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15:35 Ascot

Saturday 29 July 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 2m 36.22s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Desert Encounter^h²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: D M Simcock| OR: 114| BF| CD

33/1

Useful horse on his day and won a Listed race earlier in the season over C&D. Perhaps a little flattered by finishing third in the Eclipse last time though, benefiting from a strong pace that was on and this is tougher again.

Form: 132-123

(4)

Highland Reel³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 123| CD

9/2

Has been at his very best this season with wins in the Coronation Cup and the Prince of Wales's Stakes over 1m2f at the Royal meeting, taking his Group 1 winning total to six. Jury's out over whether he's better at 1m2f or this trip but he should get an easy enough lead and he will prove hard to peg back in his bid to land back-to-back renewals of this contest. The one to beat provided the ground doesn't get too soft.

Form: 212-711

(3)

Idaho³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| CD

8/1

Received a fine ride from this jockey to win the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over C&D last time out and sees this trip out better than most of his rivals but could get tapped for toe a little here. While Moore prefers Highland Reel, this colt is versatile conditions wise and he should be picking off his rivals come the finish. May just need them to go too fast on the front end.

Form: 21U5-61

(2)

Jack Hobbs^b³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 123| BF| D

11/2

Mercurial character and very hard to know when he's going to run his race. Effort in the Sheema Classic probably flatters him a little and questions to answer after finishing last at the Royal meeting behind Highland Reel after going off a short-priced favourite. Any rain would be in his favour.

Form: 13/P3-18

(10)

Maverick Wave³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: G Lee| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 102

100/1

Not won since landing a Group 3 at Chester back in 2015 but likely to be in here on pacemaking duties for owner's other runners and to make sure Highland Reel doesn't get too easy time of it on the front end. Work cut out from wide draw.

Form: 50200-4

(6)

My Dream Boat^p1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 114| C

16/1

Ran a little lazily on both his starts this season and clearly hasn't hit his best form again just yet. Clearly still retains his ability as he finished off his race in good style last time out and good chance the first-time cheekpieces could help. Interesting runner but probably needs genuine soft conditions to be seen at his best.

Form: 554-324

(8)

Ulysses²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 121| D

9/1

Seemingly still improving and won the Eclipse last time out, beating Barney Roy by a nose. Had a hard enough race that day and step up in trip perhaps a question mark here but clearly in the form of his life so can't be discounted in his bid for back-to-back Group 1 wins.

Form: 124-131

(5)

Sixties Song⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: G Mosse| T: A Dassie| D

33/1

Smart hold-up performer from South America who produced back-to-back Group 1s in Argentina and then Chile but it would be a surprise if he was up to winning this contest on UK debut and he would probably prefer faster ground.

Form: 1521-13

(1)

Benbatl^t³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 114| C

14/1

No match for Permian in the Dante when runner-up but finished ahead of that rival with a respectable fifth of 18 in the Derby. Career best effort to land a Group 3 here last time out but another big step forward required to land this contest back up in trip on softer ground than what would be ideal. Others preferred.

Form: 13251

(7)

Enable¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 120| D

5/4

Progressive filly who followed up a dominant impressive win in the Oaks with a facile success in the Irish Oaks earlier in the month. Not the strongest field in the latter but didn't have a hard race and gets both an age and sex allowance against the field here. Will no doubt find this tougher but should go close for a trainer who has won two of the last six renewals of this race.

Form: 1-3111

Forecasts

Enable (5/4), Highland Reel (9/2), Jack Hobbs (11/2), Idaho (8/1), Ulysses (9/1), Benbatl (14/1), My Dream Boat (16/1), Desert Encounter (33/1), Sixties Song (33/1), Maverick Wave (100/1)

Highly progressive filly Enable is bound to prove popular with punters after easy wins in both the Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks but she will find this tougher against more seasoned rivals such as HIGHLAND REEL. Aidan O'Brien's stable-star arrives in search of his seventh Group 1 win as well as his third Group 1 success on the trot. The five-year-old could well get an easy time of things on the front end and he's the pick of stable jockey Ryan Moore who passes over Idaho. The stablemate was impressive last time out and may not be done improving just yet himself; expect him to be picking off his rivals at the finish.