Constantinople heads strong quartet for Aidan O'Brien in day-three finale

5.35 Royal Ascot
King George V Stakes | 1m4f |3yo | ITV/Sky

Aidan O'Brien is pulling out all the stops to win the finale on day three for the first time, fielding a strong quartet headed by recent Curragh winner Constantinople.

The son of Galileo is up in trip after finishing with a flourish to land the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes over 1m2f under Ryan Moore.

Constantinople, who had reopposing stablemate Antilles back in fourth that day, may face his main threat from O'Brien's other pair of South Pacific and Eminence.

This is a first trip out of Ireland for South Pacific, who won a 1m2f maiden at Naas in April before finishing second in a minor event at the same track the following month in which Eminence finished third.

O'Brien said: "Constantinople won nicely at the Curragh and is progressing nicely with every run. He seems in very good form. Antilles is stepping up in trip and you never really know until you try it. Eminence ran well at Naas last time and is also stepping up a bit in trip, while South Pacific ran in the same race at Naas and finished just ahead of him."

Johnston bids to enhance impressive record

Mark Johnston has won this three-year-old contest six times, most recently with Baghdad last year, and he runs three in a bid for a seventh success.

The trio are headed by Sir Ron Priestley, who is unbeaten in two starts this season and is up 8lb for his dismissal of the useful Lariat over this trip at Haydock last time.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father Mark, said: "Sir Ron Priestley is the obvious one of our three and we've always thought a lot of him. He improved from two to three and this has been his target since the start of the season. He ran the other day purely so he could get a penalty to get into this race and he looks the ideal candidate."

The trainer also fields Persian Moon and Summer Moon, both of whom were not disgraced last time.

Charlie Johnston added: "This is Persian Moon's first time in a handicap and he has chased home smart sorts like Bangkok recently, so this is a slight step down in class. He should improve for the trip."

Summer Moon had his winning run brought to an end at Doncaster last time but that was at the hands of Durston, who has since followed up at Chester.

Johnston added: "Summer Moon was an impressive winner at Windsor and York and showed plenty of speed on those occasions. He ran well last time and the form of that race will work out well."

Godolphin's Great Example working well

Godolphin have a good recent record in this and rely on emphatic Ripon scorer Great Example, who was not stopping when scoring by eight lengths over 1m2f.

Elite Army (2014), Space Age (2015) and Atty Persse (2017) have carried the blue silks to victory and Saeed Bin Suroor's latest hopeful has worked well on the Newmarket gallops following his last success.

Bin Suroor said: "Great Example is drawn a little wide but he's going well at home and this looks the right race for him."

Haggas unsure about wide draw for Sinjaari

Sinjaari was a bit unlucky not to win the London Gold Cup at Newbury last time – a race which is always a good Royal Ascot trial – but has been done no favours by being drawn in stall 22 .

However, Atty Persse came from the very same stall to win two years ago and Mohammed Jaber's improver should handle the ground.

Trainer William Haggas said: "I'm not exactly thrilled to bits with being drawn in stall 22, although my son tells me the wide draw isn't necessarily a bad thing. He's a lovely horse who is very genuine and goes on any ground. He ran very well at Newbury and he should run well at Ascot."

What they say

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Almania
Sir Michael Stoute is pleased with the horse and he's entitled to come on for his comeback although his draw in 21 will make things difficult.

John Gosden, trainer of Questionare
He's snuck in down the handicap and has been running consistently all season. He should handle the ground.

Michael Bell, trainer of Babbo's Boy
He has exactly the right profile for the race and we're very happy about his draw in stall one. He's got a pedigree that says he'll handle cut in the ground.

Spotlight verdict

Aidan O'Brien has only ever won two handicaps at Royal Ascot (2015 and 2016) but he's throwing plenty at this one and his topweight Constantinople might just turn out to be a class act. Like so many in this line-up, none of the O'Brien horses have been beyond 1m2f, whereas Mark Johnston (a trainer to note in this race) arrives with Summer Moon and Sir Ron Priestley who have demonstrated their stamina thoroughly, albeit on a sound surface. Preferred in that order, they could have a very big say, while plenty of the others are promising and/or unexposed, but preference is for Sinjaari (nap), who has already been tested in a highly competitive handicap and very nearly won it when he stayed on more strongly than Good Birthday over 1m2f at Newbury. Sinjaari has stall 22 but plenty of recent winners of this race have come from wide draws.

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