William Hill King Charles II Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 25.17s

(1)

Alaskan Gold¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: K R Burke| OR: 103

16/5

Much improved with a visor added when ½-length second of 9 to Ballymount Boy in listed race at Doncaster (6f, heavy) on final 2-y-o start. Headgear omitted when a creditable fifth on return in the Greenham at Newbury and left off again here. Should give another good account.

Form: 33172-5

(4)

Boiling Point¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: R Varian| OR: 107| BF| D

11/8

Thirsk novice winner who was an excellent short-head second of 12 to Alyanaabi in the C&D Somerville Tattersall Stakes in September. Turned over when odds on for a good-ground conditions race back here on his recent reappearance (Bold Style close up in third) but he's still a major player.

Form: 2312-2

(2)

Bold Style¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 105

11/4

Built on promising Wolverhampton debut when readily going one better at Chelmsford (1m) in December (second and third in that race have both won since). Further progress when third, finishing just a neck adrift of Boiling Point, over this C&D on recent turf debut. Probably capable of better still.

Form: 21-3

(6)

Queen Of Zafeen⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: R Hughes| OR: 93| BF| D

13/2

Looked good when winning first 2 starts and lost no caste in defeat, despite surrendering her unbeaten record, at Lingfield (AW) where she was just touched off in a 7f listed event. That bare form leaves her with a bit to find now switched to turf but she's clearly well-regarded (Group 1 entry).

Form: 112

Non-Runners

(3)

Indian Run²⁰²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Eve Johnson Houghton J: D Tudhope

(5)

Jehangeer²⁰²

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: K A Ryan J: N Callan

Forecasts

Boiling Point (11/8), Bold Style (11/4), Alaskan Gold (16/5), Indian Run (4/1), Queen Of Zafeen (13/2), Jehangeer (16/1)

BOLD STYLE was only a neck behind Boiling Point in a well-contested C&D conditions race last month and, with the likelihood of better to come from the Godolphin colt, he is taken to reverse the placings with Roger Varian's charge and emerge on top. Boiling Point is nonetheless greatly respected, particularly judged on his close second to subsequent Dewhurst runner-up Alyanaabi in a Group 3 here in September, while Alaskan Gold wasn't disgraced in the Greenham and should be in the mix, too.