The Neighsayers - King George Preview 2023
King George Preview
One of the highlights of the flat racing calendar is the King George and this year we are in for a treat, with the 3yos from the Epsom Derby taking on the older established horses. Similarly to the Epsom Oaks and Derby blogs, I will be doing a runner-by-runner preview on the race, with a few bets advised. Enjoy reading and good luck with your bets. @LukeQuinn01
*Prices correct at time of writing
Bolshoi Ballet
Price – 150/1
Highly promising at 3yo but never scaled the hights his 11/8 Epsom Derby SP suggested, even though he is a G1 winner in the states. Has held his form well this year, with a very good runs in the Wolfreton and Aston Park Stakes. This is a significantly tougher task for him up in class and it is highly likely he is on pace setting duties for more fancied stablemates here. Ignore.
Deauville Legend
Price – 25/1
Highley progressive at 3yo, rising from a handicap mark of 89 all the way to 116. Very good 4th in the Melbourne Cup, along with an decent seasonal reappearance in the Hardwicke, where with a clearer run he may have finished closer to the winner. In my opinion he looked short of a gear at Ascot, and that alone would have him found out in a race of this nature. On the other hand, he has shown he retains a positive aptitude to racing after his stint down under, and on that evidence, he will be certain to run well in future targets, maybe over 1m6. Ground forecasted on the easy side wouldn’t be optimal for him but also wouldn’t hinder his chances too much, but I do feel that it would be a shock result seeing him win here. Irish St Leger may be more his bag.
Hamish
Price – 66/1
Fantastic servant for connections, who does most of his winning when fresh. Looked as good as ever when winning the Ormand Stakes for the 2nd time in as many years but did give odds on punters a slight scare when making hard work of the Silver Cup G3 at York. This only comes 14 days after that York run, and all his best runs do come with a decent absence beforehand. Does have loads of ability and a high cruising speed, but similarly to Deauville Legend, he may be more at home over further. Irish St Leger is more realistic for win purposes.
Hukum
Price – 4/1
Very talented horse and has shown in his last run that his nearly career threatening injury is something of the past. Overcame a 356-day absence and horrid in running luck when winning the Brigadier Gerard G3, running down the 2022 Derby winner in very taking style. Shown he can win fresh and the ease in the ground is sure to suit this runner. Holds standout credentials from the older horses, with the step back up in trip sure to suit. Only negative is his price has collapsed recently, leaving not much juice in the price. Hope for a drift on the day in order to get involved. Primed for a big run.
Luxembourg
Price – 14/1
Grand servant for Ballydoyle, who has shown this year he is still in fine fettle, including a gutsy G1 win in the Tattersalls GC, and a decent 2nd Prince Of Wales. Fared best of those ridden handy in the Prince Of Wales, after he was pestered for a long way by that headstrong yank, a run you could mark up in my opinion. A positive for me here is that he steps back up to 12f, a trip he hasn't ran over since the gruelling 2022 Arc. Slight negative with him is that he has made all or led in his last 2 runs, and that would possibly put him at risk to potential pace bias here, with his stablemate likely to force the pace. Would like to see him ridden with slight restraint as I don’t feel he needs to lead. Fascinating runner who is still unexposed over the distance.
Point Lonsdale
Price – 100/1
G2 winner for Ballydoyle and has shown this season he was none the worse for a setback during his 3yo campaign. Solid comeback at Curragh, where he ran down a progressive front runner in good style. Hated Chester, never picked up the bridle but still won, showing his class against inferior rivals. Was found out in G1 company in the Coronation Cup, where he had reopposing Emily Upjohn and Westover tapping him for tow, beating him comfortably. He does have his positives here though as he is rather unexposed at the trip and hasn’t run over 12f with cut in the ground. In addition, I do feel that cut in the ground will see him to best effect, along with a well-run 12f, unlike the Coronation Cup where it was turned into a sprint in the straight. I may be going mad but I do feel that his current price of 100/1 is slightly overpriced, and I could see him outrunning his odds here. Obviously, a win from him here is highly unlikely at this level and if betting It would be very small EW play with the majority of the bet coming in the place only markets. Could run top 5 at huge odds.
Pyledriver
Price – 7/1
Fairy-tale story for connections this lad after going unsold at the sales, he has won them 1.1m in prize money and took connections to the best races in the world. Prone to a setback but he did show that he retains all ability when taking out the Hardwicke stakes. Raced very inefficiently, pulling hard and refusing to settle for the majority of the trip, so you have to mark-up that performance. On the other hand, I do feel the Hardwick was a poor renewal this year and he only got away with his coltish tendency’s due to inferior opposition not being good enough to take advantage. He is a very talented horse, and he won this last year in a rout (principles underperformed) so he is definitely up to this level. If I’m honest, I think his head might be elsewhere and he may be ready for a stallion career, so I would not be looking to get involved betting him here. 7/1 on offer at the moment is very short for me, I’d have him double that price. Won’t get away with over racing in this field.
Westover
Price – 14/1
Talented on his day, has shown He's up to G1 level on several occasions and deserves to take his chance in this. Sent off fav in this last year but pulled very hard scuppering all chances. Has matured significantly this year and does race a lot more efficiently than he did at 3yo. Comes here on the back of a lacklustre win in the worst G1 I have ever seen, needed every yard and a pacemaker to land very short odds in a field with no depth. Can probably overlook that win and on his form with Equinox at Meydan, he could get involved here. Obviously was put in his place early this season by the reopposing Emily Upjohn, and It would be a shock if he was to turn the form around with her. Not really on my list.
Emily Upjohn
Price – 5/1
Outstandingly talented mare, who has shown this year that she is better than ever, after a taking win in the Coronation Cup, along with a very good 2nd in the Eclipse, behind the best 3yo in training, Paddington. The main thing for her here is that if she can settle over 12f without the aid of the hood, a question what has been up for debate for a while now. If she can settle fine, she would be in with a great chance of winning this but wouldn’t give me any confidence in backing her pre-off. Cut in the ground is fine, but I do feel she is at her best on quick ground, where she can really use that freakish turn of foot. We are all on her for the Yorkshire Oaks and we would like to see a positive showing from her here to boost our already bullish confidence. Play with caution today, potential in running bet.
Auguste Rodin
Price 3/1
English and Irish Derby winner, who has a very high level of ability and great attitude. Started off the year bombing out in the English 2000G, a headscratcher for many but I do feel the ground played a massive part to that. Quickly put that performance behind him with a very impressive win in the Epsom Derby, conceding first run and still picking up a very talented adversary. His win in the Irish Derby was no further from the opposite, making very hard work of picking up the stable 2nd string, who let’s just say was ridden very tenderly as the future stallion at Coolmore didn’t pick him up as easy as they may have thought. A slightly underwhelming performance from Auguste Rodin but he did win so can’t hold too much against him. Slight ground concerns for me here if it stays soft as I feel he is better on quicker ground, leaving room for speculation over his current price. Extremely good on his day but I’m not looking to get involved here. Wouldn’t back, wouldn’t lay.
King Of Steel
Price – 4/1
Smashing stamp of a horse with the ability to match. Nearly caused a huge shock in the Epsom Derby, after showing a top class turn of foot to nearly settle the race at the 2f pole, only to be ran down by a very good horse. Showed that was no fluke at the Royal meeting, taking out the King Edward in smooth style after over-racing early. That was only his 4th run in his career, suggesting there is still room for improvement with more racing. Will make most of his rivals look like show pony’s in the paddock, and it should be around this time of year where he is really going to come to his self physically. Will be fine on the ground, even though he is better on a quicker surface. Gets a huge weight for age allowance here giving him a massive advantage over the older horses. Can he turn round the Epsom Derby form with August Rodin, I think he might. Fascinating contender.
Selections
King Of Steel 2pt Win @ 4/1
Luxembourg 1pt EW @ 14/1
Point Lonsdale 1pt place Top 5 @ 7/1 (Sky bet)
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