1m4f King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)
The London Gold Cup raced at Newbury is often an excellent trial for this race and the beautifully bred Israr who won that affair comes in to this with solid credentials and a progressive profile. But I can’t quite understand why SURREY MIST is almost three times the price of Israr having finished a half a length behind him when he didn’t get the clearest of runs, now gets 1lb and has looked equally progressive so far in career.
Surrey Mist’s pedigree doesn’t necessarily look like one which has loads of stamina in it, but he has already claimed a commanding victory over 1m 3f to discount that and I think the market is massively underestimating his chances. His mark of 90 still looks very workable for an unexposed and genuine sort that is 2/4 so far in his career and I think he can be bang there at the finish.
The other horse which catches my eye is YASHIN for Jessica Harrington at 14/1. Highly-tried as a two-year-old, Yashin has been getting better and better with each start since he was gelded over the winter.
This son of Churchill does sit towards the top of the handicap and statistically his low draw could work against him, but he has looked very impressive on his last couple of starts and has shaped as if he is a pattern-level performer in waiting.
The same can be said for a few of these, not least Post Impressionist whose form last time out behind the Queen Vase winner, Eldar Eldarov, now appears to be red-hot and Post Impressionist has now been well found in the market. However, this is a highly competitive event and it’s been no stranger to big priced winners historically so I’m happy taking the market principals on with two big priced progressive three-year-olds.
1pt win Yashin @14/1, 15:05 Royal Ascot, Thursday
1pt win Surrey Mist @20/1, 15:05 Royal Ascot, Thursday