What a day of racing we now have forward of us! The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth takes centre stage on a bumper Saturday of motion – reside on Sky Sports activities Racing.
4.10 Ascot – King George headlines Ascot card
Huge weapons Calandagan and Jan Brueghel lock horns once more in a stellar renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Francis-Henri Graffard’s Calandagan broke his Group 1 duck when quickening away from Aventure to assert the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. That was a visually devastating show, and he will probably be fashionable to reverse Epsom kind with Jan Brueghel.
Aidan O’Brien has gained this contest on 4 events together with with Galileo in 2001 and Jan Brueghel appears to have sturdy claims to land one other. This son of Galileo has solely tasted defeat as soon as in his profession and can sport first-time cheekpieces as he seeks to observe up his Coronation Cup success.
Kalpana took the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over this course and distance in October and will admire the return to this journey after her runner-up end in Eire for Andrew Balding.
Insurgent’s Romance dismissed a robust discipline within the Hardwicke Stakes final month and the same effort would see him hit the body. Steady completes the quintet and is prone to be deployed as a pacemaker for Ballydoyle stablemate Jan Brueghel.
3.00 Ascot – Aalto, Billyjoh and Basic amongst 22 runners
Aalto and Billyjoh headline a discipline of twenty-two for a sometimes aggressive Moet & Chandon Worldwide Handicap.
Ian Williams saddles Aalto who arrives on the again of a cracking effort when second within the Bunbury Cup. He was unfortunate when ninth on this race final season and is certain to run his race from 5lb properly in on the weights. An eyecatching jockey reserving of William Buick additionally boosts the five-year-old’s possibilities of scooping the £77,000 pot.
Aalto returns to motion at Ascot this afternoon
Mick Appleby’s Billyjoh was despatched off favorite for this final 12 months and he warrants loads of respect after a staying-on third behind Aalto final time.
Final 12 months’s winner Northern Categorical and Sandown winner Basic – who carries a 3lb penalty – high an in depth shortlist.
2.20 Ascot – Valiant Stakes
A trappy version of this Group 3 Longines Valiant Stakes options Royal Costume and Chantilly Lace.
James Tate’s Royal Costume appreciated the drop in school when claiming the Listed Pipalong Stakes by over three lengths and appears primed for an enormous run beneath James Doyle.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained Cajole, second within the Sandringham over the straight monitor at Royal Ascot, adopted that with a strong second in Listed firm at Sandown and will have extra to supply within the Cheveley Park colors.
Ralph Beckett’s Chantilly Lace ran an enormous race for one so inexperienced when fifth within the 1000 Guineas and backed that up with a good fifth within the Coronation. She dips in grade right here and it could be disappointing if she just isn’t within the combine.
Others to notice embody the hat-trick searching for Pina Sonata and Glittering Surf, who ought to admire simpler floor than she encountered at York again in Could.
Better of the remainder
Godolphin duo Harbor Lock and Phrases Of Reality are ones to observe in Ascot’s opening British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes at 1.10pm. The previous, ridden right here on debut by James Doyle, is a half-brother to 2022 Fairly Polly winner With The Moonlight.
The Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes follows at 1.40pm and appears an interesting contest, that includes the George Scott-trained Staya who regarded moderately sensible when scoring in Listed firm at Sandown the final day. Dance To The Music will look to again up a debut success for Charlie Appleby whereas Flowerhead takes her probability within the Amo Racing colors after a constant begin to his profession.
Additionally at Ascot, a top quality discipline has assembled for the three.35pm Betfred Handicap, together with William Haggas’ Bullet Level. The four-year-old, who recorded a hat-trick earlier than being narrowly overwhelmed by My Cloud within the Royal Hunt Cup, will take his probability towards the likes of Teroomm and Fearnot.
Elsewhere, Miraculous bids for an additional course and distance triumph on the Roodee in Chester’s Birra Moretti Handicap at 3.15pm. Transferring into the night, the function race on Windsor’s seven-race card is the 8.15pm Get Raceday Prepared Handicap, the place Novamay makes an attempt to land the hat-trick for Michael Dods.
There’s additionally a lot occurring Stateside all through the day, with the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes from Del Mar (2.30pm) offering a pleasant build-up to the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga (10.41pm), which options Horse of the 12 months contender Sovereignty.
Watch each race from Ascot, Chester, Newcastle and Windsor – reside on Sky Sports activities Racing…
