The 2023 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Group 1 looks an absolute thriller, with a fascinating clash of the generations and you could end up writing about every runner in the field, such is the quality of this renewal, which could turn out to be the race of the flat season. The three-year-olds Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel (see below) are right there, whilst the older runners like Emily Upjohn, Hukum and the 2022 winner Pyledriver all add to the anticipation.

It will be a very interesting race tactically as who decides to front run on this occasion, and we can’t wait!

Enjoy whether at Ascot or watching #athome on ITV Racing.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

2.25 Ascot – Longines Valiant Stakes Group 3 (1m)  

Zenga was marked up in my Unibet blog on seasonal debut when a good seventh in the Kensington Palace at Royal Ascot after not getting a clear run. She was then short of room on her latest appearance and then there was plenty to like about the way she travelled in the latter stages in that Listed race at Pontefract. Zenga shouldn’t be ignored on her return to Ascot if she can find a smooth passage this time around.

Unibet 11/1 each way

2.40 York – Dash Handicap (6f)

Lucky Man has had only two starts this season and looked badly in need of the run here at York but looked on the way back at Ascot earlier this month before fading late on . His form figures at York last season were 2215, and with a bit of cut conditions are probably ideal.  Lucky Man is well drawn in the middle in stall 9 and if coming on again fitness-wise, he should be on the premises for each way players.

Unibet 11/1 each way

3.00 Ascot – Moët & Chandon International Stakes Heritage Handicap (7f)

Biggles won the Bunbury Cup at the July Festival with ease, so the 3lb penalty he picks up for that is neither here nor there. The ground will suit him, and he clearly goes well at Ascot, as he was second here in May over this distance ahead of being sent off favourite in the Buckingham Palace when finishing unplaced after not getting the best of the draw. Biggles looks a blindingly obvious one to follow up, with stall 6 the only possibly negative as there have been only two single-figure drawn winners in the last ten renewals.

Unibet 4/1

Escobar has never found small fields to be his thing, so it is very easy put a line through his first three runs this season and he was never put in the race at Sandown last time after finding early trouble. All of that means he’s now back to a mark of 107, which is what he won the Challenge Cup Handicap here off last October and all in all it looks something of a plan. He will love a bit of cut, looks ideally drawn in stall 14 and he has a tremendous record in this big field handicaps at the Berkshire course.

Unibet 14/1 each way

Hickory is worth a small each way wager at a big price on his first appearance at Ascot if you ignore his last run and take note of his good performance to finish second to Cruyff Turn at Redcar on his previous start. He has won on good to soft.

Unibet 50/1 each way

3.40 Ascot – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Group 1 (1m 4f)

King Of Steel (nap) is not only a striking individual, he is a huge bull of a horse, who to his credit, has been able to operate on quick ground on his last two starts, and so well too. He looked the Derby winner until fitness told on his first appearance of 2023, and then cruised up in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, when actually showing a really good turn of foot. He seems to have all the gears and promises to be better again now he has softer ground. King Of Steel is all about more progression and he will take what looks like an absolutely thrilling King George VI.

Unibet 7/2