July 26 / 16.10 Ascot

16.10

Good

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £850650
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 22-221 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
High-class French gelding who acts on any ground; arguably outbattled by Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup but went down by only half a length and subsequently stretched out well in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, taking his record since racing at Group 1 level to 22221 and overall strike-rate to 5-11; impressive in last year's King Edward VII Stakes in sole C&D attempt; holds rock-solid and leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(7)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Calandagan

9st 7lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

French gelding who has a record of 222211 since upped to Group 1 level, latest win coming in the King George at Ascot (1m4f, good); went down by only half a length when favourite for this race 12 months ago (soft) on last 1m2f attempt; major contender, especially if getting a strong pace to aim at.

5/2

1

(4)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Calandagan

9st 9lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: F-H Graffard

High-class French gelding who acts on any ground; arguably outbattled by Jan Brueghel in the Coronation Cup but went down by only half a length and subsequently stretched out well in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, taking his record since racing at Group 1 level to 22221 and overall strike-rate to 5-11; impressive in last year's King Edward VII Stakes in sole C&D attempt; holds rock-solid and leading claims.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 395948 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won the St Leger and fifth in the Arc in 2023 but has failed to repeat the form since and is reduced to pacemaking duties these days; as in the Coronation Cup two starts ago, looks set to cut out the fractions for stablemate Jan Brueghel before eventually being swallowed up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Continuous

9st 9lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Won the St Leger and fifth in the Arc in 2023 but has failed to repeat the form since and is reduced to pacemaking duties these days; as in the Coronation Cup two starts ago, looks set to cut out the fractions for stablemate Jan Brueghel before eventually being swallowed up.

125/1

8th

3

(7)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

2023 was his heyday, when winning the St Leger and fifth in the Arc; career has taken some disappointing turns since last autumn and he could be set for a front-running role at a big price today, as on his last two starts.

100/1

4

(4)

6th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Continuous

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Ended his 2023 campaign with a success in the St Leger and good effort in the Arc; modest strike-rate since and has become inconsistent too; possibly in here as pacemaker for stablemate Jan Brueghel.

66/1

Form: 111-21 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Ballydoyle colt and son of 2001 King George winner Galileo; record suggests he won't mind what the weather does; sometimes sweats, including in both starts this term, and looked a difficult ride on reappearance; bounced back in the Coronation Cup at Epsom where he knuckled down well to beat Calandagan, taking form figures to 111121 and Group 1 score to 2-2 (gained the other win in last year's St Leger); has very progressive RPRs in the main; highly respected, assuming he takes well to first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Jan Brueghel

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Underperformed in the King George on last appearance, having set a pace that perhaps wasn't strong enough given his proven stamina (St Leger winner); cheekpieces worn that day are now removed; mostly progressive otherwise, still has a good strike-rate (5-7) and showed tip-top form to beat Calandagan in the 2025 Coronation Cup at Epsom; the pick on ratings, accordingly.

6/5

3

(2)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Jan Brueghel

9st 9lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ballydoyle colt and son of 2001 King George winner Galileo; record suggests he won't mind what the weather does; sometimes sweats, including in both starts this term, and looked a difficult ride on reappearance; bounced back in the Coronation Cup at Epsom where he knuckled down well to beat Calandagan, taking form figures to 111121 and Group 1 score to 2-2 (gained the other win in last year's St Leger); has very progressive RPRs in the main; highly respected, assuming he takes well to first-time headgear.

7/4

Form: 1-1411 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Glorious globetrotter whose Group/Grade 1 record is 7-11 and overall strike-rate is 18-26; has done his winning at a lower level this year, mostly recently in the Hardwicke (Group 2) at Royal Ascot; thoroughly admirable and had an excuse (raced closer to the strong pace than ideal) when about 5l third in this race 12 months ago but he's a 7yo now and no horse older than six has won the King George.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(1)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

16:10 Ascot

Rebels Romance

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Glorious globetrotter whose Group/Grade 1 record is 7-11 and overall strike-rate is 18-26; has done his winning at a lower level this year, mostly recently in the Hardwicke (Group 2) at Royal Ascot; thoroughly admirable and had an excuse (raced closer to the strong pace than ideal) when about 5l third in this race 12 months ago but he's a 7yo now and no horse older than six has won the King George.

9/2

1st

9

(11)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Rebels Romance

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Globetrotter who won 1m4f Group/Grade 1 races in Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany and the US last year; not at his very best when beating Epic Poet by a head in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup at York (good to firm) last month but that was 1m6f and he was conceding 5lb to the winner (level weights today); leading contender if at the top of his game now back down to 1m4f.

5/2

1st

1

(2)

16th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Rebels Romance

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

High-class 1m4f performer with a fine strike-rate and he's been all around the world; big question is the trip as this 7yo is unraced beyond 1m4f and takes on proven stayers, but he stays that shorter trip well.

11/10

Form: 111-32 CD BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Juddmonte filly who is a solid operator and has form figures of 12123111 in British races, most recently landing a Group 1 prize against her own sex at Ascot (11.5f, soft, inner course) on Champions Day last October; creditable placed efforts in a couple of top-level Curragh contests at about 1m2f on good ground this term; could well resume her progress back up in distance, being 3-4 over 1m3f-1m4f, and returned to this venue; receives 3lb allowance and remains of strong interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Kalpana

9st 6lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Had excellent campaigns in 2024 and 2025, both of which ended with Group 1 success in good style against her own sex on Champions Day at Ascot; she also started last season with a big run in an Irish Group 1 and was an excellent second in the King George at Ascot in July; wore cheekpieces last two starts; concedes 4lb to male rivals today but probably still the one to beat.

10/11

1st

3

(7)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

14:45 Ascot

Kalpana

9st 7lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Rounded off her excellent 2024 campaign with a stylish victory in this race (soft); no win this term but that includes an excellent second in the King George over C&D (good) in July and she was not discredited when seventh in the Arc at Longchamp in first-time headgear 13 days ago; the one to beat if returning to her King George best.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.70
Straight Forecast £9.24
Trifecta £15.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Calandagan

SPOTLIGHT:

Kalpana

TOPSPEED:

Jan Brueghel

NEWMARKET:

Rebel's Romance

LAMBOURN:

Kalpana

Daily Record:

Kalpana

POSTDATA:

Calandagan

The Times:

Calandagan

Telegraph:

Calandagan

Daily Mail:

Calandagan

The Sun:

Calandagan

Daily Mirror:

Jan Brueghel

The Star:

Jan Brueghel

The Guardian:

Rebel's Romance

D Express:

Rebel's Romance