King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips: Beckett Runner Can Make Auguste Feel Blue

Always one of the highlights of the flat season each year, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday promises to be a thrilling affair.  There are plenty in here with a chance and Billy Grimshaw is on hand to provide us with the big race preview...

I'm really looking forward to this race on Saturday at Ascot as I'm convinced it is going to be a fascinating affair tactically, particularly with Aidan O'Brien running three including rank outsider and almost certain pacemaker Hans Anderson. He is a fair horse on his day but will almost definitely set off here at a good clip to set things up for both Luxembourg and in particular the favourite Auguste Rodin.

The 2023 Derby hero has proven himself to be top class on his day, and this season perhaps the inconsistency of his three year old campaign has been dismissed, but my first thought looking at the prices was that he was far too short with some quality rivals to beat here. He was stuffed out of side behind a horse who will reoppose here in Rebel's Romance in Meydan back in March and while that was clearly not his true running, he should surely not be approaching even money here.

His only defeat in Britain or Ireland this season came to White Birch and we are yet to see whether that horse is the real deal he looked at the Curragh as he has been off the track since, but Auguste Rodin is clearly not an absolute superstar and at these prices he is an easy favourite to take on. Plenty will be with Rebel's Romance, who has globetrotted with great success for Charlie Appleby, but I am curious as to why the master trainer has kept this horse away from the top table in Britain until now. He is six this season and although he is blatantly a brilliant animal, there must be some reason he has not attempted to scoop a British Group 1 yet. He smacks of another who is not quite top class.

Dubai Honour is another six year old - this time for William Haggas - who has had his days in the sun away from Britain and while he did bag his maiden European Group 1 last month at Saint Cloud, I don't see his form as strongly as some of the others. Luxembourg falls into the same category and with Ryan Moore choosing to ride Auguste Rodin, there is potential Wayne Lordan's mount will be used to make the race suit tactically for the Ballydoyle first string. Not for me.

The choice is clear in my eyes; back BLUESTOCKING. I liked her last season and was a fan as she fought valiantly in defeat in some good races, but I did not see the level of improvement she has shown from three to four coming and now would consider her one of the top fillies in training. It's hardly a controversial statement now after her defeat of Emily Upjohn last time out, but there has been some revisionism over the quality of that win since the big day at the Curragh.

Emily Upjohn may not be quite the force of old but she is still a mighty rival and Bluestocking's toughness to grind her down, as well as the tactical speed she showed, indicate she is at the top of her game this season. This step up in distance at a stiff track like Ascot could worry some backers but I'm confident she'll stay even if the race is run at a good clip. Rossa Ryan has proven himself one of the top riders around in recent years and I imagine he will track Auguste Rodin if possible for as long as he can before hopefully using that potent finishing kick to see off the competition.

As a filly she will also receive weight all round here, which will do no harm, and with 5/1 widely available I think she makes a smashing bet either win only or each-way if you are a more conservative punter.