King George Diamond Day: All you need to know

With the 2024 edition of the King George Diamond Day at Ascot Racecourse gets underway on Saturday, and here is all you need to know about this prestigious event.

One of the most iconic and prestigious horse racing events is set to finally return for 2024, with this year’s King George Diamond Day set to one more take place at the historic Ascot Racecourse for a day full of enthralling action on Saturday 27th July 2024.

Gates to the racecourse will open at 11am, with the first race taking place at 13:15 in the afternoon, with the eighth and final race set to be run at 17:25 in the evening. This is going to be a fantastic day of racing, and the prize money on offer is incredible – the highest on offer is no less than £1.25 million – which is for the winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

Here are the eight races taking place on Saturday in full: The British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes (13:15), The Bateaux London Princess Margaret Stakes (13:50), The Longines Valiant Stakes (14:25), The Moët & Chandon International Stakes (15:00), The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (15:40), The Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes (16:15), The Betfred Handicap Stakes (16:50 and the Whispering Angel Handicap Stakes (17:25).

Not only does it offer the prize money, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes is arguably the standout race of the entire day. First taking place more than 70 years ago in 1951, it is Frankie Dettori and Lester Piggott who hold the joint record for the most victories in this race with 7 each.

Dettori’s wins came with Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1998), Daylami (1999), Doyen (2004) and Enable (2017, 2019 & 2020). As for Piggott, his wins were with Meadow Court (1965), Aunt Edith (1966), Park Top (1969), Nijinsky (1970), Dahlia (1974), The Minstrel (1977) and Teenoso (1984).

The most recent winner of this race back in 2023 was Hukum, ridden by Jim Crowley, who was able to win ahead of runner-up Westover, who had to settle for a second place finish by a margin of just a head in the end.

The nine runners for the 2024 renewal of this race are going to be as follows: Auguste Rodin (J: Ryan Moore, T: Aidan O’Brien), Rebel’s Romance (J: William Buick, T: Charlie Appleby), Bluestocking (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Ralph Beckett), Luxembourg (J: Wayne Lordan, T: Aidan O’Brien), Sunway (J: James Doyle, T: David Menuisier), Middle Earth (J: Oisin Murphy, T: John & Thady Gosden), Dubai Honour (J: Tom Marquand, T: William Haggas), Goliath (J: Christophe Soumillon, T: Francis-Henri Graffard) & Hans Andersen (J: Sean Levey, T: Aidan O’Brien).

Now, we shall take a look ahead at the other seven races that are set to return to the famous Ascot Racecourse on Saturday.

We will start with the opening race, the British EBF Crocker Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes. It was won in 2023 by Indian Run, ridden by jockey Daniel Tudhope, with Kingdom Of Riches and North View coming in second and third place.

The field for this year’s Bulteel ‘Confined’ Maiden Stakes is going to be: Al Misbar (J: William Buick, T: Charlie Appleby), Back In Black (J: Daniel Muscutt, T: James Fanshawe), Echalar (J: Hollie Doyle, T: Jane Chapple-Hyam), Fire Flame (J: James Doyle, T: Roger Varian), Letsbeatsepsis (J: Rhys Clutterbuck, T: Gary & Josh Moore), Noble Guest (J: Tom Queally, T: George Margarson) and Our Terms (J: Ryan Moore, T: Richard Hannon).

Race Two of the day will of course be the 2024 Princess Margaret Stakes, which were won last year by Jason Hart and Sacred Angel, who were able to fend off competition from runner-up Pretty Crystal and Symbology, who came in third place.

The field for this year’s race will be: Simmering (J: Ryan Moore, T: Ollie Sangster), Mandurah (J: Harry Davies, T: Simon & Ed Crisford), Definitive (J: Tom Marquand, T: Clive Cox), Handcuffed (J: Oisin Murphy, T: Andrew Balding), Tales Of The Heart (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Ralph Beckett), Aviation Time (J: James Doyle, T: Richard Hughes), Alice Fairfax (J: William Buick, T: Kevin Ryan) and Betty Clover (J: Georgia Dobie, T: Eve Johnson-Houghton).

The third race to take place at this year’s King George Diamond Day is going to be the latest running of the Longines Valiant Stakes, which were won last year in 2023 by Saffie Osborne on board Random Harvest. Oisin Murphy’s Roman Mist and William Buick’s Thornbrook had to settle for a second and third place finish respectively in the end.

The field for the 2024 race will include: Devoted Queen (J: William Buick, T: Charlie Appleby), Soprano (J: Billy Loughnane, T: George Boughey), Friendly Soul (J: Kieran Shoemark, T: John & Thady Gosden), Sirona (J: Oisin Murphy, T: David Menuisier), Doom (J: Tom Marquand, T: William Haggas), Thornbrook (J: Ryan Moore, T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien), Naomi Lapaglia (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Richard Spencer) and Julia Augusta (J: Silvestre De Sousa, T: David O’Meara).

This is followed by race four, the 2024 Moët & Chandon International Stakes. The winner back in 2023 was Baradar, ridden by Jockey Kevin Stott, and trained by George Boughey. Saffie Osborne’s Hickory and Rossa Ryan’s Star Of Orion came in second and third place respectively.

The field for this year will be what follows: Carrytheone (J: Pat Dobbs, T: Michael Bell), Orazio (J: William Buick, T: Charles Hills), Billyjoh (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Michael Appleby), Aalto (J: Luke Morris, T: Ian Williams), New Image (J: Mark Winn, T: David O’Meara), Fresh (J: Billy Loughnane, T: James Fanshawe), Hickory (J: Saffie Osborne, T: James Fanshawe), Make Me King (J: James Doyle, T: Hamad Al Jehani), Northern Express (J: Paul Mulrennan, T: Michael Dods), Metal Merchant (J: David Probert, T: Jack Channon), Bless Him (J: Jamie Spencer, T: David Simcock), Divine Libra (J: Christophe Soumillon, T: Charles Hills), Fivethousandtoone (J: Oisin Murphy, T: Andrew Balding), Dancing Music (J: Kieran Shoemark, T: Roger Teal), Ropey Guest (J: Tom Queally, T: George Margarson), Summerghand (J: Tom Marquand, T: David O’Meara), Eminency (J: Silvestre De Sousa, T: Stuart Williams) and Riot (J: Hollie Doyle, T: David O’Meara).

Then comes the aforementioned King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, which will then be followed by the Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes. Sean Levey rode Rosallion to victory last time, and it was David Egan’s Al Musmak and William Buick’s Ancient Wisdom who came in second and third place.

The field for this race is going to feature the following: Al Qudra (J: William Buick, T: Charlie Appleby), Brian (J: Liam Keniry, T: Sylvester Kirk), Chancellor (J: Robert Havlin, T: John & Thady Gosden), Dividend (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole) and New Century (J: Oisin Murphy, T: Andrew Balding).

The penultimate race of this year’s King George Diamond Day will be the Betfred Handicap, which was won in 2023 by the pre-race favourite Ghaly, who beat runner-up Major Partnership and third place Storm Catcher to the win.

The field for the 2024 edition of this particular race will be: Sean (J: Saffie Osborne, T: Jamie Osborne), Raadobarg (J: Silvestre De Sousa, T: George Boughey), Baradar (J: David Egan, T: George Boughey), Silver Sword (J: Rhys Clutterbuck, T: Dylan Cunha), Elnajmm (J: Tom Marquand, T: William Haggas), Bopedro (J: Rossa Ryan, T: David O’Meara), Tempus (J: Hollie Doyle, T: Archie Watson), Sterling Knight (J: Oisin Murphy, T: Ed Dunlop), Tolstoy (J: William Buick, T: Brian Ellison), Bennetot (J: Mark Winn, T: David O’Meara), Great Blasket (J: Billy Loughnane, T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole) and Obelix (J: Jamie Spencer, T: Julie Camacho).

The races for the day will conclude with the eighth race, which will be the latest running of the Whispering Angel Handicap, with the most recent winner of this race being Jason Hart’s Intrinsic Bond back in 2023.

The field for the race will be as follows: Albasheer (J: Hollie Doyle, T: Archie Watson), Spangled Mac (J: Billy Loughnane, T: George Boughey), Woodhay Wonder (J: Tom Marquand, T: Tom Ward), Bond Chairman (J: Paul Mulrennan, T: Bryan Smart), Pepsi Cat (J: Harry Davies, T: Steph Hollinshead), Woolhampton (J: Oliver Searle, T: Rod Millman), Emperor Spirit (J: Daniel Muscutt, T: Robert Cowell), Existent (J: Rossa Ryan, T: Stuart Williams), Two Tribes (J: William Buick, T: Richard Spencer), Muker (J: Alex Jary, T: Nigel Tinkler), Brave Nation (J: Oisin Murphy, T: Michael Bell), Harry Brown (J: Jimmy Quinn, T: Peter Crate), Call Me Ginger (J: Amie Waugh, T: Jim Goldie).

Anticipation and excitement are growing ahead of King George Diamond Day at the iconic and historic Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 27th July 2024.

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