17:35 Royal Ascot

Thursday 17 June 2021

All14:3015:0515:4016:1517:0017:3518:10

King George V Stakes (Handicap)

Off time: 17:38 | Winning time: 2m 32.39s

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Selected odds by:

(11)

Sir Lamorak⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 100

4/1

Fast improving son of Camelot who really impressed when emphatic winner of 1¼m Leopardstown handicap in April, forging clear last 1f. Has more to offer.

Form: 54-11

(10)

Siskany²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 96

15/2

Progressive type who won a pair of novices (beat Surefire at Windsor second occasion) before scoring comfortably on 1¼m Sandown handicap debut last month. Should stay 1½m. Smart prospect.

Form: 51-11

(2)

Nagano²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 94

12/1

Has made a good start to his career, winning 1¼m novices at Nottingham (good to soft) and Newcastle last month. Should benefit from 1½m. Interesting contender.

Form: 311

(14)

Act Of Wisdom^p⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 92

25/1

Winner of 3 of his 4 starts as a juvenile. Shaped as if possibly needing the run when fifth of 8 in 1¼m Newmarket handicap on return in April. First attempt at 1½m. Others look more progressive.

Form: 6111-5

(13)

Francesco Guardi⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 91

100/1

Winning debut at Salisbury last summer and third in Newbury listed next time. Took keen when fifth of 6 in 1¼m Newmarket handicap on reappearance. Not certain to benefit from 1½m. Others more obvious.

Form: 134-5

(6)

Just Fine⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 91

28/1

Sandown debut winner last September and good third in 1m York nursery on final 2-y-o start. Possible excuses when last of 8 on 1¼m Newmarket return and retains potential.

Form: 413-8

(8)

Marshall Plan^t1⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90| BF| D

16/1

All 3 starts on AW, scoring over 1½m at Wolverhampton in March. No disgrace in being unable to concede 7 lb to Mandoob at Lingfield latest as that one won again at Haydock recently. Tongue tie added.

Form: 312

(9)

Kondo Isami¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90| BF| D

17/2

Progressive sort who displayed a good attitude to see off a subsequent winner on York return. Another good run when narrowly denied at Doncaster since. More to come for yard which does well in this.

Form: 231-12

(16)

Sir William Bruce³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 90| D

22/1

Came good at the fourth time of asking when posting a useful effort to score on 1½m Leopardstown handicap debut last month. Surprise if he's reached his limit given who trains him.

Form: 42-81

(7)

First Light³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 90

17/2

Left his 2 placed efforts on AW behind when scoring by a wide margin over 1¼m on heavy at Ripon last time. Bred to be suited by 1½m and opening handicap mark could prove lenient.

Form: 2-31

(22)

Too Friendly^p1⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 88

40/1

Looked useful prospect when seeing off some promising sorts in 1¼m Doncaster maiden in March. Not up to Epsom listed subsequently but retains potential for handicaps. Cheekpieces on. Drawn widest.

Form: 3-216

(5)

San Martino¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: W M Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 88

100/1

Fairly useful performer who won a Killarney maiden last year. Good second of 7 in 7f Listowel conditions event 12 days ago. Up significantly in trip. Yard has other stronger contenders.

Form: 237-692

(15)

Military Mission^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 88| BF

18/1

Improved when opening account at fifth time of asking in novice at Salisbury (1¼m, soft) last month. Just as good when second in Chester handicap since but some of today's rivals more progressive.

Form: 234-212

(21)

Parachute⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 88| D

16/1

Made it 2 wins from 5 career starts when winning a small-field event over this trip at Newmarket (good to firm) last month. Has the scope for further progress. Draw awkward, though.

Form: 821-31

(17)

Surefire¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Hector Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 82

5/1

Chased home Siskany on 1¼m Windsor reappearance and improved again to make a successful handicap over that same trip at Leicester last week. 1½m looks sure to suit. Big player under 6 lb penalty.

Form: 91-21

(3)

Soapy Stevens⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 81| D

20/1

Winner of handicaps at Chester (1½m) and Haydock (1¾m) in recent weeks. Has a 6 lb penalty to shoulder in a deeper race now but his stable is always a force to be reckoned with in this contest.

Form: 38-2411

(1)

Tashkhan²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| OR: 86

18/1

Ex-Irish gelding who continued rapid rate of progression when doubling career tally at Haydock (1¼m) in May, stretching clear from one who was well in. Capable of better again now back up in trip.

Form: 087-121

Non-Runners

(20)

Lord Protector³⁵

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: R M Beckett J: Rob Hornby

(19)

Surrey Gold³⁴

Weight: 8-8| Age: 3

T: H Morrison J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

Sir Lamorak (4/1), Surefire (5/1), Siskany (15/2), First Light (17/2), Kondo Isami (17/2), Lord Protector (10/1), Surrey Gold (10/1), Nagano (12/1), Parachute (16/1), Marshall Plan (16/1), Military Mission (18/1), Tashkhan (18/1), Soapy Stevens (20/1), Sir William Bruce (22/1), Act Of Wisdom (25/1), Just Fine (28/1), Too Friendly (40/1), Francesco Guardi (100/1), San Martino (100/1)

Always one of the hottest 3-y-o handicaps of the season. FIRST LIGHT routed his field at Ripon last time and gets a narrow vote to make a successful transition to handicap company. A step up to 1½m will suit Nagano and he heads the many dangers along with Ralph Beckett pair Surefire and Lord Protector. Mark Johnston has an excellent record in this so Kondo Isami is also a must for the shortlist.