Today’s TV races
Predicting the tactics to be employed by Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore is a hazardous business but today’s King George & Queen Elizabeth II Stakes looks a good opportunity for them and for Highland Reel (4.30). Although he has not made the running in his last two starts, he has done so in the past and might easily be granted a soft-lead in this small field, which lacks an obvious pace-setter.
Fast-ground middle-distance races like this are made for Highland Reel, as he proved in landing the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, the Secretariat Stakes in the US and the Hong Kong Vase last year. This year has not been so fruitful. He probably needed his Dubai reappearance and then ran miles below form in Hong Kong in April for some reason.
You could worry about his apparent unwillingness to battle with Dartmouth at Royal Ascot but, after further review, I’m inclined to see the positives. That was a return to something like his best and he would probably have won, had Seamie Heffernan not dropped his whip a furlong out. Given the way Dartmouth carried him across the track, that must count as a game effort and he was just starting to put his head down and go forward as the line arrived.
However this race pans out, he must be fancied to turn that form around, especially with Ryan Moore returning to the saddle. Wings Of Desire is respected in receipt of 12lb but could do with a strong early pace, which seems unlikely. The French raider Erupt is worth plenty of respect, despite his year-long losing run.
2.45 Ascot The Princess Margaret could provide Frankel with his first Group-race success as a sire, through Fair Eva. The daughter of top-class sprinter African Rose, she was most impressive on her Haydock debut and ought to have made a bit of progress since that debut in early June.
3.00 York A different horse this year and three times a winner from four starts, Swift Approval seems to have been turned around by cheekpieces. Entered in Group Ones as a juvenile, he is now making good on the early promise he showed and a 4lb hike for his Silver Bunbury Cup success may not be enough to halt his run.
3.20 Ascot With seven wins at a 30% strike-rate in the past fortnight, Hughie Morrison is in blazing form and his Pirouette could extend her unbeaten record for the year to three. She travelled smoothly and quickened well at Doncaster last time and a 5lb rise underestimates her. A couple of her siblings were rated a fair bit higher than the mark she has here.
3.35 York He will be long odds-on but it is hard to see past Time Test, since he is Group One class on fast ground at this distance but meets lesser rivals at level weights. Air Pilot really needs more cut in the ground. Mahsoob and Mondialiste have it in them to be troublesome but neither is as reliable a proposition as the favourite.
3.55 Ascot Well backed for the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, Librisa Breeze ran a stormer from what looked like the wrong part of the starting stalls, given the way the race worked out. He was beaten only by a Group-quality rival and still seems well treated with another 3lb to carry. Scottish Glen might be an each-way play at 50-1, having won twice at this course in previous Julys. He is high in the handicap these days but went down by just half a length last time.
4.10 York It may be worth forgiving Judicial for his Musselburgh flop last time, when he lost all chance by rearing as the stalls opened. Before that, he was three from four on turf. He looks ready for this step up in trip.
