Ryan Moore: Anthony Van Dyck needs to come forward to test King George favourites

Ryan Moore
26 July 2019

Can Ryan ride to a Royal Ascot winner?

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Betfair Ambassador Ryan Moore has five rides at Royal Ascot, and hopes Anthony Van Dyck can push the favourites in the King George...

"I wouldn't read anything negative into the headgear at all, as he is a well-seasoned horse, top-class and very tough and genuine, and he is getting the weight. You would have to think that 1m4f at Ascot will pose no problems either, but he clearly needs to come forward again from his Epsom win against the top two, and there is no denying that."

Impressive Lady

13:50 - Dark Lady

She looks to have bumped into a well-regarded sort on her debut at Newbury and I was quite taken with her when she won easily at Lingfield for me. This is obviously a big step up from that novice but she is an unexposed and well-bred filly - I used to ride the dam Ladyship - and she is well worth a tilt at Group company after what she did at Lingfield, though Summer Romance is the one we all have to beat, quite clearly. She was very impressive at Newmarket last time.

Strong chance

15:00 - Lake Volta

He ran well for me when fifth in the Bunbury Cup and he looks to have followed it up with a good second, under much different conditions of 6f and soft ground, at Hamilton last time. He is a solid handicapper who has fair course form, and he is actually 2lb well-in here.

First-time cheek pieces to help

15:40 - Anthony Van Dyck

Even when he won the Derby, we saw there that he ran in snatches a bit, so I think the first-time cheek pieces will help him to travel into the race a bit better.
It was clearly very disappointing to see him being beaten at the Curragh, where he raced behind the bridle and had nothing to take him into the contest. So, he is much better than that.

I wouldn't read anything negative into the headgear at all, as he is a well-seasoned horse, top-class and very tough and genuine, and he is getting the weight. You would have to think that 1m4f at Ascot will pose no problems either, but he clearly needs to come forward again from his Epsom win against the top two, and there is no denying that.

Enable has won two Arcs and is an exceptional horse. She has a beautiful rhythm, looked magnificent at Sandown, and you can't fault what she did when winning on her return there. But I certainly don't think this is anything like a gimme for her, for all her brilliance, and you must think Crystal Ocean is a very worthy opponent.

I personally wouldn't read too much into Enable beating him so easily at Kempton last season, not least because the filly was getting so much weight. Crystal Ocean felt like an improved horse to me when winning at Sandown and Newbury, and I was on the wrong end of that progression when he beat me on Magical at Royal Ascot.

I'd be pretty sure he will run very well on a track that he loves. Of the others, you would have to think Defoe will have to step up on his Group 1-winning efforts this season, and Waldgeist has been put in his place by Enable last season and Crystal Ocean this, so you would struggle to see him beating the market leaders at their best, though the quick ground will help him. Cheval Grand could have hit the board here at his peak, but he is getting on a bit now, and it is hard to see anything else getting into this, though Magic Wand goes well at the track and has her optimum conditions.

Needs to improve

16:15 - Subjectivist

He did what he was entitled to at Chelmsford last time and he bumped into the Superlative Stakes winner Mystery Power on his earlier start at Haydock, so there was no disgrace in that defeat. He will obviously need to progress again to be winning this, but the potential is there.

She should shine bright

17:20 - Vivid Diamond

She has been running consistently well of late and she was meeting a well-handicapped horse when running a good race behind Infrastructure at Chester last time. She can race off a 1lb lower mark here, and she looks to have a fair chance.

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