Horsebetting.com give their King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting tips for the feature 1m 4f Group 1 race at Ascot on Saturday, 28 July. Poet’s Word is taken over fellow Sir Michael Stoute trained runner Crystal Ocean as our main bet, while King Edward VII Stakes and Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich looks a bit of each-way value for Aidan O’Brien. Read more in our 2018 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting tips preview.Poet’s Word worth a punt in Stoute King George testSir Michael Stoute is the joint most successful trainer in the storied history of the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and is dual-handed as he bids to hold the record outright in this year’s renewal at Ascot on Saturday (15:40). Preference from his two runners here is for Poet’s Word, who is the least exposed of the pair at the trip.
This four-year-old son of Poet’s Voice is one from two at a mile-and-a-half, having landed the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood last season and then chasing home Hawkbill in the Sheema Classic at Meydan on reappearance in March.
Poet’s Word has spent most of his career to date being campaigned over 10 furlongs, but connections step him up for a third time to this distance after he sensationally reversed the placings with the possibly re-opposing Cracksman from the Champion Stakes last time out.
That final UK start of last season had seen the John Gosden trained, Anthony Oppenheimer owned rival bolt up by seven lengths on British Champions Day. Revenge was sweet for Poet’s Word, however, as he turned over the odds-on favourite in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was soon two lengths clear of Cracksman having made great headway to challenge and hit the front before the furlong marker and then running on well for a career best victory. In-form jockey James Doyle is again booked to take the ride on Poet’s Word here, which is another plus.
Many will make excuses for Cracksman in the Prince Of Wales. Despite being declared here, it is still far from certain whether he’ll lineup for this test over 2f further. Without significant rain to change the already watered good-to-firm ground, connections aren’t keen to run him.
That leaves Poet’s Word a leading candidate to land the spoils and his main challenger is stablemate Crystal Ocean, whose own claims are considerable and discussed shortly. Poet’s Word is our pick, however, because he is officially rated 4lb higher than the other Stoute runner and they race off level weights.Crystal Ocean the clear dangerCrystal Ocean is three out of four at a mile-and-a-half, including over course and distance last time out, so is hugely respected here. This son of Sea The Stars landed a hat-trick when sent off odds-on for the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at the royal meeting and was soon in command when taking up the running.
The four-year-old doesn’t have a Group 1 success on his CV like Poet’s Word, but has got the next best thing as he was a narrow half-a-length runner-up to Capri in the St Leger over an extended mile-and-three-quarters at Doncaster last season.
Connections have placed Crystal Ocean superbly this campaign as he’s been a strong favourite every time he’s turned out and justified starting prices of evens or shorter on all three occasions.
This is his toughest assignment since the Leger, but the trip is ideal and the head-to-head with Poet’s Word off level weights is going to be fascinating. Crystal Ocean does have 4lb to find on ratings with his stable companion, but it would be no surprise to see him follow-up and land the four-timer.Rostropovich looks overpriced and each-way valueOf those at bigger odds, Irish Derby runner-up Rostropovich looks massive value given his last two runs and is better each-way value than fellow Aidan O’Brien inmate Hydrangea, who is a course and distance winner but only against her own sex and was disappointing at Royal Ascot.
Rostropovich is a three-year-old who landed a 7f juvenile Group 2 at The Curragh last season and came out and won the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester’s May Festival on his second start of the campaign.
Stepping up to a mile-and-a-half in his last two runs has brought about improvement, as this son of Frankel chased home Old Persian over course and distance in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at the royal meeting and then reversed that form when a half-a-length runner-up to Latrobe in the Irish Derby.
Rostropovich was almost four lengths in front of him and rallied superbly when headed by the winner to nearly get back on terms. He was unfancied at 25/1 for the Irish Derby, so has a track record of outrunning his odds.
That performance has earned him an official mark of 114 but, as the sole three-year-old in the lineup, Rostropovich receives 11lb from the market principals. That could be enough to see him making the frame again.Your Next Bet
