Ascot - 27th July

King George day is one of my favourite dates in the Flat calender. Not just because of the big Ascot showdown but also because you know that Glorious Goodwood and York are around the corner and even if the season isn't going that well the Jumps are approaching from a distance.

I backed Ektihaam each way for the big race not long after he slipped and unseated his jockey in the Hardwicke Stakes over course and distance at the Royal Meeting. He'd have won impressively that day if his previous form in front of eventual winner Thomas Chippendale is any guide and this is a horse who has made some strides this season yet still seems underrated. He wasn't far behind Al Kazeem first time out and left that form behind when stepped up in trip in a listed race also at Ascot next time up. That wasn't a fantastic race but he really impressed me that day and he remains relatively unexposed at 12f. His regular pilot has decided to ride Eclipse runner-up Mukhadram in the Group 2 at York instead of the selection and that has kept his price honest. I don't factor jockey choices into my betting.

Crack French Gelding Cirrus Des Aigles is naturally by far the most likely of the contest but he's seven now and was lacklustre last time out. I don't think he's one to oppose lightly but I would think he is more likely to put in a poorish effort than St Nicholas Abbey was. Unfortunately that animal's career is now over. Hopefully he'll make a full recovery and go onto stud.

I'm not overly fond of any of the other runners in the race. Trading Leather won a poor Irish Derby and I'm unconvinced he'll stay 12f fully against battle hardened older horses. Novellist will need rain and is overrated for his win in the race CDA debuted in at Saint-Cloud and Hillstar beat a non staying Battle of Marengo over course and distance last time out (form let down by the same horse since) and he shouldn't be shorter in the market than Ektihaam - who I do believe is the main danger to the favourite.


King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes:
Ektihaam £20ew @ 12/1 and £20w @ 8/1 (lost)

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