This time of the year is hugely exciting for fans of flat racing with the next seven days jam packed full of top class action on the level. Glorious Goodwood and the Galway Fesrival are on the agenda in midweek but first there is one of the best cards of the year at Ascot on Saturday afternoon with some of the superstars of the sport heading to the famous venue.
1.50pm – Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes – Ascot
The main course at Ascot follows later but there is an excellent starter for punters with this Group 3 contest of 6f always a competitive contest.
The best 2yo fillies in training are often given the Princess Margaret as a target and as well as being an excellent race in its own right, it can also be a great pointer for the classic generation of the following season.
Summer Romance is the one attracting the headlines with her two wins to date marking her out as one to watch and that is reflected in a price of evens with Bet Victor.
Ultra Violet (6/1) impressed at Newamrket on her only start last time out and is clearly talented, while the same can be said for Good Vibes (10/1) who has won her last two starts and has a little more experience than most of her rivals at Ascot.
3.40pm – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Ascot
It has to be said that the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes has lost some of its lustre in recent years with the overall quality of the race falling from its former position as the premier all age clash for the middle distance horses in the middle of the season.
Thankfully we can look forward to a race for the ages this weekend with the best horse in training taking on some stern opposition, including the Derby winner in the group 1 contest. All eyes will of course be on the great Enable who was last seen winning the Eclipse down in trip last time out on seasonal debut and most do expect the brilliant daughter of Nathaniel to be too strong again.
A third Arc win remains the main target for her this season but she is clearly the one to beat here with the public surely likely to latch on to her and Frankie Dettori.
Crystal Ocean is only getting better it seems and proved that last time out at Ascot when winning the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and will run well again but giving weight away to Enable is a massive ask.
If there is a bet to be had in the King George this weekend it is Anthony Van Dyck who hot the headlines with his Epsom Derby win and it will be fascinating to see how he fares against his elders for the first time. The Aidan O’Brien trained horse is going to need huge improvement but he is open to a step forward and with lumps of weight in his favour, 8/1 with Betfred.com looks a fair each-way punt.
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Odds correct as of 26th Jul, 16:01 Odds subject to change.
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