My big King George tip in a proper belter of a race… and why I also love this 7-1 chance at Ascot

IN the most rare of clashes three generations of Derby form are smuggled into a stellar King George VI.

This people, is a crackerjack.

PA

Can Hukum crash the King George party?[/caption]

While it was frustrating the 2022 Derby hero Desert Crown was ruled out on Thursday, this season’s victor, Auguste Rodin is ready to rock.

And primed for a rematch is King Of Steel, who chased home the former and went on to score at Royal Ascot, adding some serious spice.

And while we are on the Derby theme, let’s not forget Westover, who was third behind Desert Crown in their Classic match up, and Bolshoi Ballet, who was seventh behind Adayar in the 2021 Derby having been sent off 11-8.

Away from the Derby angle, this is a King George which keeps on giving.

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BARADAR (3.00 Ascot)

Looks a stonking each-way bet. He’s not properly delivered yet this season but is handicapped to win a big one and will have his favourite underfoot conditions.

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Also set to wage war is Hukum, a Coronation Cup hero who defeated Desert Crown when both returned from long absences in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

Then there is Emily Upjohn, second in the 2022 Oaks at Epsom and another Coronation Cup victor, trying to provide John & Thady Gosden with a sixth King George.

And what about Pyledriver, trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick and beaten by Hukum at Epsom but triumphant here twelve months ago in devastating style. Pyledriver loves Ascot.

In a field of eleven if you throw in Luxembourg, who landed the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and tries a mile and a half for only the second time, and mud-loving Hamish you have a race to savour.

So why is this all so important?

Well, the King George has been out of fashion in recent years.
Inaugurated for the Festival of Britain in 1951, the big race was created to provide a middle-distance clash of the generations, almost a summer version of Europe’s most valuable race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Unsurprisingly, the roll of honour reads like an equine who’s who, featuring some of the most highly acclaimed horses in racing history — among them no fewer than 14 colts who have won the Derby and King George in the same season, starting with Tulyar and Pinza in 1952 and 1953.

Others include a plethora of the biggest names such as Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Grundy, Shergar, Nashwan and Galileo.

However, only six horses to have tackled the Derby — Galileo, Kris Kin, Workforce, Anthony Van Dyck, Adayar and Westover — have even run at Ascot since the turn of the century, reflective of a wider trend that has seen three-year-old colt contenders diminish.

Now the King George is back doing what it was meant to do — provide a right old smash up with the best middle distance horses.

So what’s going to happen? That’s the million pound question.

What we should have is a strongly run race. Point Lonsdale and Bolshoi Ballet can go from the front, as can the super talented Luxembourg, although obviously his stamina is open to question.

Auguste Rodin, who flopped in the 2,000 Guineas, was less impressive in the Irish Derby than he was at Epsom, but the pace at the Curragh was lacking.

Aidan O’Brien trains Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg, Point Lonsdale and Bolshoi Ballet.

The master of Ballydoyle has been mopping up Classics this term and bids for a fifth King George after Galileo, Dylan Thomas, Duke Of Marmalade and Highland Reel.

King of Steel was 66-1 in the Derby but proved that monster effort was no fluke when hacking up in the King Edward VII last month.

Testing conditions appear likely, for all there has not been much rain since Thursday, and with plenty of juice in the ground my gut feeling is Hukum will win.

He has landed four of his last five starts and was beaten less than two lengths at Meydan when the ground was faster than ideal.

He’s progressive and coming of age just like the King George!

Hukum to stuff’em. What a race.

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