THERE may be only four runners, but it’s still a fascinating King George.

It’s great that Enable has remained in training, just like it’s great that tomorrow’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup favourite Magical has remained in training. If John Gosden’s mare had won her third Arc last October, she would probably be off in the paddocks by now so, silver linings.

She is a six-year-old mare though, it may be that she will not be able to scale the peaks that she scaled at three and four and even at five.

It is not ideal that she was beaten in the Eclipse on her seasonal return. You can allow her that, Ghaiyyath is obviously top-class, and she only has one objective this year, but it is still a little concerning that it was a step below her previous two seasonal debuts, when she beat Crystal Ocean at Kempton two years ago, and when she beat Magical in the Eclipse last year. She still finished a head in front of Japan at Sandown, who had had the benefit of a run this season. And Enable should be better over a mile and a half today.

Formidable opponent

But so should Japan. And, if you had been told at the start of the year that Japan would win just one race, and you had been asked to name the race, you probably would have said King George. Aidan O’Brien’s horse is a formidable opponent for Enable today.

Add last year’s Derby winner at Epsom, Anthony Van Dyck, and last year’s Irish Derby winner Sovereign, who shaped really encouragingly on his first run since in the Vintage Crop Stakes four weeks ago, and you really have a fascinating encounter.

Bigger prices

There are bigger fields and bigger prices elsewhere though, like the Moet & Chandon International Stakes earlier on the card, with 20 runners, in which the 18/1 that is available about Arbalet looks big.

The Dark Angel gelding was a highly talented horse for Hugo Palmer as a three-year-old, and he was particularly good at Ascot.

Fifth behind Expert Eye in the Jersey Stakes at the royal meeting in 2018, he went back to Ascot and finished second to Burnt Sugar in this race on this day two years ago.

He lost his way a little last year as a four-year-old but, now with David O’Meara and after a gelding operation, there are signs that he retains plenty of ability.

He was only just beaten in a handicap at Redcar off a mark of 90 late last month, and he ran a big race at York last week to finish fourth behind Documenting off today’s mark of 91. He travelled well to the two-furlong marker that day, and he picked up nicely, keeping on for fourth place. The first three home were all held up, they were literally third last, second last and last of the 19 runners through the first furlong, so Arbalet did well to get to within two and a half lengths of the winner given that he raced just behind the pace, and a little keenly, from a wide draw.

Low draw

His low draw today is a small concern, but there is plenty of pace drawn low, so he should get a nice tow into the race. Also, he should appreciate the return to Ascot, where course form is so important, especially on the straight track, and where we know he goes well.

Danny Tudhope doesn’t ride him, but that is not the negative that it appears to be at first glance, because he has a fine book of rides at York and, in Tudhope’s absence, Andrea Atzeni is a great booking. There could be one of these big handicaps in Arbalet off his mark of 91, 16lb lower than his peak and, while he wouldn’t want much rain, seven furlongs at Ascot is ideal.

Handicap

Evening Sun could go well too in the three-year-olds’ one-mile handicap. Roger Charlton’s horse did well to finish second to this year’s Jersey Stakes favourite King Leonidas in a seven-furlong novices’ stakes at Newmarket in October last year, given how keen he was early on. He was brave too in going through a narrow gap inside the final furlong, before running on strongly to the line.

Queen Elizabeth’s horse impressed too on his debut this season, in winning a novice stakes over seven furlongs back at Newmarket. He was odds-on that day, but he couldn’t have been much more impressive than he was. He got unbalanced in the dip, but he stayed on strongly to come away from his rivals through the final 150 yards.

He beat Lincoln Bright by three and a half lengths – he was value for more – and Lincoln Bright came out last Sunday and finished third in the Listed King Charles II Stakes – usually a Jersey Stakes pointer at Newmarket – with the 105-rated Symbolize a half a length behind him in third.

A handicap rating of 88 looks more than fair for Evening Sun on this, his handicap debut. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle today, he should progress from his seasonal debut and, out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, he should improve for the step up to a mile.

Recommended

Arbalet, 1 point each-way, 2.25 Ascot, 18/1 (generally)

Evening Sun, 1 point win, 3.00 Ascot, 9/2 (generally)