15:40 Ascot

Ten horse have been declared for the eagerly anticipated Group 1 King George VI on Saturday. Architect Tips gives us his take on the action at the Ascot.

King George VI Tips 

Advised Bets 

Bolshoi Ballet

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
  • Odds: 100/1
  • Form: 694332

Not won for over two years and that last success, which came in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, now feels like a distant memory. He did run well to finish second in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot last-time-out when chasing home Royal Champion but this is a much stiffer assignment on all known form-lines.

Nevertheless, he was only a head behind Israr when third in a Group 3 at Newbury and the runner-up has given the form a bit of a boost by downing Adayar when last seen in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes. However, my speculation is that the former Derby winner failed to run to his best, so the form is questionable.

The return to this stiffer test of stamina will rate a plus but he does need to find improvement from somewhere to make an impact at this towering level and is likely to fall down the pecking order on jockey bookings. Therefore he is hard to recommend with a couple of his stable companions holding much better credentials.

Deauville Legend

  • Trainer: James Ferguson
  • Odds: 25/1
  • Form: 212144

After being beaten in a handicap off a rating of 89 at Royal Ascot last year, in which he kept a busy three-year-old campaign, he raised his game as the season went on, winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes before an excellent fourth in the Melbourne Cup.

James Ferguson’s charge shaped well on his return to action when fourth behind Pyledriver in the Hardwicke Stakes and should be sharper with that return under his belt but will need to at this level, especially now tackling even tougher opponents.

He didn’t get the clearest of runs last time but he had every chance once the gaps opened and he didn’t hit the line as strongly as I had hoped. Oisin Murphy is a positive jockey booking but the ratings suggest he has a bit to find.

Hamish

  • Trainer: William Haggas
  • Odds: 100/1
  • Form: 121211

An admirable performer, who has bagged Group 3 wins at Chester and York this season, with the latest of those wins coming in the John Smith's Silver Cup. While he is proven on better ground, he is more adaptable on softer going and if the ground did appear in that description, the seven-year-old’s stamina would definitely come into play in this event.

He will need to improve to land the honours here but it is worth recollecting his second in the Irish St Leger, his first start at the highest level, saw him push top-class stayer Kypios to less than a length. Furthermore, he is one-from-one here, which came over course-and-distance and will get a good pace to aim at, so he has each-way possibilities.

Hukum

  • Trainer: Owen Burrows
  • Odds: 7/2
  • Form: 211711

Has gone from strength-to-strength and concluded his four-year-old campaign with victory over course-and-distance. He became a Group 1 winner when beating Pyledriver by over four lengths in last year's Coronation Cup at Epsom, cementing himself as a horse of the highest quality.

He unfortunately spent a year on the sidelines afterwards but looked as good as ever on his return when beating the former Derby winner Desert Crown over a trip short of his best and conditions are likely to be in his favour with the return to a longer trip also a bonus.

While he might have been slightly flattered by the winning margin at Epsom given a few of his rivals ran below form, he still did the job very well and will be fitter from his latest successful return from what looked a potentially career-ending injury beforehand.

He is amongst the highest-rated in the field and has a good record after a mini break (50+ days) which reads impressive form of six wins from seven starts. With more to come, and a good record at this course, he is a definite for the shortlist, provided he doesn’t suffer the bounce-factor.

Luxembourg

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
  • Odds: 16/1
  • Form: 117512

Prior to his four-length second in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, he had Bay Bridge in behind when winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland. He was brushed aside by Mostahdaf last-time-out but will appreciate the step back up in trip and based on official ratings, he is rated only a pound inferior to stablemate Auguste Rodin.

It will be interesting to see what tactics are applied given he can front-run but he is likely to be held-up now tackling this trip for the first time since finishing seventh in the Arc last year, where he had excuses. Ryan Moore has opted for the Irish Derby winner instead but this three-time Group 1 winner still merits his place in the field.

Point Lonsdale

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
  • Odds: 66/1
  • Form: 1120113

A talented well-built colt, who has a good career strike-rate with six wins from nine starts and has been well-placed to win various Group 2 and Group 3 wins. His only previous visit to Ascot saw him land the Chesham at the Royal meeting but the step up in trip in the Coronation Cup failed to materialise as he could only finish a distant third.

He has already had his limitations exposed at the highest level, as all three times he has contested a Group 1, he has been beaten. On that basis, it is hard to see him troubling the main principles in this race. He will probably show up well for a way but he is a plodder and I expect a few others will have too much tactical speed for him at the business end.

Pyledriver

  • Trainer: William Muir & Chris Grassick
  • Odds: 7/1
  • Form: 204211

Has been underestimated throughout the majority of his career but he is a fantastic racehorse who won this last year at 18/1 and showed he retains all of his ability when landing the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot on his return from an absence.

Without a doubt, this is a tougher renewal, but his connections know how to get him primed for the big occasions and he has won three of his four starts at this venue. This bigger-field should allow him to settle, as he can race keenly, and it would be foolish to take him lightly.

Based on BHA ratings, he is actually the highest-rated runner in the field and it is hard to find a reason why he won’t run to his best given he is proven on all types of ground with the exception of heavy. He is an attractive price but I have an inclination that something might have his measure.

Westover

  • Trainer: Ralph Beckett
  • Odds: 12/1
  • Form: 156221

Has his quirks but there’s no doubt he makes up for that trait with his natural ability and class which has contributed to his two Group 1 wins, as well as a good second to Equinox on his return in the Group 1 Sheema Classic.

He has a turn of foot and probably has an even greater performance in him as well but is he trustworthy enough to be putting your faith in him after he returned a well-beaten favourite in this race last year? I am not sure, plus Emily Upjohn was too good for him in the Coronation Cup.

I do like him as a horse and he has proven to be a genuine Group 1-winning horse but he will need to settle better if he is to give himself any sort of chance of improving on last year’s disappointment in this contest. A place might be the best he can hope for.

Emily Upjohn

  • Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
  • Odds: 5/1
  • Form: 126112

Trailed home a disappointing last of six in this race last year when a place behind Westover but that has so far been her only disappointment in her career, as she has won five of her other seven starts and came second in the two races she didn’t win as well.

She made a triumphant return to Ascot, winning the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes in October before showing her class in the Coronation Cup, showcasing her sharp turn of foot to beat her rivals and doing so off a moderate gallop, too.

Nothing was lost in defeat when she attempted to give seven pounds to Paddington in the Coral-Eclipse last time, making the winner fight to the finish and her connections have won this race five times. Reunited with Frankie, she is a leading candidate.

Auguste Rodin

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
  • Odds: 3/1
  • Form: 111011

Held in the highest regard by connections and bounced back from his heavy flop in the 2000 Guineas with wins in both the English and Irish Derbies and will be connections leading hope of a fourth win in this race being the choice of Ryan Moore.

He didn’t win in the manner many had hoped when workmanlike in Ireland last time but he is versatile, handles any given ground and beat King Of Steel by half a length at Epsom. His connections remain positive that he has more to come and he will get weight from most of his rivals in the betting, too, which helps.

He has stamina in abundance mixed with class but I am still not sure he represents much value taking on some high-class older horses for the first time. Still, the best is yet to come from him and this course should play to his strengths.

King Of Steel

  • Trainer: Roger Varian
  • Odds: 3/1
  • Form: 1721

A giant of a horse who is a touch short enough in the betting based on the fact he is light on experience without Group 1 success but he ran a belter when second in the Epsom Derby when sent off a huge price.

He didn’t need to improve much more to land the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot last month, where he travelled very well and quickened away from the rest once the accelerator was pressed.

Open to more improvement, he has attracted plenty of attention from punters but he is back in the deep waters against a high-class field and this is a much tougher race than when he was second at Epsom.

King George VI Prediction

An open-looking, top-class race in prospect, in which a few of these have strong chances. I am going to play HUKUM (best price 7/2) against the field, who was so impressive in winning on his return when defeating Derby winner Desert Crown at Sandown and has proven form on soft ground.

He has a good course record with two wins from three starts and will be suited to a strong gallop. He is drawn well in stall 4 and probably has even more to come. I think his form has far more substance than what Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel have achieved, while Pyledriver would prefer a sounder surface.

The same can be applied for Emily Upjohn, who has to prove she handles soft ground and the remainder need improvement at this level on this surface. Owen Burrows’ six-year-old is fancied to land a second Group 1 success in his career under Jim Crowley, arriving here a fresher horse than most, which can pay dividends.