Britain’s top middle distance Group 1 occurs on Saturday, with six going to post for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Six more races from that track and York are all set to be broadcast live on ITV and we have selections in each one below.
Lezoo (1.50 Ascot)
This race is either a punter’s nightmare or joy, as it is deeply intriguing, but veiled in mystery in terms of some its main competitors.
All of Glenlaurel, Kinta, Palm Lily and Royal Charter could be anything based on their winning exploits in maiden and novice company, while Minnetonka and Omniqueen seek to bounce back from disappointing efforts in Group company. However, while all of those represent each-way options whoever you favour most, the worthy favourite is undoubtedly LEZOO.
Frankie Dettori’s period in the doldrums between the bizarre Gosden will-they-won’t-they coincided with the ride on this filly in the Listed Empress Fillies’ Stakes on the July Course at Newmarket. She won well that day in a packed lineup (Minnetonka in behind), while she was far from disgraced when a narrow runner-up to Mawj in a Group 2 over that same track and trip.
She looks to be a Group quality filly and though there is potential aplenty in this field, she will take some beating.
Birkenhead (2.05 York)
Known as the “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe”, this 5f handicap allows weights up to 11st 12lb to allow for all National Hunt riders the option to take part.
As a result, traditional form is not the be all and end all. A key statistic to follow may be that three of the four winners of the race have carried 11st 1lb or under, perhaps unsurprising given the weights these sprinters would usually carry.
That rules out the top 13 in the handicap for this renewal and leaves us with seven others. Eeh Bah Gum is the shortest-priced, but is not certain to be well treated and BIRKENHEAD represents Paul Midgeley, who has won two of the four runnings of this race.
The Yorkshire handler has five in this year’s race too, but it is Jonathan England’s mount who gets the verdict. He was first past the post twice in May and maintained his form with a placed effort at Thirsk the following month.
He was down the field at Musselburgh last time, but was hampered early on and a mark of 67 is not harsh based on his Catterick victory four starts ago.
Novemba (2.25 Ascot)
There are plenty of three-year-olds with potential in this field, but the market may have underestimated German raider NOVEMBA, who could ensure success for the nation before Arc winner Torquator Tasso has even been sighted in the grounds.
Peter Schiergen’s filly is one of only three older horses in the race, but she is a class act on her day. She won the German 1000 Guineas by 7½ lengths last term and ran a stormer to be fourth to Alcohol Free, beaten only 2¼ lengths in the Coronation Stakes a month later.
Her best effort may have come in open company last season, when third to Real World in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp. A repeat of that effort in this field would see her go close, while her fourth to Saffron Beach at Royal Ascot last time out was another in a string of decent efforts.
She should have enough early pace to beat Snooze N You Lose to the lead and from then on it will be catch me if you can. Zanbaq’s second in the 28-runner Sandringham handicap was a great run and makes her the leading danger, but the form has been knocked since.
Nomadic Empire (2.40 York)
This tends to be a race won by horses with previous course and distance form, so while NOMADIC EMPIRE has a bit to prove on recent runs, he looks too big a price.
David O’Meara won this two years ago with Muscika, who had been second over track and trip just eight days before claiming this, though this four-year-old has already won over 6f at York before. He did so in September of last year, backing up a success at Leicester on his previous start, before finishing fourth of 21 in the Coral Sprint Trophy, once more showing his liking for the Knavesmire.
This season has not worked out as smoothly, but his mark has been declining. He opened 2022 with a very decent effort to be third at Ripon and his underwhelming effort at this venue in May was likely down to the ground having cut up more than the official “good” going suggested.
In the meantime, he has dropped 6lb to a mark of 97, 2lb below his last winning one at this track. That entitles him to respect at what is an outsider’s price.
Dark Shift (3.00 Ascot)
The incredibly consistent Jumby will probably win a handicap like this at some point, but it’s a slight concern that cheek pieces go on for the first time.
Similarly, Bless Him has only gone up 1lb for having beaten Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge on the July course last time. He is somewhat enigmatic though and cannot be truly trusted to go in again so quickly, unlike the in-form DARK SHIFT, who is preferred.
Charlie Hills’ four-year-old has a tremendous career strike rate with six wins in 11 starts. Four of those have come in the last five, his only defeat coming over course and distance after a layoff.
He can be forgiven that though, especially as he now has four wins at this venue, including at the royal meeting last time out. That win in the Royal Hunt Cup was achieved under a very confident ride by James McDonald and a 6lb rise could prove absurdly generous given how progressive he has been.
That race looked a strong one, with plenty of depth in the 29-runner field. Dark Shift ultimately looks like Group races will be calling sooner rather than later.
Claymore (3.15 York)
A pair of Dubai’s take on CLAYMORE in the Group 2 York Stakes, but the younger horse looks primed to best them both.
Both of his main rivals are respected, however. Dubai Honour was runner-up in the Champion Stakes last October and clearly has a lot of ability. That said, soft ground looks more to his liking and he still has something to prove on a quicker surface in Group company.
Dubai Future, meanwhile, won very well at Royal Ascot in the Listed Wolferton Stakes, though that form may not turn out to be as pretty as it initially looked. Conversely, Claymore’s defeat of the Queen’s Reach For The Moon may only look stronger with time.
The son of New Bay may have been last in the French 2000 Guineas, but in three runs in England, the only horse to have beaten him is Native Trail. He is another front-runner who should be able to dictate things and he gets 9lb from his key rivals.
Westover (3.35 Ascot)
Mishriff is a true champion and versatile enough to be at his best at both 1m2f and 1m4f. However, as was proven by his defeat to Adayar in this race a year ago, he will be vulnerable here if a high-class three-year-old shows up.
That issue is further complicated by the chance that two such horses from the Classic generation have been declared here. The filly Emily Upjohn should be an Oaks winner, but is clearly powerful enough to make her presence felt here, though it is Irish Derby winner WESTOVER who could one-up the Gosden pair.
His passage at Epsom included many detours which Rob Hornby could not navigate quickly enough. He still managed to finish third to Desert Crown and could have given that potential superstar a fright with a clearer run.
Instead, he gained compensation when Hornby was replaced by Colin Keane, who keeps the ride here, at the Curragh. Though his main opposition disappointed in the form of Oaks winner Tuesday, he was still a peerless winner of the Irish Classic by seven lengths.
Keane’s record at Ascot has been negatively advertised in recent weeks, but this horse should end that particular curse. Arc winner Torquator Tasso should not be forgotten about either and may be better on good ground than many believe. His connections will still be praying for rain though.
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