15:05 Royal Ascot

Thursday 18 June 2026

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:3518:10

King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:09 | Winning time: 2m 29.74s

(15)

Guildmaster^b1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100

33/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning start in a decent Lingfield novice in December. Useful form in defeat both starts since (9 lengths seventh in Dante latest) but he'll require a very smart performance to defy clear top weight in this ultra-competitive handicap. Blinkered first time.

Form: 1-37

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(10)

Tierra Del Toro³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97

10/1

Progressive form, improving a good chunk again when 2¼ lengths third of 10 to Lost Boys in London Gold Cup at Newbury (1¼m, good) on reappearance. 1½m ought to suit him at least as well and Ralph Beckett has a strong recent record in this race.

Form: 212-3

(21)

Cannes³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 95| D

7/2

€500,000 Sea The Stars colt who was a promising second on first 2 starts before getting off the mark when stepped up to 1½m at Leopardstown (good) 39 days ago. Should have more to offer now moving into handicaps but a wide draw is far from ideal.

Form: 2-21

(5)

Birgham Dub³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 93| D

50/1

Won first 2 starts (1½m Southwell novice latterly). Lost his unbeaten record but wasn't disgraced when 8¼ lengths fifth of 8 to Rumoriste in listed race at Longchamp (1½m, soft) 35 days ago. His opening handicap mark looks tough, though.

Form: 1-15

(14)

Al Azd^b³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Cieren Fallon| T: R Varian| OR: 92| D

11/1

Improved since blinkered, winning 11f maiden at Southwell (all-weather) and 1½m handicap at Doncaster (good to firm; did it easily) this spring. Nearest finish when 4¼ lengths sixth of 10 to Lost Boys in London Gold Cup at Newbury (1¼m, good) last time and will be suited by the return to 1½m.

Form: 222116

(2)

Joulany^t1⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 91| BF

18/1

800,000 gns buy who has shown useful form in defeat in his 4 starts, finishing second of 7 in maiden at Chester (12.3f, good to firm) 41 days ago. Makes handicap debut from a mark which demands improvement. Tongue tied first time on the back of a gelding operation.

Form: 24-32

(9)

Amora Queen²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C Johnston| OR: 90

80/1

Won her first 2 starts in 2025. Returned with a good second in handicap at Doncaster but well held twice since. Her stable has done well in this race over the years but her claims aren't obvious.

Form: 110-259

(6)

Atomic City^t1⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Tom Marquand| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

22/1

Promising Ghaiyyath colt who made it third time lucky in a maiden at Cork (10.5f, heavy) last month. In top hands and open to further progress in handicaps. Wears a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 3-31

(8)

Dial Me In^t³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: James McDonald| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

28/1

Quite useful but hasn't really progressed since a debut win last summer. 2¼ lengths second of 5 to Nil Bua Gan Dua in conditions event at Roscommon (10.4f, good) 38 days ago. Steps up to 1½m for handicap debut from a mark which isn't obviously generous.

Form: 14-42

(13)

Enceladus⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R L Moore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

7/1

From a good family and knuckled down well to see off a promising newcomer in 10.5f Cork maiden (good to soft) on reappearance. Tackles first handicap here. Will go on improving and Ryan Moore rides.

Form: 33-1

(4)

Believed^h²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 88| D

14/1

Frankel filly who has improved with each start, looking suited by the step up to 1½m when easily winning maiden at Dundalk 23 days ago. Has the potential for better but pitched in very deep on handicap debut.

Form: 421

(11)

Into The Light⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 88

4/1

Well-bred colt who went down by only a short head to subsequent London Gold Cup winner Lost Boys on handicap debut at Sandown (1¼m, good) 8 weeks ago, finishing strongly from too far back. The return to 1½m looks in his favour. Big player with further improvement likely.

Form: 122

(22)

Golden Knight²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 87

14/1

Built on debut promise when making all in 7-runner novice at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) in October. Not up to the listed Heron over 1m on Sandown reappearance and now takes a big jump up in trip for his handicap debut. Stall 22 is likely to prove tricky to overcome.

Form: 41-6

(12)

Waterford Castle^p⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Zac Lloyd| T: G Boughey| OR: 86| BF

20/1

Still a maiden but has recorded 4 good runner-up efforts since joining George Boughey, including over 1¼m here in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 6 weeks ago. Steps up to 1½m for the first time now. Probably capable of better again.

Form: 76-2222

(1)

Genchev³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 86

40/1

Made it fifth time lucky when seeing off 7 rivals in maiden at Navan (1¼m, good to soft) 33 days ago. His yard is in a good vein of form but doesn't obviously have the same scope for improvement as some of today's rivals.

Form: 354-21

(20)

Arc Ole Ole³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 85| D

16/1

Has won all 3 starts since his debut, finding another good chunk of improvement for step up to 1½m when seeing off 13 rivals in a handicap at the York Dante meeting. Raised 10 lb but he looks capable of better as his stamina is drawn out. The draw could have been kinder.

Form: 51-11

(7)

Heyzoom³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Saffie Osborne| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 85

6/1

Beaten at short odds on first 2 outings but made no mistake in maiden at Newbury (1¼m, good) 34 days ago and 4 subsequent winners have already emerged from that race. Not certain to benefit from the step up to 1½m on breeding but there's a good chance a mark of 85 underestimates him.

Form: 3-21

(16)

Galilean Quality²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin| T: K R Burke| OR: 85| D

22/1

Has the odd quirk but he's essentially progressive and posted quite a useful effort to win 1½m Wolverhampton handicap 3 weeks ago, taking his career record to 3-6.

Form: 641-131

(3)

Blue Hercules²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 85

80/1

Fairly useful form when reaching the frame in maiden/novice events at Newbury and Chepstow (both 1¼m) on his last 2 starts. Up in trip for handicap debut. May have more to offer.

Form: 842

Forecasts

Cannes (7/2), Into The Light (4/1), Heyzoom (6/1), Enceladus (7/1), Tierra Del Toro (10/1), Al Azd (11/1), Believed (14/1), Golden Knight (14/1), Arc Ole Ole (16/1), Joulany (18/1), Waterford Castle (20/1), Galilean Quality (22/1), Atomic City (22/1), Dial Me In (28/1), Guildmaster (33/1), Genchev (40/1), Birgham Dub (50/1), Amora Queen (80/1), Blue Hercules (80/1)

INTO THE LIGHT and Heyzoom have both had the form of their latest run boosted and look ahead of their marks. There's a slight doubt about the latter's stamina for 1½m so that tips the vote the way of Godolphin's charge, who is already proven at the trip. Ralph Beckett has won this race twice in recent years and Tierra Del Toro is next on the list after his good run in the London Gold Cup. Waterford Castle and Al Azd, another from the London Gold Cup, complete the shortlist.