Royal Ascot 2021 Stats Guides: King George V Stakes

A handicap for 3yos over 1m4f, Aidan O’Brien saddled the 1-2-3 in 2019 which was a nice way for him to break his duck in the race. However, it is Mark Johnston that leads the way with six successes and he has also supplied six close-up placed runners, the latest being last year with his big Ascot Gold Cup hope, Subjectivist.

Johnston likes to come at this race multiple-handed whereas Sir Michael Stoute has had far fewer runners so his record of four victories in the last 21 years including a 1-2 in 2004 so his record is arguably even more noteworthy. John Gosden also commands respect as from his last 20 runners stretching back to 1993, he has notched up two winners, a second and three thirds. Roger Charlton’s contenders also deserve a second look as his Atty Persse in 2017 added to the victory of Source Of Light in 1992 and in between three of his other six runners made the frame. Godolphin owned the 1-2 in 2017.

It’s not been a great race for the top weights with just one winner carrying over 9st since 2001 and when Elite Army managed that he was carrying only 1lb above that threshold.

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With 17 of the last 28 winners failing to win as a two-year-old, we should be looking towards the later-developing types. The more lightly-raced the individual, the more interested we should be and also respect the value of a good run last time out as 30 of the last 32 winners either won or finished placed on their most recent start. Five of the last 15 winners had won a handicap at Sandown.

Also, don’t be put off by maidens. The 66/1 winner, Cosmic Sun, 12 years ago was a maiden as was Heron Bay when scoring on his handicap debut in 2007 after three defeats in maidens whilst the 1999 winner, Elmutabaki, was beaten in four maidens before winning on his first start in a handicap.

Favourites didn't have an especially good record up until Colony’s success 13 years ago with just one obliging in between when Carlingford won in 1989 but Brown Panther justified 4/1 favouritism in style in 2011 winning by six lengths and it was the 4/1 joint-favourites, Elite Army and Windshear, who fought out the finish seven years ago.

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Positves: A maiden at the start of the campaign (or even heading into the race), the more lightly-raced the better, won a Sandown handicap, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Mark Johnston, John Gosden or Roger Charlton, likely to start between 13/2 and 14/1.

Negatives: Carrying over 9st, finished outside the first three last time out.