Row in with 10/1 Ordnance

Although the King George is very much the main event at Ascot on Saturday, by far and away the most frenetic betting heat will be the totesport International Stakes, an ultra-competitive seven-furlong heritage handicap. The way the Buckingham Palace Stakes panned out, a race run over the International's course and distance at the Royal meeting on ground similar to that projected for Saturday, suggested that their isn't a real bias. In any case, there's a good chance that the runners will converge up the centre of the track. Ordnance Row, who has landed his two most recent starts at Salisbury and Sandown, is taken to complete the hat-trick. Richard Hannon's charge relishes cut in the ground, is effectively 2lb well-in under a 3lb penalty as he'll be racing off a 5lb higher mark in future and, all in all, looks the one to be on at 10/1 with VCbet. The race the selection won last time was one of the most hotly contested handicaps over a mile so far this season, the totescoop6 Stakes at Sandown, and although the winning margin was cut down to half-a-length at the line by Colorado Rapid, Ordnance Row was just doing enough in front and was probably value for the winning margin. He was in the lead well over a furlong out on that occasion, which suggests that dropping back to seven furlongs will not be a problem - indeed, it may suit him even better than a mile. Furthermore, the son of Mark Of Esteem is usually ridden just off the pace, something which will be advantageous as those held up in the rear will find it hard to make up plenty of ground on what is likely to be a soft surface. The main danger is the Alan Jarvis-trained Wise Dennis, who was an emphatic four-length winner of the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May and, although now 8lb higher in the weights, the five-year-old clearly loves it here, is effective on an easy surface and has the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle. The son of Polar Falcon has met with trouble in running the last twice, including in the Buckingham Palace won by Binanti, and this is again the concern where Wise Dennis is concerned. He's one of those horses that needs plenty of cover and invariably in this race there are many hard luck stories owing to traffic problems, and he's as likely as any to encounter them. Binanti gained a much-deserved big-race success at the Royal meeting. So often the bridesmaid, few could begrudge Pat Charmings' charge that victory. But he's been upped 5lb as a result, leaving him off a mark (92) higher than that off which he has raced for the best part of four years. Consequently, I reckon another win is unlikely for the seven-year-old on Saturday. Among those with each-way claims are last year's winner, Dabbers Ridge, and the horse he finished behind in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket last time, stablemate Giganticus, while Dhaular Dhar caught the eye in that July Course cavalry charge, finishing strongly to be fourth. He should finish in the money again. Intrepid Jack and Partners In Jazz are both worth a second look too. King Of Argos has to be respected under Frankie Dettori after failing by a neck to reel in Giganticus in the Bunbury Cup, but he was most disappointing on the only occasion that he has raced on ground softer than good, so there's a big question mark hanging over him ahead of Saturday's race with the going like to be good to soft at best. Verdict: 1pt Ordnance Row @ 10/1 (VCBet)