Focus On The Flat: Ascot feature looks fit for a King
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Wed, 22 Jul 2026
Races Now's Adam Smith takes a deep dive into this weekend's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot – a race shaping up to be an absolute cracker.
Ascot are on a mission to re-establish the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Europe's premier middle distance Group 1 and this weekend's renewal is going someway to achieve that goal.
The 2026 King George has a value of £2,000,000 for the first time. And that will not last long as next year it will be £2.5 million.
Still some way to go to match the Arc (£4.24m), of course. But we are on the right path and they have been duly rewarded this weekend with the world's best horse in Calandagan and Japanese star Masquerade Ball supported by a host of Group 1 operators.
The first point of call for me is Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, who is way too short in the market at 11/4. On weight-adjusted Racing Post Ratings, he is the lowest rated of the seven horses priced at 33/1 or less.
He beat absolutely nothing at Chester and we all know what happened at Epsom. The Curragh win wasn't exactly scintillating either, in a race where Aidan O'Brien trained half the field and had the first and second setting the pace for the first ten furlongs. He ended up with the first three past the post and the chief market rival ran disappointingly into a never-threatening fourth.
You can only beat what is in front of you, but this King George is a far cry from the Irish Derby in terms of quality opposition.
By O'Brien's ridiculously high standards, the King George has proven difficult in recent years. His last winner was Highland Reel in 2016. In the nine years since he's had 20 runners (56 total in that period) and the beaten favourite on three occasions.
Calandagan (13/8) simply should not have ran in the Coronation Cup. His trainer said as much in the aftermath. It was horrendous conditions and he was barely asked for an effort, beaten 42 lengths. No ill effects of that Epsom disaster were on show when he won a Saint Cloud Group 1 a month later though, as 30/100 favourite.
A winner of this race last year with Kalpana in second, he has bagged four top level races since, including a massive achievement in landing the Japan Cup, where Masquerade Ball was second. He is the one to beat.
If, like me, you don't follow Japanese form, it is still clear that Masquerade Ball (4/1) is one of their best. His last three runs have been; Grade 1 win, beaten a head by Calandagan, beaten a length by Romantic Warrior. He hasn't finished behind a Japanese horse in over a year. How he takes to around-the-world travel and running on foreign soil is anyone's guess. At bare minimum, he is a welcome and very interesting runner for sure.
I think Minnie Hauk (7/1) is crying out for a return to a mile and half – that's where she is at her best. With stablemate Benvenuto likely to be Ballydoyle number one here, I can see Minnie Hauk not running at the time of writing. I'd have her down as a lead Arc contender either way.
The aforementioned Kalpana (8/1) was runner up last year in what might prove to be a lesser renewal. She traditionally comes up short against the boys and there is little evidence to say she has improved sufficiently since, for all she is an admirable filly.
Goliath (9/1) is interesting and has been tipped on this column. A winner of this race in 2024 and undoubtedly should have won the traditional trial for this before his saddle snapped in the Hardwicke, with Kalpana second that day. The run looked an ideal prep for this, given he came round the bend absolutely swinging and looked all over the winner before the equipment disaster struck.
Goliath is a player here, no doubt. The problem is the opposition. At 9/1, he's about the right price, for all I am hoping he does the business.
A 10-length Coronation Cup winner being available at 33/1 on his next start in the King George looks plain wrong on the face of it. But that's where we are with Bay City Roller (33/1).
He ran with all sorts of credit in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May before devouring the monsoon Epsom conditions. Surely it will be nowhere near soft enough for him this weekend.
Wurttemberg (50/1) brings more Japanese flavour to the party and is not here to make up the numbers despite his massive price. He's officially 12lbs off Masquerade Ball and is pretty exposed as a 27-start six year old.
Then we are into the Ballydoyle supporting cast. Because who wouldn't have a dual Derby winner as a pacemaker. Poor old Lambourn.
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Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
Adam Smith has been steering the ship on our Races Now channel since its inception and can usually be found trying to keep his partner SD in check over on their weekly YouTube shows.
'Smido' is a flat lover and keeps readers abreast of all the big talking points throughout the summer action via his Focus On The Flat column, which you can read exclusively here on OddsNow.com
He puts the bulk of his focus on high-quality racing, with Group 1s top of the list – previewing all the big events ante post in meticulous detail.
Away from the racetrack, Smido also loves the darts and also follows UFC, NRL and Nottingham Forest avidly – without any financial interests!
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