Hi all,

Buckle up for the race of the season the season. All the main protagonists bar Desert Crown line up for this afternoon’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3:40) at Ascot.

Inside today today’s main piece I look ahead to the best of Saturday’s Group action.

Besides the big Group 1 race. The Ascot undercard also features two other Group races and the Moet & Chandon International Stakes (3.00) a competitive 7f handicap with £77,310 on offer to the winner.

ITV are covering four races from Ascot and three from York this afternoon. The highlights of a seven race card at York are the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes (3:35) and the Sky Bet Dash Handicap (2:40).

It was soft at Ascot and good to soft York on Friday morning. The weather forecast for both courses is suggesting a mostly dry Friday with a few isolated showers on Saturday. Depending on the strength of the breeze and given the time of year.  I suspect we could be looking at good to soft at Ascot and the easy side of good at York. However, don’t hold me to that prediction.

Ascot

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes

It’s not often we get as competitive a Group 1 contest as this one. So, let’s enjoy it. I previewed the race in Wednesday’s column, so I won’t go through the race again here.

I think Auguste Rodin will prove he’s the best of the 3-year-old’s in the line-up and confirm Derby form with King Of Steel. His stablemate Luxembourg has become a bit of a forgotten horse and if he wasn’t drawn in stall 1, I would be looking to have a few pounds on him.

I usually underestimate Pyledriver and I might regret doing so once more. The drying ground is a positive for Emily Upjohn and even more so Westover.

Hukum has plenty in his favour and provided he doesn’t find trouble in the run is the most likely winner.

I did have £2.50 on Hamish at 100/1 earlier in the week, all the Stoke firm would allow me. However, the drying ground doesn’t make him as appealing as he was on Wednesday.  If he wins, I will be celebrating of course but I suspect I won’t be.

Looking at the other two Group race son the Ascot card.

1:50 – Bateaux London Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) – 6f

Soprano was too keen when stepping up to 7f when 3^rd of 9 at Sandown 2 days ago. It’s hard to see her running again so quickly but if she did, she would have to be respected.

There are plenty among the 11 runners who are unproven on soft ground. One who has form on rain softened ground though is Komat won on soft on racecourse debut. She hasn’t been disgraced on either start since and it was a career best when she finished a 4 ¼ length 7^th of 17 in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

2:25 – Longines Valiant Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) – 1m

Ten have been declared but there are questions about ground, form or well being for plenty of them.

We haven’t seen Ameynah since she finished a 3 ¼ length 6^th of 13 in last year’s 1,000 Guineas. I think she will be fit enough on her return to action. However, I’m not sure what’s kept her off the course and she’s plenty short enough at around 100/30.

At least we know Cadeau Belle is inform winning both her starts and goes on soft ground. She looked like a nice prospect when winning a Navan Listed race last month. Looks well worth her place in Group company in what looks a very winnable race.

York

3:15 – Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 2 ½ f

Just the five runners so it’s a disappointing turnout for a valuable prize. My Prospero progressive as a 3-year-old he’s the class horse of the race based on last year’s season’s form. The 4-year-od made a promising return in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes (1m) but ran poorly in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. If back to his best he’s the one to beat.

Alflaila ended last season on the up winning his last three starts including Group 3’s here and Newmarket both over 1m 1f. More than capable of a big run on his belated seasonal reappearance here, but the lack of pace would be a worry.

Mashoor has taken his form to a new level this season in winning his last three starts. He got a great front running ride to win a Group 3 at the Curragh 28 days ago. Seems likely to get another contested lead here and his rivals can’t let him get away like they did last time. It should be harder to dominate this better quality field but it’s dangerous to rule him out.

Saturday Selection:

Ascot

2:25 – Cadeau Belle – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

I will be back on Monday to review Saturday’s race and look ahead to Day 1 of the Galway Festival.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John