William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Ascot’s King George card and the day’s action from York.
Ascot, Saturday
MIDNIGHT TANGO is fancied to run really well in the TV opener at Ascot on King George Day, the Princess Margaret Stakes (1.40). And she’s a big enough price to make her a strong each way bet. She has some very smart Royal Ascot form to beat in the shape of the front three in the market, but she might be open to a great deal more improvement. Her first run in stakes company was a race she should have won, but for being too far back. She should switch off better granted a more even pace, and this stiffer six should be much more to her liking.
LOU LOU’S GIFT is a slightly chancy proposition in the Valiant Stakes (2.20), but I’m convinced she’s better than she’s been able to show so far. She has been too buzzy, despite her good form, but looked to race much more kindly on her fair comeback, which has given connections the confidence to run her at a mile, which is where her pedigree and stride say she should naturally be. The front of the market looks a bit ropey, and she needs only a slight step forward to get involved.
CLASSIC might just do the unthinkable and win two good races on the bounce in the International (3.00). There aren’t many unexposed in here, and the selection looked a revelation under a smart change of tactics at Sandown. Those front running heroics are harder to execute here, but surely the drop in distance will help him – indeed, it could be another inspired move from connections. One sure thing is that his mark does not flatter him.
MYTHICAL GUEST is a spicy each way shout in the mile handicap (3.35). With Warren Fentiman’s claim, he has a huge pull with favourite Bullet Point from their running earlier in the year, and he has largely been running very creditably since, including when a bit unlucky here last time. Both his runs here have been outstanding, and the handicapper has consented to drop him for an excellent run.
CALANDAGAN can win the King George at a track where he’s turned on the style more than once before (4.10). Jan Brueghel drew him into what Aidan O’Brien described as a “brawl” on soft ground at Epsom, but Barzalona is likely to sit chillier for longer here, something that will surely be easier given that Brueghel has the ultimate brawler in Rebel’s Romance to worry about as well. The selection might just be able to sit hard on the bridle for an awful long time.
York, Saturday
CABURN looks quite interesting to be among the places in the Dash at York (2.00). He’s almost certainly a sprinter, and didn’t get home at Royal Ascot last time. With a trainer switch and a drop in distance, there’s every chance he could recapture some of last year’s best efforts, which included a fine performance in the Gimcrack here.
STANHOPE GARDENS might look a bit of value to upset favourite Almaqam in the York Stakes (2.40). He was rushed to the Derby, where he ran very well despite a patent lack of stamina for twelve furlongs in the mud. Nicely freshened since, these conditions should be just about ideal for him to get back on track, particularly with his stable looking as though it his about to hit some real form. The favourite has been cautiously campaigned, and has an awful lot in his favour, but his price may owe a bit too much to a literal interpretation of a defeat of Ombudsman.
WEN MOON gets the nod in an impossible looking Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe (3.20). He has loads of form here, and has been running perfectly ok (despite a tumbling mark) on ground a bit too lively. A little more ease will help him a good bit, and he looks handicapped to run really well down in grade for a good outfit.
