Antepost: King George to cut up, so look to Al Aasy at double digits

Top class 4 year old the pick on the numbers right now.

Whilst we sit and twiddle our thumbs waiting for the National Hunt season to get underway in October, which will bring more activity to our new website, it's easy to forget that there are still some very interesting races on the flat season after Royal Ascot. My interest in the flat season always seem to wane after those 5 days in the middle of June, and I count down the days until the National Hunt proper. However I try to keep an interest in the big races, and the King George at Ascot is always a decent race to follow.

As you can probably tell from the title, it's the King George Stakes at Ascot that I have a selection for. Looking at the current entries, assuming nothing else gets supplemented nearer the time, it's looking like the race will cut up badly.

As always, master trainer Aidan O'Brien has numerous entries in the major showpiece for middle distance horses. Recently interviewed on his entries, he suggested LOVE was the main runner from his handful. A top class mare who won the 1000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks, she won her first outing of the season at Royal Ascot - pinning down the Prince of Wales over 10f from the front and that will set her up in rude form for the King George. She is the likely winner with the 3lb mares allowance from her other elders. Best priced at 5/2, there isn't much juice in her right now given that Aidan doesn't always commit to a target and plans could be fluid especially with her main target being the Arc in October.

Whilst Love gets the mares allowance off the other 4 year olds, she has to give weight away to the 3 year olds coming through after their classic runs. This brings in another favourite in the runaway Derby winner ADAYAR, who is best priced 5/2 as well. The Frankel colt gets 10lb off the elder geldings and 7lb from the elder mares. This is a huge concession, however it is worth noting that only three 3 year old's have won this in the last 10 years (trends are best to follow in only the last 10 years in my opinion) and those 3 were all top class. It's also worth bearing in mind only one gelding has won this as a 3 year old too, in the top class Nathaniel. The other 2 were Enable and Taghrooda, both high class winners of the Oaks before their wins at Ascot. Despite Adayar's impressive win in the Derby, I don't think he's up to the standard of those winners and instead would be looking to take him on at 5/2 on the antepost book.

Looking further down the list, the historic Oaks winner SNOWFALL is one of the other standout names in the betting. A hugely impressive 16 lengths winner of the Epsom Oaks, she has improved bundles from her 2 year old campaign however Aidan has mentioned the Irish Oaks as her target, whilst St Marks Basilica goes to the Coral Eclipse this weekend. Armory could be one to keep an eye on after staying on well in a race that didn't suit behind Love in the Prince of Wales. Priced at 33/1, he could be one to keep in mind at fair odds.

Other horses include Mishriff, In Swoop, Wonderful Tonight and Hurricane Lane - all have other targets or need the right conditions to be at their best and this hinders them as a antepost option.

The remaining 2 that stand out are PYLEDRIVER and AL AASY. The 4 year olds fought out a cracking finish in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in early June and are both earmarked to go at it again in the King George again. Pyledriver tipped up by Pricewise earlier in the week at 6/1, is a solid each way bet as he has a solid chance of winning and with the race set to cut up to possible single figure runners, you've got an each way bet to nothing. He should come on a bundle from his neck win against Al Aasy at Epsom, and is one of the toughest horses in training.

It is however the 10/1 on Al Aasy which I am looking to take. Taking into account that I expect the field to only be 10 or below runners, and with horses such as Love not confirmed as a definite runner and has other options, the 10/1 seems a cracking each way bet given Pyledriver a few points shorter and there's only a neck between them. Before his latest outing at Epsom, Al Aasy cruised to two Group 3 wins at Newbury and nailed his reputation as one of the best 4 year olds in training. Although he didn't beat a great deal, it was the manner of him cruising through each run and putting the race to bed with ease, that put a sparkle in his trainers William Haggas eye.

Still lightly raced for 4 years old, he has been a fragile individual to deal with in the past and perhaps 3 runs in less then 2 months perhaps took a little out of him when meeting Pyledriver at Epsom. Freshened up with the King George in mind, he looks likely to be primed to his best for July 24th. Able to perform in various grounds and he has already shown he can handle courses from Newbury to Epsom, he looks an antepost selection based on this versatility rather then hoping for the right conditions come race week like others mentioned. It is worth having a good each way bet on him right now before he shortens nearer the time by bookmakers looking to stop those filthy each way's when the race no doubt cuts up.

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes 24/07/2021 - Selection:

Al Aasy - 1.5pts each way @ 10/1 (Bet365)