14:25 Royal Ascot

Wednesday 17 June 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

King George V Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 32.97s

(8)

Wyclif²⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100| BF

33/1

Decent form with two wins last year (both 7f) before a narrow Listed defeat at Pontefract (1m, soft). Bred for this trip and and yard in decent nick but will need to be a Group performer to defy top weight against some unexposed rivals.

Form: 1312-

(5)

King's Caper¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: L Dettori| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 99

16/1

Well-placed to a land a juvenile hat-trick and ran well in defeat on his final start to Convict. Didn't seem to handle Lingfield (1m3½f, firm) last time but plugged on late in the day on his return. More exposed than most and needs a career best.

Form: 11132-5

(10)

Bright Melody^p1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 98

9/2

Looked a fair sort with a comfortable debut win at Chelmsford (1m2f) in January before bettering that despite evident greenness in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Kempton (1m2f, Polytrack) 14 days ago. Cheekpieces added and is a leading player.

Form: 13

(9)

Convict²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 96

9/1

From a family on strong stayers who improve with age and relished the step-up to 1m2f with an impressive 4L win at Newmarket (beat King's Caper) in October. This further step-up in trip could eke out more improvement and holds strong claims.

Form: 66121-

(15)

Subjectivist²⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94

22/1

Off the mark at Chelmsford (7f, Polytrack) last July before a mixed bag in Listed/Group races. Not disgraced on any occasions but fell short of the required form and this is a competitive race to try and regain the winning thread.

Form: 216247-

(11)

Summeronsevenhills^b¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 94

50/1

Dual AW nursery winner last year (1m2f/1m1½f) who bettered that form when third in the Lingfield Derby Trial (1m3½f, good to firm) 12 days ago. No match for the front two but it was a fair effort. Career-high mark now and needs to improve again.

Form: 86311-3

(4)

Hukum²¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 90

12/1

Promising debut third at Newbury (7f) before staying on strongly to win at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) next time. Makes his handicap debut here over a trip that should be in range on pedigree and is an interesting contender on just his third start.

Form: 31-

(14)

To Nathaniel^p⁵^{(ex 4)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 84| D

11/1

Improved for the addition of cheekpieces to win at Kempton (1m4f) in January before following-up back there (1m3f) five days ago. Hard to know how much potential remains as he seemingly just does enough and cannot be dismissed from this yard.

Form: 0-311

(18)

Oleksander¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: A Watson| OR: 86

33/1

Won both small races as a two-year-old at Salisbury and Brighton (both 1m) before finishing fourth in a well-contested handicap at Haydock (1m2½f) 10 days ago. Made the running there and may be seen to better effect is getting a lead this time.

Form: 11-4

(17)

Bodyline¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 85

10/1

Won once from three runs last year; at Epsom over 7f. May have found the ground a shade quick at Yarmouth (1m2f) 14 days ago but stayed on nicely from an unpromising position to finish second. Should be able to build on that with this extra 2f.

Form: 512-2

(1)

Trumpet Man²³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84| BF

25/1

Three promising efforts last year (1m-1m½f), the best of which was a narrow defeat at Wolverhampton on his second run. Gelded since and with a stamina-laden pedigree (half-brother to 2m G1 winner), he could go well for a six-time winning trainer.

Form: 425-

(12)

Kipps¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: David Probert| T: H Morrison| OR: 83| BF

9/2

Beaten ½L on debut before a neck win at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) on his second start. Beaten in a photo at Haydock (1m2½f) recently (ahead of Glenties and Oleksander) but rallied gamely and extra 2f will help. Doubt we've seen the best of him.

Form: 21-2

(6)

Locked N' Loaded¹⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: T J FitzGerald| OR: 81| BF

150/1

Form figures of 1212 since joining this yard, all at Wolverhampton (1m½f-1m1½f) during the winter. There isn't a strong stamina influence in his pedigree and he may have reached the ceiling of his ability after improving 13lb in his last four runs.

Form: 47121-2

(16)

Arthurian Fable¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 81

17/2

Improved significantly since a moderate debut; placed twice last year before being narrowly denied at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Ran on strongly there and another who should improve for this extra distance (½-brother stays 2m4f).

Form: 023-2

(3)

Group One Power¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 80

28/1

Dam 6f winner but has produced 1m4½f winner. Won first two cosily (1m) and ran better than his fourth place suggests at Yarmouth (1m2f) 14 days ago. Ground was possibly too quick and he was too keen. Worth another chance but this is a hot heat.

Form: 114

(13)

Win O'Clock⁹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 75

6/1

Shaped with promise in defeat with three juvenile runs before his handicap debut at Haydock (1m2f) nine days ago. He made up a lot of ground from the back and kept on well to win comfortably. Carries a 4lb penalty and one for the shortlist.

Form: 4-431

(7)

Berkshire Savvy¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Raul Da Silva| T: A M Balding| OR: 77

100/1

Won at the third attempt (Wolverhampton, 7f) last year and, although he wasn't disgraced, he wasn't good enough on his two handicap starts since. Behind Kipps, Glenties and Oleksander at Haydock last time leaving him plenty to find.

Form: 4215-6

Non-Runners

(2)

Glenties³

Weight: 8-5| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Kipps (9/2), Bright Melody (9/2), Win O'Clock (6/1), Arthurian Fable (17/2), Convict (9/1), Bodyline (10/1), To Nathaniel (11/1), Hukum (12/1), King's Caper (16/1), Glenties (20/1), Subjectivist (22/1), Trumpet Man (25/1), Group One Power (28/1), Wyclif (33/1), Oleksander (33/1), Summeronsevenhills (50/1), Berkshire Savvy (100/1), Locked N' Loaded (150/1)

A case could easily be made for the vast majority of these but CONVICT gets the nod. He improved notably last year and was really impressive at Newmarket on his final start. He is from a fantastic family who relished middle and staying distances and there should certainly be more to come. The same can be said about Bright Melody who did well to finish third on the inner-course at Kempton after missing the break whilst Mark Johnston has won this six times and Trumpet Man is the pick of his runners. He showed promise last year and this extra yardage should be right up his street on handicap debut after being gelded. Kipps and Bodyline are best of the rest.