The first day of the QIPCO King George Weekend features six competitive races with plenty of interesting contenders across the card.
The opening John Guest Racing British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (1.50pm), in which seven go to post, looks a wide-open contest with none of the runners with prior experience looking like world-beaters just yet. Miss Fascinator was disappointing at Newmarket last time out when going off favourite but trailing home in fifth – Pearl Of Windsor beat her home that day and could build on that debut performance. Andrew Balding won this race in 2022 with Clochette, with Ed Walker’s Aunt Violet in second – both trainers have entries again today in Musical Angel and Saariselka respectively. Another debutante, Bintjan, cost 300,000 guineas as a yearling so is worth a market check to see if there’s confidence behind her first time up.
The John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (2.25pm) is the first of five handicaps at Ascot on Friday and nine are set to line up for this marathon two-mile trip. Tactician was second here just under two weeks ago, over two furlongs shorter, and looked to be outpaced before closing with every yard to the line – stepping him up in trip looks a shrewd call. Another trying this journey for the first time is Attila The Honey, who proved her liking for turf when winning at Newbury just seven days ago and carries a penalty over this longer distance. Lucinda Russell brings Two Auld Pals and Wickywickywheels all the way from Scotland for this contest, which could be a tip in itself as to her thoughts on their chances in the race.
The Chapel Down Handicap (3.00pm) sees top-weight Zouzanna bidding to get back in the winners’ enclosure after her victory over course and distance in September. Oisin Murphy was on board that day and continues the partnership here so a bold bid should be assured. Fellow track-and-trip winner Final Watch has first-time cheekpieces on and has slid to his lowest handicap mark since June 2021, whilst North View, was fourth here in May over six furlongs and needs the extra furlong here to eke out that tad more improvement. Red Maids has been knocking at the door in back-to-back Newbury handicaps, finishing second twice, and will hope that the journey across Berkshire might bring better fortune today, especially with William Buick booked for the ride.
Friday’s feature, the John Guest Racing Handicap (3.35pm), sees the return of 2023 Golden Gates Stakes winner and one-time Triumph Hurdle favourite Burdett Road. This will be his first run on the Flat in nearly a year, though, and connections might have one eye on the Ebor at York in three weeks’ time. Mutaawid finally got his head in front at Kempton last time out and looked impressive doing so – he steps into handicap company for the first time following that victory. Tabletalk, too, is a debutant in handicaps, and comes here after a break following his run in the Derby at Epsom where he was outclassed. Wonder Kid started off the year with two victories then was beaten just a head at Newmarket last time, so it would be foolish to write him off, whilst Hosaamm is yet to finish out of the placings in his three career starts. Alfred Boucher, returning after a 671-day layoff, won this race in 2021 so cannot be completely ruled out of this competitive heat if cherry-ripe for his reappearance.
The obvious place to start in the Slingsby Gin Handicap (4.10pm) is Baltic, whose streak of four ones next to his name points to a colt in fine fettle. He’s proven over the distance, and on turf, so will likely be a worthy favourite. Miller Spirit was second here a fortnight ago over a ten furlong distance that was perhaps a bit too sharp for him and better can perhaps be expected over this 12 furlong trip, though he may want a bit more give in the ground. Individualism finally got his head in front at the ninth time of asking when successful at Carlisle 15 days ago and could build on that here. Waxing Gibbous has been consistent in 2024, finishing either first or second in her three starts, so she too has a chance to keep on an upward curve.
Closing the card is the Berenberg October Club Supporting Back Up Fillies' Handicap (4.45pm) and King Power Racing are double-handed in the race, with the unexposed three-year-old Noel Fox perhaps the most likely of their pair. She needed every yard of the five furlong trip at Lingfield last time out and should appreciate this stiff finish at Ascot. The Big Board, King Power’s other intended runner, won at Ascot in July last year but was disappointing here last time out, though her handicap mark is slipping to a dangerous extent. Sarah’s Verse comes here off the back of a victory at Ffos Las and she was second in this race last year, whilst Angel Shared’s winning run came to an end last time out but she’s by no means a lost cause.
