Questions answered: big views on the hot topics and key races

Looking ahead to Ascot, who do you fancy for the King George?

George Baker, jockey I think there’s value in Idaho, who had a legitimate excuse at Epsom after the bad journey and then impressed me at Ascot. He’s a horse I owe a lot to as he maybe gifted me my St Leger by falling when going so well, and I think he could end up top notch.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru Highland Reel is by far the best horse in the race and I expect him to win, just as he did last year. Many people don’t like Ulysses because he sweats up at the start but it doesn’t stop him running well and he’s the main danger. I remember we had to wash Bolkonski down three times before he won the 2,000 Guineas, though that was a long time ago, mind!

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner It’s hard to know what the final line-up will be but Highland Reel (right) looks certain to run and will take the beating. It was by no means as deep a race last year as it is this, but he’s better this year and I expect a repeat performance.

Willie McCreery, trainer Highland Reel has proved himself a hell of a good horse and a very consistent one. Ulysses is improving but I wouldn’t be sure about him over the trip. Jack Hobbs is a lot better than he showed last time and could be the main threat to Highland Reel, who looks the most likely winner.

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler Frontiersman might be a professional loser, but on a track that should suit better than those he has recently been beaten on I will give him one more chance at double-figure odds.

And for the slightly trickier International Handicap . . . ?

George Baker, jockey He’s not sure to make the cut, but if he gets in I’d really fancy Roger Charlton’s Bunbury Cup second Makzeem, who is Al Kazeem’s half-brother yet has really appreciated the drop back to seven furlongs. He’s on the improve, which you need to be for a race like this, and he’s 7lb well-in. The track will suit too.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru I should’ve kept the faith and backed Bless Him at Royal Ascot as I’d done my money on him the time before. As I’ve missed the wedding I don’t fancy going to the funeral so I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket again, but he’s the probable winner if he gets in.

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner I have two I like in this. Fastnet Tempest likes Ascot and looks the likeliest winner – things didn’t really pan out for him in the Hunt Cup. The turn of foot he showed when winning at Chester before that was very impressive. I also like a horse of Roger Charlton’s called Makzeem if he gets in. He has a very progressive profile.

Willie McCreery, trainer I’m far from being an expert on British handicap form but I’ll take Zhui Feng, who has good course form, running third in the Victoria Cup before winning the Royal Hunt Cup last month, and Polybius, who has run well over shorter trips over the course on his last two starts and who might benefit from the step up to seven furlongs.

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler Most of these slog it out among themselves every other week. Two exceptions are Bless Him and Makzeem and, given that he is marginally more likely to get in, I’ll side with Bless Him at this stage.

Which camp are you in for the Sussex: Ribchester or Churchill?

George Baker, jockey Ribchester is a fantastic miler and sets the standard, but I love Churchill and I’m sure he wasn’t himself
when he ran at Ascot. You can tell by the way Ryan [Moore] talks about him that he’s special and I think he could be a superstar.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru I know Ryan Moore is the best jockey on the planet but William Buick is the most improved I’ve seen in years so I’ll be sticking with Ribchester. Buick is riding with so much confidence, it reminds me of Tom Queally. I put Frankel in the stalls before the 2,000 Guineas, then heard on the radio he was ten lengths clear and thought, “Oh no he’s f***** off with him” – but Tom had confidence.

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner If you ignore each of their last runs then Churchill should be favourite, so I would be backing him at 15-8 on value grounds. I can see why Ribchester would be the safer option for many people having got form at the track, but the Sussex Stakes is often a close run thing and has thrown up some surprises in the past.

Willie McCreery, trainer It should be a fantastic race. Although Churchill ran well below his best at Ascot you have to respect him hugely, but I’m siding with Ribchester, who is stronger being a year older. He did everything right in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne and I think he’ll make it three Group 1s in a row.

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler In a match I would favour Ribchester, but that’s all in the prices, so perhaps Zelzal is worth a bet to beat them both. He has a bit to find on form but he looks the type to click one day, and it is interesting that his astute yard is sending him over from France.

You’ve a free ante-post Goodwood yankee – who’s on your slip?

George Baker, jockey I think a bet like that would be very risky with so much uncertainty around the weather. Besides Churchill I’d want to include Dutch Connection in the Lennox, but only if it was proper quick ground, and with so much rain about it wouldn’t be an ante-post proposition. If I was a punter I’d be waiting for a bit of certainty in that respect.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru I went into Paddy Power on Newmarket High Street but couldn’t find a price for Prince Of Arran in the Goodwood Cup, but he’d be an each-way selection in the race. I like Winter in the Nassau, who has been one of the horses of the year. I’ve long been a fan of Home Of The Brave, who should win the Lennox, and the banker is Ribchester.

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner It’s too early to say if these four are definite runners but I do fancy Dal Harraild against Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup. I like Winter in the Nassau and Projection in the Stewards’ Cup – Mick Appleby will kill me for not tipping Danzeno, but I reckon he’s a better horse at Ascot. In the King George Stakes I can’t see past Battaash, who looks a very fast horse.

Willie McCreery, trainer I’m nominating Ribchester in the Sussex, Winter (below) to make it four Group 1s in a row in the Nassau, Profitable, who ran a blinder at Royal Ascot, in the King George Stakes, and Dutch Connection in the Lennox Stakes.

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler Given my course record I would rather just have the 11 quid, or whatever’s going, but if that’s not on offer I would go for Polybius (Stewards’ Cup), Zelzal (Sussex), Nezwaah (Nassau) and El Vip (Betfred Mile).

Give us one to follow at a lower level who’s caught your eye lately . . .

George Baker, jockey I watch Ed Walker’s horses closely and I like his Chepstow winner Dark Pearl, who was due to run at Haydock until they had that horrific stalls accident. He’s a big horse who stays well and has a good action. I think he’s one to follow and he could end up pretty smart.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru The traffic down to Newbury is a nightmare on a Friday but I wish I’d been there to see the two-year-old races last week, particularly Stage Magic, as he looked a serious horse when winning the 7f novice under William Buick. Later, I should have backed Mayyasah in the fillies’ maiden as Richard Hannon sends all his best Al Shaqab stock to Newbury.

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner Tommy Taylor, who ran a pleasing comeback at the July meeting, could be one to follow if he gets in the consolation Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood. He ran a massive race when second at Newmarket and will go to Goodwood a fresh horse as the Kevin Ryan yard was not long back from being shut down before he ran at Newmarket.

Willie McCreery, trainer Acclamatio, who won a handicap for Tony Martin at Killarney on Tuesday, looks one for another handicap at the Galway festival. He won’t be a 33-1 shot next time, that’s for certain.

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler Clon Coulis is well related and did everything but win in the fillies’ handicap at Newmarket on Friday night. She should make amends soon.

Finally, what would you write in Cathy Gannon’s retirement card?

George Baker, jockey I see Cathy quite a bit at Oaksey House. She’s still got the same work ethic as she always had and she’s brilliant at the jockey coaching. I’d write something like, “If Carlsberg did work ethics it would carry a picture of Cathy Gannon.” She absolutely works her backside off.

Yarmy Dyble, stalls guru “You’ve been one of the best female riders we’ve had in the country and I wish you all the best. You were as strong as any man in a finish and had a considerate style of riding and would never hit a horse that is two furlongs behind, as some continue to do.”

Chris Dixon, TV pundit and owner “Being champion apprentice in Ireland was a massive achievement in a land where there is so much riding talent about. Seeing your name against one I fancied on a racecard never put me off backing it and I wish you all the very best for the future.”

Willie McCreery, trainer “You’re a hardy girl and a good rider who deserved more breaks of a different kind than the ones which forced your retirement. All the best for the future.”

Tim Smith, Ladbrokes odds compiler Probably the standard, ‘good luck’ nonsense but, given the comeback record of the other top female rider of her generation, I would be a bit wary of sticking too many John Lewis vouchers in the envelope just yet!