2022 Irish Derby winner Westover will make his first appearance since that triumph last month at this Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. The three-year-old will be looking to secure a third win in four races this season having won a classic trial at Sandown before finishing third behind Desert Crown at the Epsom Derby.
The two derby winners were due to go head-to-head again at the Berkshire course before Desert Crown was withdrawn from the field last week due to injury. Nonetheless, Westover will have his work cut out to land the UK’s second richest race as he is joined by a slim but very strong field. He is, however, still the bookmakers’ favourite – a 2.25 chance with Betfred.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 20th, 6:00 P.M. (BST)
An unexpected third in the Epsom Derby when going off at 26.00, the colt, trained by Ralph Beckett and sired by the legendary Frankel, went to The Curragh three weeks later and won the Irish version in great style. Colin Keane sat on Westover for the Irish Derby instead of regular jockey Rob Hornby, and the Irishman has been given the nod to retain his place in the saddle this weekend.
There will be a new name on the trophy, but last year’s runner-up Mishriff is back for another crack at this prestigious open-age Group One. The five-year-old returned well from a few months away with a second place at Sandown a fortnight ago and is the third favourite priced at 4.00 with Betfred. John and Thady Gosden know what it takes to train a winner in this race as they have three victories to their name in the last five runnings of this epic race.
Separating those two in the market is the Gosden’s other big chance in Emily Upjohn. The filly won her first three outings before narrowly losing to Tuesday in the Oaks, and if it wasn’t for a stumbling start, she could have taken the victory under Frankie Dettori. A 3.25 shot with Betfred, she was out at 11.00 a week ago.
Returning from the 2021 renewal is Broome who, after some patchy form over the last twelve months, bounced back with a victory over the same 1 mile 4 furlongs at the Royal Ascot meeting in June. At 17.00, could AP O’Brien’s six-year-old go better than last year’s fourth place and be an each-way chance?
Winner of 2021’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Germany’s Torquator Tasso is another to keep an eye on for his first run in Britain. He’s going the wrong way in the market, though, now at 15.00 while a few days ago he was as short as 7.00, but discounting an Arc winner is quite the risk!
Making up the field is Pyledriver, who will be ridden by PJ McDonald. McDonald has only partnered with the five-year-old once and that was nearly three years ago. That was a victory, however, and as the 26.00 outsiders they’ll be hoping that lucky omen continues.
Last year’s winner, Ayadar, is also a notable absentee having been scratched from the King George Diamond Weekend’s showpiece race earlier this month by his trainer Charlie Appleby, which means he is still to make his bow this season.
