King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes preview: Horse-by-horse guide and tips

Auguste Rodin

His ability to throw in the odd stinker is well-documented as he did in this very race last season when barely raising a gallop.

However, his last two runs have been solid, including a battling Prince Of Wales’s Stakes success at the Royal meeting. Connections feel positive tactics are key, along with quick ground, and he should get both at the weekend. The trip isn’t a problem, albeit it will be the first time he’s been ridden positively at it, and he looks the most likely winner. But do you want to be taking 6/5 about him?

Continuous

Interesting middle-distance project for his team and was entitled to need his return in the Hardwicke when looking rusty in fifth behind Isle Of Jura. Clearly all the Ballydoyle eyes are on Auguste Rodin but it will be fascinating to see where this colt turns up next.

His St Leger win and Arc fifth were performances that would put him right in the mix on Saturday, and if operating at that sort of level he's is a danger to most of the mile-and-a-half performers around right now.

Dubai Honour

Very smart globetrotter who snared the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time with a tenacious display. On Timeform ratings he has about five or six pounds to find with the very best of these but if they underperform, the door could just swing open for him.

Goliath

French raider who looked better than ever when third in the Hardwicke last time but was still beaten nearly four lengths by Isle Of Jura and another personal best is required to get into the shake-up on Saturday.

Hans Andersen

Did the donkey work up front for City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse and the same role awaits here as he sets the fractions for the 2023 Derby winner. He’ll lead them to the home turn.

Luxembourg

Had the run of the race when winning the Coronation Cup but is a teak-tough, proven Group One performer. He looks to be in here in case anything goes wrong with the favourite – and he’d be a very able substitute if it did, or a big rival if both happen to run.

Middle Earth

Touched off King Of Conquest in the Aston Park on his return and things didn’t fall his way in the Hardwicke next time. He’s better than that, but whether he’s quick enough to win a King George might be another matter.

Point Lonsdale

Another member of team Ballydoyle but would behind Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Continuous on ratings and you presume the pecking order. Has two lengths to find on Dubai Honour on their Saint-Cloud run too.

Rebel’s Romance

Remarkable globetrotter who has won his last four races at Kempton, Doha, Meydan and Sha Tin.

If operating at the same level on his return to UK action then he’s a danger to the market leader but you have to go back to the summer of 2022 and Goodwood and Newmarket defeats of stablemate Kemari for his last sightings on turf over here.

Bluestocking

Has returned better than ever this season, impressing in the Middleton at York and then reeling-in Emily Upjohn having conceded first run in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh.

Her very best weight-adjusted Timeform performances put her just shy of a peak Auguste Rodin at this stage. But she’s unexposed at a mile-and-a-half, in the form of her life and well worth a roll of the dice. Connections will leave it late before deciding whether to run here or the Nassau next week. I'm hoping they're ready to make the bold call.

Sunway

Landed the Group One Criterium International on his final start at two and while yet to taste victory this season, did run a cracker to chase home Los Angeles in the Irish Derby last time.

We need a three-year-old representative and he’s the one but he's going to need to come forward again to strike a blow for the Classic generation.

CONCLUSION:

A race that revolves around both the Ballydoyle running plans and whether Auguste Rodin is on his A-game. If he is he should just about get the job done and there was the suspicion he had petrol left in the tank should anything have come at him a little harder late on in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

But this is the first time he’s going to go forward at this trip which is a new dimension and, at the prices, the percentage call has to be to look elsewhere.

Stablemate Luxembourg is rock-solid but will he run? Continuous is capable of making a mark in this company but the same question applies, while Godolphin runner Rebel’s Romance needs to produce the very best of his Middle Eastern and Hong Kong form on his first run back in Britain.

The best bet looks to be BLUESTOCKING who didn’t get the credit she deserved for cutting down Emily Upjohn in Ireland last time and arrives here right at the top of her game. She’s gone well over course-and-distance before and looks sure to run her race at the very least.

If the top two in the market fall just short of their very best, she’s there to pick up the pieces and a good season for trainer Ralph Beckett may be just about to become a great one.

Published at 1340 BST on 22/07/24

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