{"id":15973,"date":"2025-07-22T17:27:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/15973\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T17:27:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:27:08","slug":"french-raider-calandagan-to-be-crowned-in-the-king-george","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/15973\/","title":{"rendered":"French raider Calandagan to be crowned in the King George"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\tTuesday 22 July 2025 5:32 pm<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tTuesday 22 July 2025 5:33 pm\n\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tShare<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Facebook\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tX\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Twitter\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on LinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tWhatsApp\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on WhatsApp\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on Email\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p><img width=\"742\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Calandagan.jpg\" class=\"media \" alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"sync\"  \/>\t\tCalandagan was a six-length winner at Royal Ascot last year.\t<\/p>\n<p>ASCOT is the main port of call this Saturday for a high-class card featuring the premier middle-distance race of mid-summer, the Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (4.10pm).<\/p>\n<p>Last year, the spoils were claimed by France\u2019s Goliath, who ran out an impressive winner under Christophe Soumillon for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.<\/p>\n<p>I fancy that the prize could be travelling back across the Channel again, and once more to the Graffard yard, courtesy of CALANDAGAN.<\/p>\n<p>Memories of his demolition of his rivals in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot little over a year ago are still relatively fresh, and he very nearly took his record at the track to two-from-two when going down by only half-a-length to Anmaat in the Champions Stakes last October.<\/p>\n<p>While he was beaten by his reopposing rival, Jan Brueghel, in the Coronation Cup this season, that horse was given the perfect ride, and Calandagan looked very uneasy on Epsom\u2019s unique camber.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, Calandagan was an impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, and I think he can reverse the form from Epsom back at a track he clearly loves, with 15\/8 a more than fair price.<\/p>\n<p>The big betting heat of the day is the International Handicap (3.00pm), where we look to be sitting pretty with last week\u2019s 40\/1 ante-post selection NORTHERN EXPRESS.<\/p>\n<p>Ante-post betting is all about taking a big price and watching your horse go off considerably shorter, so with Michael Dods\u2019 charge now a best priced 14\/1, we\u2019re looking good.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d like to add another selection in this big field though, with the Ian Williams-trained AALTO.<\/p>\n<p>Newmarket\u2019s Bunbury Cup, run two weeks ago, looks the key form line here, and Aalto ran a big race to finish second there behind our winning selection More Thunder.<\/p>\n<p>Having triumphed in the race last year, he only went down by a nose this time and is now officially five pounds well-in on ratings here off just 91.<\/p>\n<p>He also has form in this contest, finishing just over two lengths behind Northern Express 12 months ago, despite meeting plenty of trouble in running.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s interesting that he returns here off a one-pound higher mark, and with William Buick booked, I\u2019m keen to take the 6\/1 on offer.<\/p>\n<p>In the following handicap (3.35pm) over Ascot\u2019s straight mile, TEROOMM could be a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"read-more__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityam.com\/all-aboard-the-northern-express-to-pull-away-from-ascot-rivals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">All aboard the Northern Express to pull away from Ascot rivals<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Roger Varian\u2019s three-year-old racked up a hat-trick of wins earlier in the season in the style of a pattern performer and was sent off at 9\/1 for the Britannia at Royal Ascot.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing went right for him there, as he was caught with no room when trying to make progress up the stands rail.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s better than his finishing position suggests and could offer good each-way value at 8\/1.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve one final dart to throw on Ascot\u2019s card with MIDNIGHT TANGO in the Princess Margaret Stakes (1.40pm).<\/p>\n<p>This filly has improved with each of her three runs to date.<\/p>\n<p>She settled much better last time out at Newmarket, and powered past recent Newbury Super Sprint winner Anthelia under hands and heels riding when finishing a close third.<\/p>\n<p>Godolphin\u2019s Dance To The Music looks a worthy favourite, but she hasn\u2019t been seen since winning in May and at 14\/1 I\u2019d much rather be with Ed Walker\u2019s filly.<\/p>\n<p>POINTERS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SATURDAY<\/p>\n<p>Midnight Tango e\/w\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1.40pm\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ascot<\/p>\n<p>Aalto e\/w\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.00pm\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ascot<\/p>\n<p>Teroomm e\/w\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.35pm\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ascot<\/p>\n<p>Calandagan \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4.10pm\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ascot<\/p>\n<p>Already Advised<\/p>\n<p>Northern Express 40\/1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3.00pm\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ascot<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tRead more<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<a class=\"read-more__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cityam.com\/fair-chance-angellica-will-come-good-in-the-hackwood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Fair chance Angellica will come good in the Hackwood<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\tSimilarly tagged content: <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tSections\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tCategories\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tRelated Topics\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Tuesday 22 July 2025 5:32 pm \u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0Updated:\u00a0 Tuesday 22 July 2025 5:33 pm Share Facebook Share on Facebook&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15974,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[3004,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-15973","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-racing","8":"tag-racing","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15973\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}