Impressive Irish Derby winner Westover heads the betting for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
As one three-year-old contender defected in recent days, Desert Crown, another emerged as a likely runner. Emily Upjohn was taken out of the Irish Oaks after a travel hold-up. The unlucky Oaks second now seems likely to tackle the Group 1 at the Berkshire venue and bookies make her 5-2 second favourite (from around 10-1).
Westover is at the top of the market at 6-4, as well as being ante-post favourite for the St Leger later in the year but a convincing victory at Ascot could prompt connections to stick at 1m4f and aim for elite global races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The other horse to hold ante-post favouritism for two major Group 1 prizes is the superstar that is Baaeed. The world's highest-rated Flat horse looks good for the Sussex Stakes, but the intended step up to ten furlongs could see the four-year-old produce an even better level of form than he has done at a mile, in the same way that Frankel did ten years ago.
Here Mirror Racing takes a look at Betfred's ante-post odds and key contenders for five of the biggest Flat races that fall in the second half of the season.
King George VI Stakes, July 23
- 6-4 Westover
- 5-2 Emily Upjohn
- 4-1 Mishriff
- 8-1 Torquator Tasso
- 14-1 Broome
- 14-1 Pyledriver
- 20-1 bar
Key stat: Eight of the last 12 winners were aged four or over
We have a new odds-on favourite for the King George after news broke that Desert Crown has met with a slight setback and will miss the race. Westover, who finished an unlucky in-running third in the Derby at Epsom, made no mistake in the Irish version at the Curragh, winning by an emphatic seven lengths.
The race has a new dimension to it now that Emily Upjohn has been diverted to Ascot, but trends followers will be looking to take on the three-year-old's given the very ordinary record of that age group in recent editions of this famous race.
Oppose them both with last year's runner-up Mishriff , who looked back to his best when running a mighty race in defeat in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes. With conditions in his favour, he is the pick of the older brigade. German raider Torquator Tasso would probably need some rain to fall f he is to have any chance.
Sussex Stakes, July 27
- 2-5 Baaeed
- 5-2 Coroebus
- 6-1 Native Trail
- 12-1 Alcohol Free
- 12-1 Aldaary
- 12-1 Real World
- 14-1 Tenebrism
- 20-1 bar
Key stat: 10 of the last 12 winners had an official rating of 119 or higher
The Qatar Sussex Stakes looks Baaeed's for the taking before he steps up to ten furlongs, which will most likely be in the Juddmonte International. He is the highest-rated Flat horse on the planet right now (125) and win number nine looks a mere formality.
From a betting point of view, now is the time to get involved with this race because we are very likely to get a small field on the day. The clear each-way pick has to be Alcohol Free who won this race last year and is on track to defend her crown after posting a career-best effort back in trip to win the July Cup.. She is 12-1 with Betfred and backers will at least be sitting on a decent bet should the small field scenario materialise come the final declaration stage.
Juddmonte International Stakes, August 17
- 11-8 Baaeed
- 3-1 Desert Crown
- 3-1 Mishriff
- 5-1 Inspiral
- 8-1 State Of Rest
- 8-1 Native Trail
- 9-1 Nashwa
- 10-1 Adayar
- 10-1 Westover
- 10-1 Alenquer
- 12-1 bar
Key stat: 11 of the last 12 winners had already won a Group 1 prize
This market might look a little different come the day. Baaeed could easily go off odds on as he bids to make the transition from a mile to ten furlongs in the same way that Frankel did in this race ten years ago. His pedigree certainly suggests the step up in trip will suit and he could easily maintain his unbeaten record.
Fillies have a poor record in this which is a definite negative for Inspiral supporters, while last year's winner Mishriff needs to come through the King George first. The one horse in here that could just have the potential to throw it down to Baaeed is Desert Crown who travelled so well through the Derby. He appears to have more than enough tactical speed to handle the drop back in trip. Furthermore, he's already been and done it at York, something that can't be said about Baaeed. Assuming he is ready to rumble after missing the King George, this looks the ideal race for him.
Nunthorpe Stakes, August 24
- 5-2 Royal Aclaim
- 11-2 Dramatised
- 7-1 Golden Pal
- 7-1 Twilight Calls
- 8-1 Persian Force
- 8-1 Highfield Princess
- 12-1 Little Big Bear
- 12-1 Flotus
- 14-1 bar
Key stat: Nine of the last 12 winners had already run at York (seven won)
Royal Aclaim bolted to the top of this ante-post market when he made it three wins from the same amount of career starts with a commanding two-length victory in a Knavesmire Listed contest. He was rated 92, but came out of it on 108 and there is surely more to come from this unexposed sprinter. There is no telling how good he might be and the fact that he's already proved that he can shine at York is a major feather in his cap.
Dramatised would be a fascinating contender if connections decided to take their chance. The dominant Queen Mary winner would get the best part of two stone from the older horses and Kingsgate Native proved in 2007 that it is entirely possible for a juvenile to win an all-age Group 1 sprint.
From a value perspective, the strong-travelling front-runner Flotus looks the ideal type for this. She has been doing most of her racing over 6f (Group 1-placed) but given the way she moves through her races it's hard to believe she doesn't have the speed for this kind of test. She proved her effectiveness at the track by winning a Group 3 sprint at York earlier this month.
St Leger, September 10
- 15-8 Westover
- 13-2 Eldar Eldarov
- 7-1 Changingoftheguard
- 7-1 Luxembourg
- 12-1 Desert Crown
- 12-1 Inspiral
- 12-1 Grand Alliance
- 12-1 Stone Age
- 14-1 New London
- 16-1 bar
Key stat: Simple Verse (2015) is the only filly to win the St Leger this century
If Westover wins the King George then it's likely that connections will be targeting big mile and a half races like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but at this stage, the St Leger looks a race tailor-made for this long-striding colt.
Westover's Derby performance at Epsom screamed Leger winner and he surely only enhanced those claims at the Curragh, where he proved so well suited to a long galloping straight. Doncaster will suit, he'll stay the trip well and the only factor preventing a major ante-post investment is that connections might just think he is too good and should be kept for the Arc. If he does run, he'll go off shorter than 15-8.
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