THERE is often a National Hunt feel to the Ascot Stakes but it spread to the King George V Stakes this year as Alan King and Willie Twiston-Davies, gaining their first success at the meeting, teamed up to win the mile and a half handicap with Primitivo.

Twiston-Davies decided some time ago that his future lay on the level, but King is still primarily a jumps trainer. He has done extremely well with Primitivo, who was making it four off the reel and has gone up 26lb since winning a nursery last year.