A key race in the year so here for starters is the Timeform view. please log in to view this image Timeform's View King George VI Preview: Back Cirrus to return with a bang Joe Rendall offers the Timeform view on the King George VI Stakes, sponsored by Betfair... When it comes to high-end racehorses, it could be said that ability makes champions, but consistency makes greats. We may be seeing an example of that with new sprint sensation Lethal Force, whose win in the July Cup gave the Clive Cox team a prized Group 1 double. He's now Timeform-rated 130, a rarity in itself among British sprinters during recent years, while his uncomplicated manner of success both at Newmarket and in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes suggest that Lethal Force is going to prove more reliable than most sprinters. You'd certainly struggle to back against him at the moment, at least over six furlongs. Consistency is also the theme running through the next Group 1 on these shores, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It certainly applies to current favourite St Nicholas Abbey who, if you discount a couple of attempts at the Arc, hasn't been out of the first three in any race since his three-year-old days. This year, he has performed to his best on our figures in winning both the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Coronation Cup. This 12-furlong trip is ideal for St Nicholas Abbey and he's been third in the last two renewals of this race, though with his limitations rather exposed by his consistency current odds of around [3.2] make only limited appeal. A better option at current prices is the horse that defeated St Nicholas Abbey in the 2012 Sheema Classic, Cirrus des Aigles. The French champion might have flopped on his reappearance in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but considering he habitually comes on for his first run (and had reportedly suffered a fetlock injury over the winter) that's excusable. There's also the small matter of his previous consistency: after holding off St Nicholas Abbey in Dubai, Cirrus des Aigles ran to a Timeform figure in advance of 130 on three of his four subsequent starts, including when giving Frankel the race of his life in the Champion Stakes. The winner of that race in 2011, Cirrus des Aigles evidently saves some of his best form for Ascot and is proven over the trip. It's said that he is ideally suited by softer ground, but conditions were on the firm side for his Champion Stakes win and, with him being 7 lb clear of anything else on Timeform ratings, it's difficult to justify Cirrus des Aigles not being favourite. The other two currently trading at single-figure odds are impressive Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Novellist and Irish Derby hero Trading Leather. Although the recipient of a three-year-old allowance, the second-named has a bit to prove on form, the feeling being his success at the Curragh isn't all it's cracked up to be. Novellist's win at Saint-Cloud proves he's returned as good as ever, and he's another to whom consistency comes easily. With that said, as with Trading Leather the concern over Novellist is class; specifically, whether he has as much as either of St Nicholas Abbey or Cirrus des Aigles. The pick of the horses at a slightly bigger price is the Aidan O'Brien trained Mars, last seen when running a creditable fourth to Al Kazeem in the Eclipse. Highly tried all along, Mars hasn't yet been allowed to reveal the full extent of his ability, trouble in running often compromising his effort. He was essentially held when bumped inside the final furlong at Sandown, though the longer trip here should suit this Galileo colt and, with him having just five starts to his name, it would be unwise to rule out further improvement. Current prices suggest he's by no means a certain starter, but anything north of [20.0] on the day would represent decent value. With so many of the runners in the King George having consistency in common, we're going to have to find other criteria on which to separate them. How about superior ability, outstanding course form and proven stamina? Cirrus des Aigles has all three. There is of course the uncomfortable truth of his reappearance effort and advancing years, but he's been consistent in his ordinary returns to action throughout his career and there's no real reason to believe it's part of a bigger slide. Instead, revel in the fact that you can back the horse rated by Timeform as the best in training, and back Cirrus des Aigles to bounce back at Ascot. Vive la France! Recommendation: Back Cirrus des Aigles to win the King George VI Stakes please log in to view this image
It is worrying when you find yourself agreeing with quite a lot of a Timeform assessment these days. I think that the going is the key factor here for Cirrus Des Aigles. I remember seeing him saunter to a wide-margin Group 2 win on the Saturday of the Arc meeting at Longchamp a couple of years ago but that was on soft ground. His collateral Champion Stakes form does look like the best available. I am not concerned about the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud form as that race has less than half a dozen runners every year, there is always no pace and last year it was won by the rank outsider. St Nicholas Abbey has won the Coronation Cup the last three years, just scraping past Midday in a tactical affair the first time around; but Epsom is left-handed. Whilst he might be "consistent" at Ascot in getting placed in the King George, he is the second-best horse in the race and it is right-handed. Last year the excuse was that the ground was not fast enough but it is hard to see that one being valid this year. I cannot find any reason to fancy the Irish Derby winner Trading Leather as there are huge question marks about the value of the form with the 'fancied' runners all failing to fire that day; and nearly horse Mars could find trouble in a match and is surely only listed as a substitute in case the stable's first string misses the race. Glad I did not plan on going this year as it looks like being a disappointingly small field for the massive prize money on offer, just like recent years.
This looks difficult. On previous years performances CDA & SNA look to be the best form choices but Swain remains the only horse older than 5 yrs to have succeeded since the race began in 1951. Swain had also won the previous year's King George. For me, that is a very worrying stat at the short prices on offer for the favourites.
well very sad news this morning about St Nicholas Abbey. just hope that he is able to make a full recovery. shows the fragility of these great racehorses. he was magnificent at Epsom winning a 3rd consecutive Coronation Cup and I have no doubt that he would have won on Saturday. Cirrus des Aigles must be an odds on certainity now?
What a shame that St Nicholas Abbey will be absent on Saturday, although those that burgled the 3/1 about Cirrus Des Aigles ante post cannot be too disappointed. With the new favourite now 13/8, the only interest left is whether Hillstar (8/1) is supplemented. Although I think that this year’s Coronation Cup win was St Nicholas Abbey’s best performance, I would still have opposed it in the King George as Cirrus Des Aigles is the better horse, the thunderstorms would have taken some of the sting out of the ground and the form book says that the Ballydoyle horse does not like right-handed tracks. Amazingly, BetFred are still quoting St Nicholas Abbey at 14/1 for the Arc; a race for which it should have been 1000/1 given that the ground would not be fast and the course is right-handed.
Has Hillstar been supplemented? Could be interesting if he has as a likely E-W shot[/QUOTE] Yes"]Confirmation
No it doesn't. Bloody RP. I'll reproduce it below please log in to view this image Hillstar winning under Ryan Moore at Royal Ascot last month Stoute supplements Hillstar for King George BY LEE MOTTERSHEAD 12:44PM 22 JUL 2013 SIR MICHAEL STOUTE will on Saturday bid to become the most successful trainer in the history of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes after it was announced that Royal Ascot winner Hillstar has been supplemented for Britain's premier all-aged Flat race. Stoute, whose tally of five victories in the Betfair-backed showpiece places him level with Saeed Bin Suroor and Dick Hern, had spent the weekend weighing up the pros and cons of running the King Edward VII Stakes winner in the £1 million event, whose 11 possible runners include market leaders St Nicholas Abbey, Cirrus Des Aigles, Trading Leather and Novellist. RELATED LINKS King George card King George betting Following those deliberations owner Sir Evelyn de Rothschild has agreed to pay the £75,000 required give his progressive ex-handicapper the chance of claiming back-to-back Ascot prizes. Stoute, confirming the addition of Hillstar into a race he won for the first time with Shergar in 1981, said: "It's worth having a crack." With Hillstar now an intended runner, Ryan Moore will be unable to continue his association with Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Novellist, whose German-based trainer Andreas Wohler has stated that William Buick would be his preferred substitute. However, Johnny Murtagh will be on board if Buick is required to ride for John Gosden at York. The King George five-day acceptors also include Ektihaam, Red Cadeaux and Universal, while Very Nice Name and St Nicholas Abbey's Ballydoyle stablemates Ernest Hemingway and Chamonix complete the potential line-up. Ektihaam will be partnered by Dane O'Neill on Saturday with Hamdan Al Maktoum's first rider Paul Hanagan preferring to ride Mukhadram for Sheikh Hamdan at York.
Followers of official ratings must be asking themselves who will finish second as using these as a guide, following St Nicholas Abbey’s injury, Cirrus Des Aigles has an absolutely whopping 12 pounds in hand on the rest of the field! Breaking the latters form down though I was surprised to see that he’s only actually won at the very highest level three times and not at all since April 2012. Three Group 1 wins is still very, very good, of course, but perhaps his overall level of performance is not in line with his profile or current odds. One other point re St Nic’s sad injury will Mr O’Brien now run the perceived pacemakers namely Chamonix and Ernest Hemingway??? The latter did it very well last time out at The Curragh beating a Group 1 winner by 5 lengths, albeit over 14 furlongs.
If the ground was soft I would not hesitate to suggest that Novellist could easily upset the favourite. I'm not sure how good he is on fast going.
With only eight facing the starter on Saturday, the bookies seem to be relying on the statistics to get them out of trouble. Cirrus Des Aigles would be the oldest winner of the race at seven; plus he was coming back from injury when a remote fifth to Novellist in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. It is not inconceivable that he will not run to his best rating. Hillstar may be the best prospect of a victory for the Classic generation and they have not shelled out £75,000 just for a day at the races. Ektihaam's chance can surely be summed up by the fact that the owner's retained jockey has gone to York to ride Mukhadram in a Group 2 race rather than risk being thrown again! This is a big step up in class for Universal whilst the admirable Red Cadeaux always looks like a place horse at the highest level.
Im gonna have a bet on Hillstar in this.... I think the favourite will get beat. Its Novellist or Hillstar for me and Hillstar gets the nod. Course form also. Not convinced on the trainer for Novellist... Chopin flopped on the day and Im not convinced with Novellist coming over here doing the business. Stoute has a good record in this, horse has been supplemented and I think he will step up again. Large each way bet.
