15:40 Ascot

Saturday 28 July 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:20

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 2m 25.84s

(6)

Crystal Ocean³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 122| CD

6/4

Narrowly denied in last year's St Leger and undefeated in three Group starts in 2018. Steps back up to Group 1 class and it's unlikely we've seen the best of him given the way he's won his last two starts. Seemingly versatile with regards ground.

Form: 312-111

(1)

Desert Encounter⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 112| CD

33/1

Group 3 winner in 2017 but tends to struggle up at this level, as seen when well behind some of these rivals in the Eclipse. No obvious reason while he'll be reversing that form here after he was beaten in Listed class at Newbury on his latest run.

Form: 15-9372

(8)

Poet's Word³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 126| C| D

7/4

Quickened up better than Cracksman having stalked his rival through the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. While he handles cut in the ground, there's little doubt he's a better horse on a quicker surface now and he's a leading player if the rain stays away.

Form: 226-211

(7)

Salouen²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: S Kirk| OR: 118

20/1

Only narrowly denied by Cracksman at Epsom when well-ridden, nearly stealing the race from the front. Gets the Champion Jockey again today but he's not likely to get an easy lead here and he generally struggles at this level.

Form: 823-323

(4)

Coronet²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: O Peslier| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 115| CD

15/2

Returned with a facile success in a fillies' Group 2 at York and only narrowly denied in a French Group 1 last time. Good chance there's still more to come throughout this year and she's an interesting contender bringing in a different form-line.

Form: 4253-12

(2)

Hydrangea^p³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| BF| CD

10/1

Remarkably impressive when gaining her second Group 1 here last year. Hasn't been at that level in two runs this year and there has to be a concern she hasn't trained on. Better efforts have come with cut in the ground so not ruled out if it rains.

Form: 4121-28

(3)

Rostropovich^t²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 114

12/1

Looked like an exciting prospect when a wide margin winner at Chester on his seasonal return. Didn't really build on that in two subsequent runs but produced a better effort when allowed to dominate from the front when runner-up in the Irish Derby.

Form: 3-41922

Non-Runners

(5)

Cracksman³⁸

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: J & T Gosden J: R Havlin

Forecasts

Crystal Ocean (6/4), Poet's Word (7/4), Cracksman (3/1), Coronet (15/2), Hydrangea (10/1), Rostropovich (12/1), Salouen (20/1), Desert Encounter (33/1)

Sir Michael Stoute has won this race twice in the past 10 years and he saddles two fascinating contenders in this year's renewal. It's the unexposed CRYSTAL OCEAN who shades the vote after impressive wins at Newbury and the Royal meeting and he still gives the impression there's more to come. Poet's Word got the better of Cracksman last time but the latter didn't look straightforward that day and he may be able to reverse the form if back to his best and rain arrives. However, the main danger could be Coronet who brings a different form-line in to many of these but her game effort in a French Group 1 last time was certainly eye-catching and she's another unexposed sort.