THE King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Group 1 headlines the Qipco King George Diamond Weekend and it is a fascinating renewal with an intriguing field of six. Mishriff ran a tremendous race in the Eclipse at Sandown, when finishing second to Vadeni, who was given a brilliant ride by Christophe Soumillon. Mishriff runs over two furlongs further here, with the question as to whether he can be so effective over this distance, as he was outstayed by Adayar last year. The Arc winner Torquator Tasso hasn’t run on ground this quick, and this is a concern, whilst the unlucky Epsom Derby third Westover won the Irish Derby easily and we know he stays. The two three-year-olds Westover and the filly Emily Upjohn are in receipt of eleven pounds and a stone respectively from their elders, giving them a great chance here.

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

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Ascot – Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes Group 3 (6f)

Lezoo has the form in the book plus the class to step up again and fend off the potential improvers. That’s going to make her hard to beat and given she really ought to have won the Duchess Of Cambridge at Royal Ascot last time (was carried off his line by the winner) she’s almost a Group winner without a penalty here.

Unibet 13/8 win

2.05 York – ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe Handicap (5f)

Secretinthepark is nearly a teenager but retains plenty of his speed and enthusiasm and does have a win at York to his name, so handles conditions fine. He bounced back to form on his latest start at Haydock, has a great draw in stall 3 to work from and a better chance than the market suggests with Rebecca Menzies yard in top form.

Unibet 25/1 each way

2.40 York – Dash Handicap (6f)

Ghathanfar has been in excellent form of late with two wins and two seconds in his last five starts. The only blip was his last run at Pontefract, which it is best to ignore, when slowly out of the gate and then having to run round the outside and instead look at his penultimate run at York when successful over five furlongs. Ghanthanfar won over this trip last month at Pontefract and is definitely worth an each way play.

Unibet 10/1 each way

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

Dark Shift was my Unibet nap when impressively winning the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and winners of that race have a good record here. Favourites have won the last two runnings and Danyah carried 9st 7lb in 2021, with Dark Shift carrying 9st 4lb here at a course where he has strong course form with four wins from six starts. Importantly Dark Shift has won over this distance when successful at Ascot in 2021 and this ground versatile type can make it a three-timer in 2022.

Unibet 9/2 win

Top Secret admittedly ran no race at all at Salisbury last time out when never going a yard after breaking slowly so you will have to forgive him that effort and there are good reasons to do so. Firstly, his Ascot record over this trip on good or better reads two runs and two wins and secondly, his first start of this season at Newbury, which saw him just pipped on the line by Muraad, with Sinjaari (won at Sandown next time out) back in third is strong form.  If the stands rail proves the place to be, then Top Secret has each way claims and Hayley Turner, who rides Ascot so well, is in the plate.

Unibet 40/1 each way 

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

Emily Upjohn (nap) is the fascinating contender, as this Sea The Stars filly could be open to significant improvement and with her allowance has a good chance to go one better than the Epsom Oaks. There are pointers potentially against her in that she was meant to be running in the Irish Oaks last Saturday, where she was a short price to beat the winner Magical Lagoon but a bird strike grounded her plane. In the Epsom Oaks she was an unlucky second to Tuesday after a poor start and then having to run much wider to make her challenge. Admittedly, the form of the Oaks hasn’t worked out well but with a clear run Emily Upjohn would have won the Oaks and she clearly stays this distance. Take a look at the rerun of the Musidora at York to see how comfortably she won this Oaks trial and how like at Epsom there is much to like about her attitude. Emily Upjohn has all the credentials to run a big race.

Unibet 5/2 win