Fierce competitiveness is concentrated into 11 runners in the mile handicap at 14:40. Six of them still carry a Timeform 'p', three are Horses In Focus. Our selection, You're Fired, is both. Five starts into his career, he's proven over a mile though remains totally unexposed over the trip. He had his first try at Newmarket a fortnight ago and was beaten only by a Godolphin horse on its way to Group races, You're Fired pulling clear of the rest all the same. He's incurred a 5-lb rise for that, which is probably a fair cop on achievement, but it fails to allow for potential. You're Fired is going to improve with experience and will relish Ascot's stiff finish. He has as good a chance as any in this select field.
If someone says to you they've found a certainty in the International Stakes (15:15) then we're impressed, if only by their powers of self-deception. Cases can be made for most of the 29-strong field and we wouldn't claim to be able to give you a sure-fire winner. All we can offer is value, and the best appears to be with Ayaar.
This race is the latest in a line of near-impenetrable handicaps over Ascot's straight course. Ayaar's advantage is that he's charted his course through a couple already. He finished fourth over C&D in the Victoria Cup in May and returned for a crack at the Hunt Cup, in which he was a place worse off but shaped with more promise. Ayaar was just getting going that day when he was bumped, losing his momentum and out of the running by the time he got going again. Interference happens in these races and the best advice is not to get mad, but to get even. Ayaar is back again and, with a bit better luck, has strong claims on doing just that.
Concepts like value seem a bit mundane in the King George (15:50), which is one of those races that transcends betting and takes on the form of a significant sporting event in its own right. Value still exists, though, and for all Timeform are fans of both Telescope and Taghrooda we have to admit that Magician's price has moved into the hitting zone. He is the solid option, neither steepening his progress like Taghrooda nor stuttering his way to fulfilment like Telescope. Magician has had only two goes over 12 furlongs up to now: a winning venture in the Breeders' Cup Turf and the Sheema Classic, when he was by no means the only Ballydoyle runner to flop that week. His run in the Prince of Wales's last time, when he stayed on for second, suggested that he's ready for a third. If Magician gives his running, he'll ask plenty of questions of Telescope and Taghrooda.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Ascot
Back You're Fired in the 14:40
Back Ayaar in the 15:15
Back Magician in the 15:50
