Love can conquer all rivals in Ascot showpiece

Love can take her Group One tally to six in today’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly enjoyed a great first half of last season, looking imperious in the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Having also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes at two, her ability was never in doubt but the Ballydoyle handler was at pains to repeatedly point out she must have a decent surface.

She missed several objectives towards the end of the campaign because of rain and soft ground, including her intended target of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

When Love finally did reappear this season, O’Brien could not be accused of looking for an easy comeback as it was in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Ryan Moore set out to make all over 10 furlongs – probably not a surprise given she had already won twice over a mile and a half – and she kept on finding more as Breeders’ Cup winner Audarya threw down a challenge close to home. She faces new opposition in Derby winner Adayar and John and Thady Gosden’s Mishriff here, but as long as the

thunderstorms hold off, she will prove very difficult to beat.

Mr McCann has so far created as many column inches due to the fact he is owned by a group of Liverpool players than his exploits on the track, but that is a little unfair.

He looks to hold a very solid chance in the Pat Eddery Stakes as long as it is not asking too much of him too soon.

Tom Dascombe’s colt will be having his fifth run since June 1 but he has improved with each of them, finishing a game fourth in the Superlative Stakes last time out. This represents a drop in grade but Jane Elliott gets a great tune out of him and can register her first Listed success.

Ed Walker’s faith in Matthew Flinders can be rewarded in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes. Walker has always talked him up and he came close to repaying that faith in a Listed race at Chester last time out.

The handicapper raised him 10lb on the back of that but as this was an early closing race, he can run off his old mark.

O’Brien could also be celebrating victory in the feature race at York where his Armory sets an exacting standard for Mohaafeth to aim at in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

SELECTIONS

ASCOT: 1.15 Mr McCann, 1.50 Desert Dreamer, 2.25 Guru, 3.00 Matthew Flinders, 3.35 LOVE (NAP), 4.10 Southern Voyage, 4.45 Alibaba.

NEWMARKET: 3.05 Subjective Value, 3.40 Gloucestershire, 4.15 Astrogem, 4.50 Cairn Gorm, 5.20 Dazzling Dan, 5.55 Buniann, 6.25 Escape.

YORK: 2.05 Ginger Jam, 2.40 Muscika, 3.15 Armory, 3.50 Outside World, 4.25 Bollin Neil, 5.00 Chalk Stream, 5.35 Pagan.

CASTLEGATE SELECTION: Joeyremy (York, 3.50).