Enable the pick after mighty Oaks success
Today’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth stakes at ascot is billed as flat racing’s high summer showpiece, but it could resemble a war of attrition if the overnight weather forecast is proved correct.
The times recorded by winners at ascot yesterday were pretty slow and the prospect of deep ground has ensured ante-post favourite Highland Reel now has fewer supporters than UKIP.
Given he won this race last year and enjoyed Group one success at the Royal meeting in June, aidan o’Brien’s five-yearold is a pretty extraordinary price to win today’s feature.
Unfortunately for his ante-post followers, he craves fast ground to produce his best form and the unexpected presence of dual oaks winner ENABLE (ascot, 3.35) could also spell trouble.
admittedly, the daughter of Nathaniel is yet to prove her effectiveness on an easy surface, but her half-sister Contribution operated on soft ground and she must have emerged from her trip to the Curragh recovered from a nick to her hind joint for trainer John Gosden to allow her to take her chance today.
Enable’s smooth five-length defeat of Rain Goddess in Ireland a fortnight ago was one of the most impressive and comprehensive victories of the campaign. she tanked through that contest in the form of a filly still improving and is fancied to get the better of Jack Hobbs and Idaho to record a third Group one win of the season.
AMBITIOUS ICARUS (Newcastle, nap, 4.50) is not a regular winner but the first-time visors may just make the difference this afternoon. Richard Guest’s veteran speedster ran a sound race at yarmouth on Thursday and six of his eight wins have come when he has returned to the track within 10 days.