How to bet the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot

Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Ascot, a Breeders' Cup challenge race for the Turf (G1), is the great summer highlight of English racing, and it lives up to its historic standards this year with an outstanding field that includes the brilliant mare #8 Enable, who seeks not only her second victory in the race but her 11th win in succession and ninth Group 1 tally as well. She will face what is arguably her fiercest challenge since her title defense in last fall's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) from #2 Crystal Ocean, who narrowly missed in last year's renewal of the 1 1/2-mile King George and comes off his first top-level victory in the Prince of Wales's (G1) at the Royal meeting. Although beaten by Enable over a synthetic surface in a Group 3 last fall, Crystal Ocean stands a better chance on the grass and has never been unplaced in 15 lifetime starts. Those are the two heavy hitters among the field of 11, but there are other good ones in the field. #3 Defoe captured the Coronation Cup (G1) and Hardwicke (G2) earlier this summer, #7 Waldgeist is a multiple Group 1 winner in France, #1 Cheval Grand is a former winner of the Japan Cup (G1), and Epsom Derby (G1) hero #10 Anthony Van Dyck flies the flag for the classic generation. A one-two finish by Enable and Crystal Ocean is the most likely outcome on form, but is hardly a money-making proposition. Thus, bettors can go either one of two ways. One is to hope Enable comes through as an odds-on choice and hope Crystal Ocean finishes third or worse. The other is to try and beat her, with Crystal Ocean the most logical win candidate among the others. Given Enable's last out victory in the Eclipse (G1) when only 80-90 percent fit, it just seems the mare has held her legendary form well into her five-year-old campaign. She's simply more proven and can handle pretty much any conditions or opposition thrown at her. She might not replicate her 4 1/2-length margin of victory in this race two years ago against this kind of company, but still looks best all things considered. Instead, we'll attempt to cash an Exacta and Trifecta leaving out Crystal Ocean in the second slot. Waldgeist should benefit from the step up in trip from 1 1/4 miles, when third to Crystal Ocean in the Prince of Wales's, to 1 1/2 miles. Defoe is another interesting candidate who is obviously in career best form. Keying Enable in the top slot, here are our plays. $20 Exactas 8 over 3,7 = $40 $5 Trifectas 8 over 3,7 over 2,3,7 = $20 Watch and wager on the King George at TwinSpires.com. FREE Brisnet past performances are available here and post time is 10:40 a.m. (EDT).