King George Preview

Saturdays mid-summer racing showpiece the King George VI at Ascot sees 8 runners go to post following the unfortunate career ending injury suffered by St Nicholas Abbey.  Although the race may have lost some of its lustre as the international racing season has expanded in recent years this weekend’s renewal is a cracker.

Cirrus Des Aigles heads the market and is most known in the UK as being the horse who gave Frankel a fright on his last run in the Champion stakes over 10f here last year. Officially rated the best horse in the world he needed his re-appearance run  (never won first time out in six attempts) and his best form entitles him to be a short priced fav. Current 6-4 quotes look short enough to me but watch out for price wars in the morning and bigger prices being offered.

Trading Leather is next on the betting and as Jim Bolgers number two this year behind Dawn Approach and he gained his big win in the Irish Derby at the Curragh. He has been campaigned in big races his whole career which contrast with the Sir Michael Stoute rapid improver Hillstar. After getting beat in two ten furlong handicaps he relished the step up in trip winning the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and connections have paid £75k to supplement him for this race.  It is hardly the ideal King George winning profile but must be respected.

Novelist, the German raider, beat Cirrus Des Aigles last time out in the Grand Prix De Saint Cloud and is my idea of the best value in the race. Under excellent big race jockey Johnny Murtagh he can  reward each way support at 11-2. Like a lot of German horses that run on these shores he can often be under rated by the market.

I would not like to see the Mark Johnston trained Universal go unbacked at a large looking 20-1 and advise a smaller each way bet on him too.  He has won four of his last 5 races and although the step up to Group 1 company may be a bridge too far he is in the form of his life.

1pt e/w NOVELLIST 11-2

0.5pt e/w UNIVERSAL 20-1