1), Baghdad (9/1), Making Miracles (10/1), Dubhe (10/1), Corgi (12/1), Lucius Tiberius (14/1), Dukhan (14/1), Elegiac (16/1), Cassini (16/1), Occupy (20/1), Lucky Deal (20/1), He's Amazing (20/1), Baileys Excelerate (28/1), Billy Ray (33/1), Perfect Illusion (50/1), Lisheen Castle (66/1)

FIRST ELEVEN represents a leading yard and can take what looks a highly competitive renewal of this three-year-old handicap contest. Trainer John Gosden has taken this race twice in the past and his charge looks capable of getting the better of Dubhe who impressed when winning at Sandown last time out and should appreciate the step up in distance. Mark Johnston has no fewer than six in the race and Downdraft, another likely to appreicate the step up in distance can finish best of his representatives by claiming third. Handicap debutant Cross Counter is another to consider having run well to finish runner-up last time.