Trainer Mark Johsnton has won the King George V Stakes a record six times, and Sir Ron Priestley looks worth a bet at 7/1 with Coral to add to that tally in this year’s renewal of the competitive 1m 4f handicap at Royal Ascot on Thursday (17.35).
This son of Australia shaped with plenty of promise in two starts as a juvenile, finishing runner up on debut and a fine fourth to the now 114-rated Line Of Duty at Goodwood.
Pablo Escobarr, who came second that day, has since gone on to finish runner-up to subsequent Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in a Listed contest at Lingfield – so that gives the form a very strong look.
Sir Ron Priestley is unbeaten in two starts this season having sluiced up by six lengths at Ripon, before making a mockery of his opening handicap mark of 86 at Haydock when travelling strongly throughout and quickening clear to easily account for the 88-rated Lairat by the same margin.
The assessor has raised Sir Ron Priestley 8lb for that very taking and facile success, but a revised rating of 94 could still seriously underestimate his ability.
Sir Ron Priestley is also 2-2 over the 1m 4f trip and is a strapping and unexposed sort open to any amount of further improvement.
He has also bagged a decent draw in stall 10, so there is simply nothing not to like about Sir Ron Priestley’s profile for this and he is thus taken to land the hat-trick.
Persian and Summer Moon have each-way shouts
Middleham-based handler Johnston also saddles Persian Moon and Summer Moon, who both look to have each-way claims.
The former, who can backed at a whopping 33/1 with BetVictor at fifth of those odds for five places, was a useful juvenile – winning three times and finishing a fine third to subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain in a Group 3 at York.
Persian Moon has also posted three solid efforts this season, finishing a half-a-length third to Bangkok in a Group 2 at Sandown off an official rating of 103 and third and fourth in Listed contests at Newmarket and Goodwood.
The son of Nakfi now makes his handicap debut off a mark of 100 and that makes him a player at the weights on the pick of his form.
Summer Moon, meanwhile, comes into the race in fine form at having won his first two starts of the campaign at Windsor and York by an aggregate of 4 1/2 lengths.
The son of Sea The Moon also lost little in defeat last time out when a three-quarters of a length third at Doncaster.
Summer Moon also goes well for jockey PJ McDonald, who is two from three on him, so could be overpriced at 18/1 with Coral – who are also paying five places – in a typically wide-open renewal where a case can be made for plenty of the 21 runners.
Sanjaari holds solid claims
Sinjaari is another with solid claims following a fine run last time out when runner-up in the valuable 16-runner London Gold Cup over 1m 2f at Newbury.
The William Haggas trained colt came with a strong challenge form off the pace and failed by just a short-head to overhaul the highly regarded Headman.
It was a huge performance in a race that traditionally throws-up a whole host of subsequent winners and top class performers.
Given the way in which he finished off that day the extra two furlongs of this looks sure to suit Sinjaari. The son of Camelot also has every chance from a handicapping perspective as he is able to race off an unchanged mark.
That was also a career-best performance from Sinjaari who had previously chased home a subsequent Listed winner on seasonal reappearance at Redcar, before scoring in good style by 2 1/2 lengths at Windsor.
Sinjaari is clearly going the right way and everything looks in place for a big run; so, at 7/1 with William Hill, he is worthy of serious consideration.
