Ascot King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day predictions: Jan's the man again
The Racing Post's Enda McElhinney offers his tips for the second day of Ascot's King George Meeting, including his selection in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day: Best bet, each-way selection and treble
Recommended bets include:
Back Jan Brueghel to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Back Billyjoh each way in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap
Ascot's major July meeting concludes on Saturday afternoon with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes taking centre stage at the Berkshire venue on a quality eight-race card from 13:10-17:15.
Here is everything you need to know for day two, including the day's best bets.
Day 2 - Key info
First race: 13:10 British EBF Crocker Bulteel 'Confined' Maiden Stakes
Feature race: 16:10 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1)
The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes is often a generational clash but the three-year-olds are not represented this year and, instead, it features a rematch between the one-two from last month's Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Best bet of the day
The St Leger winner at Doncaster last season, Jan Brueghel was beaten for the first time on his reappearance at the Curragh in April, but that was over a trip shorter than optimal and he possibly needed the run.
He atoned for that by outlasting Calandagan in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June over this 1m4f trip, the duo having pulled a long way clear of everything else.
The French-trained runner-up paid him a nice compliment by landing a Group 1 on home soil in decisive fashion since and he returns to these shores for another crack at Aidan O'Brien's charge today.
The stiff nature of Ascot will allow Ryan Moore and Jan Brueghel plenty of time to exert themselves and this tough Galileo colt can oblige again in first-time cheekpieces.
Best each-way bet of the day
Billyjoh is 0-4 at Ascot and was beaten in this race a year ago, but those bare stats do not tell the whole story.
Mick Appleby's Mayson gelding was second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at the Royal meeting here in 2024 and found himself on completely the wrong side of the track in the same contest last month.
Since then, he was an eye-catcher finishing third in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket after meeting trouble in the run and splitting well-handicapped rivals in first and fourth.
He races from the same mark now and has Tom Marquand taking over in the saddle, the rider boasting a 33 per-cent strike-rate for the Appleby team thus far in 2025.
Day 2 acca
We're providing an accumulator suggestion for Saturday's Premier Raceday action from Ascot and our treble pays over 174/1 with LiveScore Bet.
Bet 1: Flowerhead to win the Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes (13:40) at 6/1 with LiveScore Bet
Charlie Clover's filly is progressing with every start, landing a Chepstow maiden and then running second in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot behind the very smart True Love, form advertised handsomely in Ireland last weekend.
Bet 2: Royal Dress to win the Longines Valiant Stakes (14:20) at 4/1 with LiveScore Bet
A convincing winner in Listed company at Pontefract recently for James Tate, three of her five career wins have arrived in the month of July and Royal Dress has the form in the book to be winning this race on paper.
Bet 3: Kuredu King to win the Me2 Club Handicap (16:45) at SP with LiveScore Bet
John & Thady Gosden's team are in superb form and this lightly-raced son of Churchill got off the mark at Haydock three weeks ago, with next-time-out winners behind in second and third. He is only rated 2lb higher now and has more to offer.
