There is plenty of action to look forward to this Saturday, with seven meetings held across the UK and Ireland.
The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot is the main event, with a small but select field of six heading to post.
Next week Glorious Goodwood returns, as well as the Galway Races, which gives racing fans much to savour over the coming week.
Ascot
1.50 – Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (Group 3)
Lezoo 15/8 – Ralph Beckett, Frankie Dettori
The opening race on the card at Ascot features a number of unexposed and inexperienced young fillies, four of whom are unbeaten.
Ralph Beckett saddles the favourite, Lezoo, who may well have been unbeaten if not for an interference in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes earlier this month.
The winner at Newmarket, Mawj, drifted a substantial amount to her left during the final stages of the race, going into Lezoo’s path and ultimately gaining an advantage.
A stewards’ enquiry was held, but Mawj kept the race and brought Lezoo’s unbeaten streak to an end.
Lezoo’s stablemate Palm Lily, as well as Glenlaurel and Royal Charter, are all one from one whilst Kinta has won both of her starts to date.
Breege, Minnetonka, Omniqueen and the more experienced Cuban Mistress, are all capable of plenty of improvement too, which makes it a tricky race to predict.
However, Lezoo beat Cuban Mistress well enough on debut, whilst receiving 6lbs, and backed it up with an impressive performance in a Listed contest at Newmarket.
Her run behind Mawj is also a good formline, despite failing to get the win, and she should be competitive once again.
2.25 – Valiant Stakes (Group 3)
Jumbly 4/1 – Harry & Roger Charlton, Hollie Doyle
The Gleneagles filly has finished down the field whilst not being disgraced in her last two appearances, but has run in extremely competitive races in both France and Germany respectively.
Prior to her last two runs, Jumbly had been performing well, recording three wins from her first five runs.
She returns to Group Three level here, and should be more involved in the closing stages and able to mount a challenge.
On her seasonal reappearance she finished a half-length second to Wild Beauty, a Grade One winner in North America, and Jumbly also has a Listed success to her name as a two-year-old.
This is the perfect race for her to bounce back to form.
KIND GESTURE (9/1) is worth a mention for Roger Varian, a yard recording a 30% strike rate in the past two weeks.
Jockey Andrea Atzenia takes the ride, replacing David Egan aboard the filly, and he is also enjoying a successful spell of late.
The Decorated Knight filly, out of a Mastercraftsman mare, is lightly-raced, but does have two wins from three and could be an improving type.
She wears a hood, and doesn’t appear to be the most straight-forward, but is one to watch and has already been backed since the market opened.
3.00 – Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Ropey Guest 16/1 – George Margarson, Callum Hutchinson (5)
Ahead of the Bunbury Cup, Ropey Guest was available at 25/1 before being backed into 11/1 (SP).
There was plenty to like about him then, as a guaranteed each-way player, and his excellent run in second made him worth sticking with once again.
He is such a consistent performer and a likable type.
Chubby, as he is affectionately known, has gone up only 1lb for his run at Newmarket, which gives him a perfectly capable change once again.
Bless Him was the only rival who finished ahead there, and is another talented horse but often finds trouble in big fields when coming with a late surge in the hands of Jamie Spencer.
Current favourite Dark Shift was very impressive in the Royal Hunt Cup, but has gone up 6lbs for that win and returns over a shorter trip of 7f here.
Chiefofchiefs 12/1 – Charlie Fellowes, Colin Keane
Another likable gelding to consider from an each-way perspective, running off the same mark as when fourth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes last time out.
He did disappoint at Ascot prior to that run, but is capable of putting in a good performance and has plenty of experience.
Colin Keane takes the ride aboard Charlie Fellowes’ nine-year-old, who wears a visor.
The yard is currently performing at a 43% strike rate in the past two weeks, and their good form could continue tomorrow.
3.35 – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)
Westover 6/4 – Ralph Beckett, Colin Keane
The Frankel colt has impressed this season, and earned a well-deserved Classic success at the Curragh last month in winning the Irish Derby.
Earlier in June he appeared at the Epsom Derby where he looked to be travelling nicely before the gaps closed ahead of him in the closing stages.
He unable to mount a challenge early enough to trouble eventual winner Desert Crown, and many perceived him to be desperately unlikely
It’s difficult to speculate how close he would have been to Sir Michael Stoute’s unbeaten colt who did ease down when approaching the line, however he certainly would have been closer as he finished strongly, showing an electric turn of foot.
His ability to instantly quicken with such effectiveness was seen at the Curragh when he gained his first Group One success.
He receives three-year-old allowance here, as does filly Emily Upjohn who receives an extra 3lbs from her male rivals.
John and Thady Gosden’s filly has it to prove in such a competitive race, but could be dangerous and may well turn out to be a top class horse.
Mishriff’s run in the Eclipse was impressive, but he gives 11lbs to Westover and also runs over a trip that is possibly slightly further than ideal for him.
The Arc winner, Torruator Tasso, appeared at a big price earlier in the week when 14/1 and has since shortened to 10/1.
He must be respected for his successes to date, but may prefer more give in the ground and is being primed for Longchamp in October.
Broome and Pyledriver are both talented horses and are both course and distance winners.
However, they’re likely to find the task slightly too difficult on this occasion in such a classy field.
York
2:05 – “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap (Class 4)
Soul Seeker 14/1 (EW – 5 places, 12/1 – 6 places) – David O’Meara, Sean Bowen
Whilst this is a tough race to predict, a mention should be given to last year’s winner, Soul Seeker, who is rated 8lbs lower this time out.
He has been performing well below his best this season, but this may be a more workable mark and he has likely been tuned for this once again.
Improvement is needed, but he possesses plenty of ability and it would be no shock to see him make the frame.
2.40 – Class 2 Handicap
Gale Force Maya 9/1 – Michael Dods, Connor Beasley
It hasn’t quite worked out for her in black-type races this season, but she sets the standard at this lower level.
When last seen she finished a good third in a Group Three at York.
The winner there, Flotus, who received 6lbs from Gale Force Maya, had previously finished third in the Commonwealth Cup, and also finished second to William Haggas’ impressive filly Sense Of Duty earlier in the season.
Teresa Mendoza finished fourth in that York race, following on from a Listed win ahead of some nice horses at the Curragh.
In this contest, despite carrying top-weight along with MONDAAMEJ (10/1 – second choice), Gale Force Maya will be tough to beat and should be competitive.
3.15 – York Stakes (Group 2)
Claymore 2/1 – Jane Chapple-Hyam, David Egan
He was an extremely generous price in such a small field when he beat odds-on favourite Reach For The Moon to gain success in the Hampton Court Stakes at last month’s Royal Meeting.
Earlier on in the season he didn’t quite reach the top level, well beaten by Native Trail before failing But he excelled over this trip at Royal Ascot, putting in an impressive performance from the front, and he should be able to put in another good showing in this Group Two contest.
He also receives the three-year-old allowance which could make all the difference.
Interestingly Sir Busker attempts 1m2f for the first time as a six-year-old.
He has been meeting Baaeed quite often over the mile trip, and connections were perhaps running out of options at the top level in that division.
He often stays on fairly well in his races, so it’ll be fascinating to see how he handles the extra distance.
By Katie Midwinter (22/07/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 