Dar Re Mi to be crowned Queen in tomorrow’s King George
THE only place to start when looking at tomorrow’s King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is champion trainer Sir Michael Stoute. He trained the first three home in this race 12 months ago and looks to have another massive chance of getting a one-two with Derby winner Workforce and Hardwicke Stakes hero Harbinger.
Workforce was hugely impressive at Epsom and if the same horse turns up he will be very hard to beat. However, there are reasons to doubt the form with pacemaker At First Sight finishing second and the majority of the others disappointing in their subsequent races. There also has to be a slight worry about the form of the yard, as it’s been an untypically quiet July. Don’t get me wrong, Workforce is easily the most likely winner, but at even money I’ll be looking elsewhere.
Harbinger, like so many of Stoute’s horses, has progressed markedly as a four-year-old and the form of his Ascot win isn’t that far off Workforce. However, he has to give his stablemate chunks of weight and is also opposable on ground that is sure to be plenty quick enough. Cape Blanco is clearly a talented horse and he could turn out to be Aidan O’Brien’s best three-year-old, but I doubt if he’s quite good enough for this, while perennial bridesmaid Youmzain, as always, has a small each-way chance.
However, the one to be on each-way is the Lady Lloyd-Webber-owned DAR RE MI, who gave William Buick the biggest win of his career to date in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March. She has since finished fourth of five in the Coral Eclipse, but that race wasn’t run to suit and she will relish the step back up in trip. This is her time of year and with John Gosden’s horses starting to hit form, she looks a great each-way bet at 16/1 with Paddy Power.
The two that I’m drawn to in the Princess Margaret Stakes (2.40pm) are Sir Mark Prescott’s Hooray and Michael Bell’s MARGOT DID. The former is improving with every outing and finished a gallant third to Memory at Newmarket last time. She looks sure to step up again and may well be worth backing in-running on Betdaq if she settles in the early part of the contest. She has been using up far too much energy battling with her pilot on her two most recent starts and will warrant plenty of respect when racing a little less keen. That said, she will most likely find Margot Did too tough a nut to crack tomorrow and the Hayley Turner ridden filly can gain compensation for her narrow defeat at the Royal meeting.
It could be a day to remember for John Gosden as he also has a decent chance with MASS RALLY in the 3.15pm contest. This son of Kheleyf was beaten just a head by Kakatosi at Sandown over seven furlongs last time and the winner went in again on Wednesday night. Mass Rally was staying on at the finish, indicating he will appreciate the step up to a mile, and I like the fact he has strong form on the all-weather, a good omen for Ascot.
Andrew Balding’s DECENT FELLA had some excellent form in Ireland last season and he could be thrown in off his current mark in the International Stakes (3.50pm), so is worth a bet at 10/1 with William Hill. Meanwhile, over at Salisbury tomorrow night, look out for the Richard Hannon trained ARDOUR in the 7.05pm. His trainer was very sweet on his chances at the Goodwood Open Day earlier in the week and labelled him as his best bet of the weekend. His next best was AULD BURNS in the 2.05pm at Ascot so I’ll also be backing him.
Finally, Brian Meehan’s FIELD DAY looks to be progressing at a rate of knots and can justify the step up to Listed class at Ascot this afternoon (3.20pm). The daughter of Cape Cross improved dramatically from her seasonal reappearance at Nottingham when bolting up at Salisbury almost a fortnight ago and she may well take this on her way to tackling Group races.
POINTERS…
FIELD DAY 3.20pm Ascot (today)
AULD BURNS 2.05pm Ascot (tomorrow)
MARGOT DID 2.40pm Ascot (tomorrow)
MASS RALLY e/w 3.15pm Ascot (tomorrow)
DECENT FELLA e/w 3.50pm Ascot (tomorrow)
DAR RE MI e/w 4.25pm Ascot (tomorrow)
ARDOUR 7.05pm Salisbury (tomorrow)