The King George V Stakes is a handicap run over 1m4f. It takes place at 15:05 on Thursday 20th June, which is the third day of Royal Ascot 2024. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

1⁽¹⁰⁾

01-341

Persica

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

9-9

101

112

Two wins from four starts as 2yo (the two defeats were his only runs on good to firm) and progressive on all three outings this term; ran on well from the back when fourth of 16 in London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good) and although dictating the pace helped at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) on Derby Day, he also asserted in clearcut style; up 9lb and there's a ground question but 1m4f looks plausible and he's making impressive progress.

5⁽³⁾

14-1

Naval Force

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O'Brien

9-1

100

Impressed at Killarney on debut and it was a Group 3 in which he was found wanting next time, both on heavy; outpaced well over 3f out in a median auction race at Roscommon (10.4f, soft) last month but stuck on admirably for a narrow win (Neski Sherelski close up); far less stoutly bred than some but it looks as if he can stay 1m4f and may still progress, which is needed.

16⁽⁹⁾

52-3

Autumn Winter

J: Jim Crowley

T: A P O'Brien

8-8

108

Three races on heavy in Ireland, with pretty useful form last year but not so good when comprehensively turned over at 4-9 on reappearance; stepping up from 1m to 1m4f on probably good to firm ground is ringing the changes for this Galileo colt on handicap debut for top yard, which runs four.

3⁽⁷⁾

223-13

Chantilly

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O'Brien

9-6

113

Comfortably justified favouritism in Leopardstown handicap (1m2f, heavy) in April, opening his account, and improved markedly again when front-running third of 13 in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer); up another 3lb but he should improve again now trying 1m4f.

2⁽¹⁷⁾

412-63

Gasper De Lemos

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: A P O'Brien

9-6

106

Unraced on firmer than good; rather put in his place in a Group 3 on final 2yo start and two Listed races this season, but he rallied well when a close third to Birdman (Wednesday's Queen's Vase third) over 1m5f at Navan last time and perhaps could have done with setting a stronger pace; top trainer (runs four) won this in 2019 and has had two runners on the premises since.

7⁽²⁾

2319-2

City Burglar

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ralph Beckett

9-0

110

Won on handicap debut at Ayr (1m, good to soft) last September and, after a lesser show at Doha in December, he resumed improvement with a battling second of eight in handicap here (1m2f, good) in May; up 4lb but may have more to give.

15⁽⁸⁾

214-46

Go Daddy

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

8-9

111

2yo win was 1m2f on soft; no improvement this season and although his sixth of 13 in the London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) last time was creditable, others seem to shout out more loudly for 1m4f.

4⁽¹⁸⁾

311-1

Going The Distance

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-2

109

All three 2yo starts were on softer than good, winner of novice contests at Ffos Las (7.3f) and Nottingham (8.3f); completed his hat-trick in six-runner handicap at Kempton (1m3f, AW) ten weeks ago, never in doubt at 8-11 after he quickened on 2f out; up 7lb and on probably different ground but he's been winning in some style and has more to give.

13⁽¹⁵⁾

72-21

Gallantly

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O'Brien

8-10

110

Short-priced favourite in maidens all four starts; twice made most when runner-up over 1m in the mud, before getting up in the final 1f at Chester (good; unraced on firmer) six weeks ago when upped to 10.3f; others have come here by more flashy routes but it looks as if 1m4f will suit him well.

11⁽⁴⁾

41-614

Warda Jamila

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

8-10

111

Overall record is 2-5 and she led 2f out to justify favouritism comfortably on handicap debut here (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) in May; every chance and rallied in the blanket finish over 1m1f at Hamilton 22 days later; needs better but there's a lot of stamina on the dam's side, as demonstrated by her half-brother the Gold Cup contender Coltrane.

8⁽¹⁴⁾

13-22

Poniros

J: David Egan

T: Ralph Beckett

9-0

113

Heavy-ground win on debut and competitive on all three starts since; 16-1 for handicap debut in London Gold Cup at Newbury (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) last time, challenging 3f out and rallying to finish just ahead of Chantilly and Persica; up 4lb but likely to stay 1m4f and progressing nicely.

19⁽²⁰⁾

31-43

Assailant

J: Saffie Osborne

T: John & Thady Gosden

8-5

109

Made most and rallied to justify favouritism in a novice at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) in December; ran creditably though well held both starts since, trying blinkers when third of nine behind a runaway winner in handicap at Newmarket (1m2f, good) in April; needs to find a good deal extra to take this race and he has been gelded.

18⁽¹⁾

0-6212

East India Dock

J: Hollie Doyle

T: James Fanshawe

8-6

109

Progressive form, finding a jolt of improvement when stepped up to 1m4f for a handicap at Salisbury (soft) which he won by nearly 10l; raised 12lb when second at Doncaster (14.5f, good) 19 days ago, coming from last of eight, and he's another 4lb higher today, so better still is required.

12⁽¹²⁾

84-2

French Duke

J: William Buick

T: Roger Varian

8-10

107

Made promising late gains at Wolverhampton in December (9.4f, AW) on second start; raced freely and made most in 11-runner maiden at Newbury (1m2f, good) on reappearance five weeks ago, holding a clear lead mid-race but rallying well once collared by the winner 2f out and going down by a short head; there's plenty of hope for 1m4f, even if settling better would seem to be a priority.

9⁽¹³⁾

25-111

Fouroneohfever

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

8-12

110

Unbeaten in his three handicaps, the first two over about 1m4f and the latest at 10.3f; asked some serious questions at Chester (good, then good to soft) on last two occasions and he's kept answering them; going up another 6lb demands more but further improvement can't be ruled out.

10⁽⁵⁾

61-0

Kamboo

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Richard Hughes

8-11

104

Dam unraced sister to strong stayer Mahler; made most to win a novice at Kempton (1m, AW) in December on second start; unsurprisingly never better than mid-division when 80-1 in the Derby no less at Epsom (1m4f, good to soft) on reappearance, left behind as soon as they entered the straight; that leaves him unexposed but with plenty to prove.

14⁽¹⁹⁾

153

Neski Sherelski

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

8-9

107

Very green when coming through for debut win at Dundalk (10.5f, AW) in January; last of five next time, but travelled best and kept on when close third of seven to Naval Force at level weights in a median auction contest at Roscommon (10.4f, soft), still looking green under pressure; fair chance he will stay 1m4f and big chance that his best is still ahead of him.

17⁽¹⁶⁾

441

Highland Bling

J: Rachel King

T: Mrs John Harrington

8-6

107

Has run in three maidens this March-June; after his performances over 1m4f (good) on last two starts, it's less a question of whether he stays the trip than whether it's too short for him; he could just be getting the hang of things, as switching to front-running in cheekpieces brought a narrow, rallying win at Fairyhouse 13 days ago, but this demands a lot more.

6⁽⁶⁾

531

Gilded Water

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-0

112

Same connections won this race last year; confined to three runs this spring, taking major steps forward; surged well clear from the rest in the closing stages of a maiden at Chepstow (1m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago and, although the opposition that day looked fair at best, he's an exciting prospect whose dam is a 1m4f winner.

RACING POST TIP

Gilded Water

The London Gold Cup form at Newbury received a swift boost when Persica won in no little style at Epsom on Derby Day and while he may have shown his hand a bit too much with that win, the Newbury second Poniros (second choice) and third Chantilly renew rivalry and bring plenty of encouragement for 1m4f. Poniros's trainer Ralph Beckett also has Going The Distance, who is on a four-timer. Fouroneohfever has won all three of his handicaps but there's a handicap newcomer who may scupper them all in the shape of GILDED WATER, who left the impression he was only just finding his stride when he steamed clear from maiden opposition over 1m2f at Chepstow. Neski Sherelski is another who makes a step up in trip today and looks interesting.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Desert Hero [21]	3	8-13	18/1	William Haggas	Tom Marquand
2022	Pyledriver [4]	5	9-9	18/1	William Muir & Chris Grassick	P J McDonald
2021	Adayar [4]	3	8-10	9/4	Charlie Appleby	William Buick
2020	Enable [3]	6	9-4	4/9F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2019	Enable [11]	5	9-4	8/15F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2018	Poet’s Word [8]	5	9-7	7/4	Sir Michael Stoute	James Doyle
2017	Enable [7]	3	8-7	5/4F	John Gosden	Frankie Dettori
2016	Highland Reel [3]	4	9-7	13/8F	A P O’Brien	Ryan Moore
2015	Postponed [9]	4	9-7	6/1	Luca Cumani	Andrea Atzeni
2014	Taghrooda [7]	3	8-6	7/2	John Gosden	Paul Hanagan

Key race stats 2024

Key trends

Officially rated between 88 and 95, 10/10
Top-two finish last time, 9/10 (seven won)
Carried no more than 9st 1lb, 8/10
Previously contested a handicap, 8/10 (six won one)
Won earlier in the season, 8/10
Drawn in double figures, 7/10

Other factors

The Johnston yard has had six winners since 1995, while Sir Michael Stoute has had four.

Only one winner had previously scored over the trip.

What happened in the King George V Stakes last year?

DESERT HERO was a bit disappointing under a forward ride in the London Gold Cup on reappearance, but he’s bred for this sort of test and, in a race where the leaders were coming back at him (something he needed from stall 21), he weaved his way through. Valiant King, ready winner of a 1m2f Navan maiden, looked fairly treated for this handicap debut, up to 1m4f for the first time, and like the winner he had to work a passage through, meeting his share of trouble in the straight. Bertinelli, narrow winner of the London Gold Cup from a mark of 99, closed nicely from off the pace but couldn’t put it to bed.

King George V Stakes

15:05 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Key race stats 2024

What happened in the King George V Stakes last year?

All Races