Analysing the ante-post market for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
We’re now past the halfway point of this very exciting British flat racing season, and there is still plenty to look forward to over the remainder of the summer and into the autumn months — like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Eclipse, the St. Leger and then, of course, the campaign’s conclusion at British Champions Day at Ascot in mid-October.
It's the King George, Britain’s most prestigious open flat race, that we’re going to focus on in this article. The one-mile, four-furlong contest is due to take place at Ascot on July 23rd and attracts some of the best horses in the United Kingdom and Ireland — with this year’s early ante-post market enough to make the mouths of every racing fan water.
So, with what looks set to be a star-studded field, read on as we take a look at some of the horses this betting site; https://www.paddypower.com/bet are tipping as the favourites for the King George next month.
Desert Crown – 13/8
Fresh off the back of that famous Derby triumph for Sir Michael Stoute, landing the veteran trainer his sixth victory in the prestigious race, Desert Crown has been backed into the short-price favourite for the King George at around 13/8.
A similar ante-post price for Epsom’s premier classic (15/8) after winning the Group 2 Dante at York on his seasonal reappearance in May, the three-year-old put on a fine performance to win the Derby — making headway at the three-pole and keeping on well inside the final furlong to win comfortably by two-and-a-half lengths.
Should Desert Crown head to Ascot for the King George, ran over the same distance as the Derby, then he will certainly be the one to beat and then he could be primed for the Arc.
Hurricane Lane – 4/1
After winning the 2021 renewal of the Derby, Adayar stole all the headlines from Charlie Appleby’s esteemed Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket last year. But his Godolphin stablemate Hurricane Lane’s season was arguably just as good, if not better.
Earning his connections almost £2 million in prize money, Hurricane Lane won five of his seven outings across the course of his three-year-old season — including the Dante, the Irish Derby, the Grand Prix de Paris and the St. Leger, while recording respectable third-place finishes in the Derby and l’Arc de Triomphe.
That gruelling campaign means the now four-year-old is yet to reappear this season, but he could come out refreshed and with the King George in his sights before being targeted at some of those big end-of-season races.
Emily Upjohn – 5/1
There was a lot of excitement surrounding Emily Upjohn in the build up to the Oaks, with the John & Thady Gosden-trained filly as short as 6/4 in the market for the third classic of the season at Epsom after an impressive performance in the Musidora Stakes in May.
But the three-year-old stumbled out of the stalls at the start of the one-mile, four-furlong contest and lost a lot of ground on the rest of the field. She did manage to make the lengths back on the leaders, pressing Tuesday in the final furlong. However, the Aidan O’Brien-trained horse got over the line by shorthead.
It was certainly a promising end after such a bad start, and if Emily Upjohn can get her exit from the stalls right at Ascot, then she could definitely be in contention for the King George. But getting the better of Desert Crown or Hurricane Lane won’t be easy.
Defending champion Adayar, also yet to reappear this season, is next in line at 6/1 with Oaks winner Tuesday currently at 10/1. The Curragh Gold Cup winner Alenquer is slightly further out 12/1.
*All odds correct at the time of writing.
