Odds and betting predictions for the 2024 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
This Group One will be run at Ascot on Saturday 27th July
Rebel's Romance is our selection at 9/2
Expired
Rebel's Romance under William Buick wins the 12.5f Group 1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at the Meydan. (Getty)
At the end of July, one of the season's biggest races takes place at Ascot, as many of the world's best racehorses clash in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This historic Group One, which was first run back in 1951, has been won by legends like Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Dahlia, Shergar, Galileo and, the only three-time winner, Enable.
2024 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Entries
Nine runners have been confirmed in the field for Saturday's feature, including hot-favourite Auguste Rodin. Stablemate Hans Anderson will provide pacemaking duties again, despite being unable to get to the front when attempting to set the race up for Auguste Rodin in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
I backed Auguste Rodin at 6/1 to win that Group One ante-post, and again at 13/8 on the day of the race. The favourite got the job done a shade cosily, with his superior staying power proving pivotal on the long run to the line.
Auguste Rodin is, undoubtedly, a top-quality horse. 13/8 was an excellent price considering he was the only Group One winner in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes who carried any sort of form into the contest.
That being said, Aidan O'Brien's star certainly isn't unbeatable. Auguste Rodin was the first horse to be eased down in this race 12 months ago and the market leader has four recent Group One winners to contend with in Saturday's feature. 5/4 doesn't represent value to me.
Bluestocking is a horse I like, but a sunny build-up to Saturday's King George could ensure that the ground is too quick for her liking. Ryan Moore gave Luxembourg a masterful ride to land the Coronation Cup at Epsom, but his stamina remains suspect over an honestly-run 12 furlongs and he won't have the world's best jockey in the saddle this weekend.
Of the less-fancied runners, I was most tempted by Middle Earth. John and Thady Gosden's four-year-old thundered home to win the Aston Park Stakes on his reappearance, and the runner-up that day, King Of Conquest has won two Listed races since. Oisin Murphy gave his mount too much to do in the Hardwicke Stakes, but Middle Earth finished with a flourish again, staying on past Continuous to claim third place.
If Middle Earth was widely available at, say, 20/1, then he would make it into my selections. If Murphy's mount drifts on the day, then I'll be having a small wager, but at his current odds of 10/1, there's little juice in Middle Earth's price.
Rebel's Romance winning his first Group One in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf. (Getty)
2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips
The runner I'm most keen to back is REBEL'S ROMANCE (9/2). Charlie Appleby's star will be looking to complete a Group One hat-trick at Ascot, having recorded clear-cut victories in the Sheema Classic and the Champions & Chater Cup earlier this year.
Despite going off at 20/1, William Buick's mount ran out a hugely impressive winner of a top-quality Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup Night. Rebel's Romance then put some of Hong Kong's best middle-distance horses to the sword with another power-packed display when last seen at the end of May.
Despite running 19 times so far in his career, Rebel's Romance has only raced on home soil on five occasions. Charlie Appleby's six-year-old has won all five of those starts, winning the Fred Archer and the Glorious Stakes in 2022, and defeating Elegant Man in the Flower Stakes at Kempton in December before heading out to the UAE.
A mile-and-a-half is Rebel's Romance's best trip and fast ground will play to his strengths. William Buick's mount has produced his best on the back of similar absences on several occasions. Everything seems to be in Rebel's Romance's favour.
While he may be one of the oldest runners in this year's King George, Rebel's Romance comes into this Group One in the best form of his career and William Buick's mount appeals most from a betting standpoint.
I think Rebel's Romance will go off shorter than 9/2, and he's got every chance of winning.
Best Bet1: Rebel's Romance 2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips @9/2 at bet365 - 15 Units
2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips
@9/2 - 15 Units
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