I've got a huge 18-1 tip on King George day at Ascot… where we could soon be talking about a new master trainer
MATT CHAPMAN I've got a huge 18-1 tip on King George day at Ascot… where we could soon be talking about a new master trainer
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ONCE in France it was all about the master trainer Fabre. Now there's Graffard.
On Saturday at Ascot Graffard has the chance to do something that Fabre hasn't yet done and land a second Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
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Back at his beloved Ascot can Calandagan get the better of Jan Brueghel in their epic rematch? Find out live on ITV1 at 4.10pm
Credit: PA
This is big.
Francis-Henri Graffard, one of the most likeable handlers you could meet, saddles a horse in CALANDAGAN who might just have been much maligned in the mile-and-a-half summer showpiece.
For much of his career Calandagan has been ridden as if he's a nutter.
Held up miles off the pace. Given loads to do. Because he's been gelded, it's been easy to assume that he's got issues.
However, on occasions, Calandagan has managed to win and looked a beast.
It was at Royal Ascot last year that the strapping son of Gleneagles came from last - on the home bend - to first to grab the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes.
It was quite extraordinary, although not the strongest renewal with the benefit of hindsight.
He went on to chase home Anmaat in the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes, also at Ascot and again given plenty of ground to make up.
This season he was second (well held) in Meydan to Danon Decile and chased home Jan Brueghel when seemingly outbattled in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Three runner-up spots got some wondering about Calandagan's attitude.
But what's important is what happened on June 29 at Saint-Cloud.
That day regular partner Mickael Barzalona rode Calandagan like a normal horse, settling in fourth but not that far off the gallop.
Ultimately he would go on and hack up in that Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, suggesting he might not be quite the fruitcake some of us might have thought.
Fabre has only won the King George once, and that was with the great Hurricane Run in 2006.
Graffard, of course, took the big race with Goliath last year.
If Calandagan scores he will become the first trainer to land consecutive renewals of the King George with a different horse since Sir Michael Stoute did so via Conduit and Harbinger in 2009/10.
This is no one-horse race. But Calandagan only has three rivals and a pacemaker to beat.
Taking on the Aga Khan's four-year-old are Jan Brueghel, Rebel's Romance and Kalpana.
Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel saw off Calandagan in the Coronation Cup, but as I've said under different tactics here I expect a change in result.
That said, Jan Brueghel is crucial and has every chance.
Also, he brings with him Continuous, who will set the gallop despite once being a Classic winner in the St Leger.
Rebel's Romance is an absolute warrior for Godolphin.
He's won nearly £11million in prize money and two Breeders' Cup Turf races along the way.
However, he was only third last year and I suspect he will find one or two too good again. He would also like firm ground.
Kalpana gets 3lb from her rivals, and she's pretty good for Andrew Balding, landing last season's Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at this course.
However, she hasn't been good enough this term to defeat Whirl and Los Angeles and she will need more here to score.
For many today the big betting race is the International Handicap over 7f.
I'll chance OLIVER SHOW for the Billy Loughnane and George Boughey team.
A mark of 98 is harsh enough for my hope, but he ran really well in the Lincoln at Doncaster off 95 before never getting involved after a slow start in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot.
That 7f will have been short enough in any case for a horse who has raced up to 1m2f.
With a normal start and getting back to the Lincoln form he would have an each-way chance.
Finally at York all eyes are on the exciting ALMAQAM in the Sky Bet Group 2 York Stakes over an extended 1m2f.
I'm all over Ed Walker's stable star here under the excellent Kieran Shoemark.
This colt has always been held in high regard and saw off Ombudsman when last seen in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.
He can go from the front or come off the pace and stays strong. The going is also ideal.
Everything is set for a massive run in a decent field.
Only slight concern is he does give plenty of weight to the three-year-olds. But he really should win.
What a Saturday. Racing fit for a King.
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