Key Points
- Three betting tips for the Group races at Ascot
- The Group 1 King George Stakes is the highlight race of the day
- My NAP selection runs in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes for the fillies
Ascot is all set to host three competitive Group races
We have a fantastic day of racing action at Ascot on Saturday, with three very good Group races to get stuck into. We start off with the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes. There are some very nicely-profiled fillies due to line up for this one, and most here are sure to improve for the experience. Next up is the Group 3 Valiant Stakes for the Milers’, which promises to be a very exciting race featuring another top drawer field.
My final betting tip for Saturday comes in the highlight race of the day, which is the Group 1 King George Stakes over 1m 4f. Auguste Rodin returns here for the longer trip, so we should see him at his best. He has some strong contenders to deal with this time around, so it’s not a given that he can win this race easily, but he definitely sets a pretty high standard in this year's renewal.
For each of the three races I’ll bring you a preview and a betting tip. It must be said that I am feeling quite confident about my weekend selections, which I advise backing these as singles, but are also worth a small punt as a treble. These three tick all the right boxes for me and I’d be very disappointed if we didn’t find at least two outright winners at Ascot.
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13:50 Ascot - Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) 6f - Simmering @ 9/4
The first Group race on Ascot’s Saturday card is the Princess Margaret Stakes, which is a Group 3 for the fillies. We have a decent line up of progressive sorts here, and there is some pretty strong form on offer in this field. Tales Of The Heart has the benefit of three previous runs, and she showed plenty of ability in her first two starts. She won on debut at Kempton, then ran well to finish second behind Celandine (who went on to finish second in a Group 2 over at Chantilly) so that form looks pretty strong. Tales Of The Heart was then third in a Group 2 at Newmarket, behind Arabian Dusk, but she would need to improve on that form a little. Handcuffed could also build on her win at Newbury, but that form doesn’t look overly strong. Meanwhile the Crisford team runs Mandurah, who holds a claim for a yard in banging form.
However, I believe that it’s worth siding with Ollie Sangester’s
Simmering, who is the current favourite. Although she is still a Maiden after her two starts to date, she only found Fairy Godmother too good at Royal Ascot, and that form is probably going to be strong enough to win here. She was quite green early on in the race, but stuck to the task well, and found a smart turn of foot in the final stages.
The fact Simmering got better as the race went on suggests there is still more improvement to come from this filly and she should prove tough to beat here. Ryan Moore is booked for the ride, which is a huge plus for her chances and she definitely gets my vote here.
14:25 Ascot - Valiant Stakes (Group 3) 1m - Soprano @ 7/2 (NAP)
Next up, we have the Valiant Stakes for fillies and mares over the mile, and this looks to be a really interesting contest. The unbeaten Kingman filly, Devoted Queen, makes obvious appeal, having improved run for run so far, but she is still a few lbs short of some of her rivals here and this won't be as straightforward as her previous races. She is clearly a smart prospect who could go on to win this, but she will definitely have to improve and her price is too short on that basis. The four-year-old Sirona holds plenty of interest too, and her form behind Porta Fortuna definitely brings her into the mix too. But the fact that does seem to be slightly better over seven furlongs gives me some doubts.
The winner for me here though is
Soprano
who returns on a faster surface which she clearly prefers and that makes her a very intriguing runner. She won the 30-runner Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot showing tons of pace in the latter stages of the race and if she turns up in that form again here, then she will prove very tough to beat. She was then a close third at Sandown on soft ground which doesn’t suit her totally so the switch back to a faster surface should see her in much better light.
A return to her form in the Sandringham makes her a very strong contender here and she has a very strong speed figure to go with it. I believe that Soprano has a huge chance in this contest.
15:40 Ascot - King George Stakes (Group 1) 1m 4f - Auguste Rodin @ 5/4
The Group 1 King George Stakes is the highlight race of the day and it never fails to deliver an entertaining spectacle. The lineup may not be as strong as we've had for some renewals, but there is a decent bunch of runners nonetheless. Bluestocking is a smashing filly, who has improved a ton this season, and won her two races in very smart fashion. She started her campaign by winning the Dubai Fillies Stakes at York by six lengths, and then beat Emily Upjohn in the Pretty Polly Stakes, so she fully deserves her place here. Rebel Romance is a lovely sort, who has seemingly improved as a six-year-old, and looks to be the likeliest threat to the market leader. He is three for three this season, having already clocked up wins in Qatar, Dubai and Hong Kong. Winning the King George would be the icing on the cake, but he does face stronger opposition here.
However, I think the standout pick is Ballydoyle’s
Auguste Rodin. Yes, he does have his quirks, but he also has tons of ability and is already a multiple Group 1 winner. He was beaten on his first two starts this season, but looked much more like his usual self when winning the Prince Of Wales Stakes, and the step back up to 1m 4f should be ideal for him. There is one other thing that Auguste Rodin needs to run at his best - a fast surface - which he will also get this time around.
He does have a few blemishes on his resume, but when he is on song he is a spectacular horse. There is no doubt in my mind that Auguste Rodin is the one to beat in the King George Stakes.
My betting tips for Saturday 👇
- 13:50 Ascot - Simmering @ 9/4
- 14:25 Ascot - Soprano @ 7/2 (NAP)
- 15:40 Ascot - Auguste Rodin @ 5/4
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