THE 2024 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Group 1 is a quality renewal befitting of the status of this race. Although there is only one three-year-old in the field with Sunway, who clearly has a strong chance after his second to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby, there are with the older horses plenty of contenders, including the three-time Group 1 winner over this trip Auguste Rodin, who was very disappointing last year, stablemate Luxembourg, the six-year-old gelding Rebel’s Romance and my selection the filly Bluestocking. This is going to be some race.
Earlier, in the Moët & Chandon International Stakes Heritage Handicap over seven furlongs the remarkable ten-year-old Summerghand is having his 100th start of his career. He has won over £625,000 in prize money and he has finished in the first three on 38 occasions including 17 victories. He has always been with David O’Meara and made his career debut in May 2017!
Enjoy whether at Ascot or watching #athome on ITV Racing.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:50 Ascot – Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes Group 3 (6f)
Simmering was probably unlucky to bump into the flying machine that was Fairy Godmother in the Albany at Royal Ascot, and with the third and fourth home Heavens Gate and Mountain Breeze finishing second and third in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket a fortnight ago the form has been franked. For all there are potential improvers in the field, Simmering herself is open to another big step forward, and should be hard to beat.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
2:05 York – ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap (5f)
Bayraat caught the eye when not getting the best of runs behind The Coffee Pod here last time out, but ran on well once he found space, and shaped a lot better than a 4½ length defeat would suggest. Stall 3 would look an excellent place to work from, based on the 6f handicap here at the last meeting (first six home all low drawn) and Bayraat should be approaching peak fitness after two runs back this summer. There is plenty to like for each way players.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
2:25 Ascot – Longines Valiant Stakes Group 3 (1m)
Soprano was a good winner of the Sandringham Stakes here (on the straight course) at Royal Ascot and lost little in defeat on softer ground at Sandown in the Distaff last time, having to do a lot of late running after being held up in a race where it paid to be on the pace, with the winner Spiritual making all and second home Indelible always thereabouts. There is plenty to like about Soprano’s chances here, with the return to faster ground a plus and she will come with her customary late challenge to take this Group 3.
Unibet are BOOSTING the price of the favourite in this race!
3:00 Ascot – Moët & Chandon International Stakes Heritage Handicap (7f)
New Image is a four-year-old with a progressive profile who is having his ninth career start, which in 2024 has seen three wins from six starts and these include two successes over this trip, and he has not finished outside of the first four. On his last appearance in June at York, when unusually held up, he was third to Tolstoy (runs in 4.50) when he was switched right late on and could well have won with a smoother run.
New Image is having his first start at Ascot and the fact he could easily step up to a mile is always a plus on this course. He will be ridden much closer to the leaders this time and has a strong chance.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
Riot is a true seven-furlong specialist, who on his only other appearance at Ascot was third in the Buckingham Palace Stakes in 2021 to the brilliant and much missed Highfield Princess. This season he has been in good form with a success in May at York and at Doncaster in June, whilst on his most recent appearance in July he was a very unlucky fifth to Tolstoy (runs in 4.50) on the Knavesmire. On that occasion he was denied a clear run and made up ground late on in eye-catching style.
This seven-year-old clearly retains all his ability and can reward each way players at a big price.
3.40 Ascot – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes Group 1 (1m 4f)
Bluestocking (nap) secured her first Group 1 victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last time when coming from off the pace to beat Emily Upjohn over one mile two furlongs.
The way she was running on at the finish with plenty in hand that day showed that a return to this distance will only be to her benefit as she looks to make it three from three in 2024 after her seasonal debut success at York.
Bluestocking has moved up a level from her three-year-old career and she can do so again in this Group 1, achieving what Enable did three times and Taghrooda once in the last ten renewals.
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