'His odds are plain wrong' - why this horse can win the King George

Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (3.35) at Ascot has attracted a top-quality field featuring five Group 1 winners – but who do our experts fancy?

Torquator Tasso

Odds: 14-1

By Keith Melrose, betting editor

While I am a fan of the Epsom Classics form, the post-declarations market is surely showing too much faith in them. Derby third/Irish Derby winner Westover and Oaks second Emily Upjohn are shorter than 1-2 if you were to combine their odds. Considering the four others in the line-up are all open-age Group 1 winners, and includes the reigning champions in the Juddmonte and the Arc, that seems skinny to say the least.

The most out-of-whack price is surely that of Torquator Tasso. Yes, defending his Arc crown is the main aim but he has had two prep runs to get fit for this race and the idea that he needs soft ground because he is German-bred is not far off a stereotype. He handles good ground and his relatives have handled firmer when asked. Double-figure odds are plain wrong.

Emily Upjohn

Odds: 5-2

By David Jennings, Deputy Ireland editor

Now that she has crept out to 5-2, Emily Upjohn is the play. I know some people have changed their mind about how unlucky she was not to win the Cazoo Oaks but without the early stumble I still believe she would have won. She's an imposing filly who is surely only going to get better with time.

If she settles, she wins. That's the way I am looking at the King George. The Mudisora has worked out terribly but she won that after pulling most of the way. She must be a seriously smart filly to do that.

Westover

Odds: 11-8

By Charlie Huggins, reporter

It might be boring but Westover is the banker of the weekend. Getting weight all round with the exception of Emily Upjohn is a steal for the Irish Derby winner who is 3-3 at right-handed tracks.

Juddmonte's exciting three-year-old was more than ten lengths clear of Emily Upjohn’s Oaks conqueror Tuesday at the Curragh and should confirm the form at Ascot. Emily Upjohn was rerouted from the Irish Oaks and John and Thady Gosden have already seen one of their top-class fillies flop when race plans were altered, when Inspiral was overturned at 1-7 in the Falmouth Stakes.

Mishriff has a new rider and I fear may have left his run at the Coral-Eclipse, Broome is yet to win a domestic Group 1 and I can’t trust Torquator Tasso on quick ground. Therefore, Westover gets the nod to oblige for favourite backers.

Broome

Odds: 25-1 with bet365

By Owen Goulding, reporter

Usually underestimated throughout his career, I think Broome can run far better than a price of 25-1 suggests he will.

He built on a promising return over an inadequate 1m2f by easily winning the Hardwicke Stakes on his most recent start, making most of the running under Ryan Moore. It can be hard to peg back front runners on quick ground at Ascot and I suspect similar tactics will be applied again.

He probably lacks the class of Westover and Mishriff, but there is every chance he will get a soft lead and if that does prove to be the case, I can see him sneaking into the top two for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Ascot, 3.35 Saturday)

Ladbrokes: 6-4 Westover, 5-2 Emily Upjohn, 3 Mishriff, 12 Torquator Tasso, 14 Broome, 22 Pyledriver

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