International Stakes odds: Carrytheone and Aalto clash again in big handicap

The International Stakes is the main support race on Ascot's card, which is headlined by the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

It is a handicap and, like this year, is often a chance for horses to renew rivalry from the recent Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. Although not many of the field go on to be Group performers, it tends to require a near Group-level performance to win.

International Stakes odds

(Odds will display when market is available)

Make Me King

Bought for big money out of Andre Fabre's yard by deep-pocketed Wathnan Racing. Progressive for his new stable this year, winning at Newcastle last time after finishing a front-running eighth at Royal Ascot over 1m.

Fivethousandtoone

Perhaps the fastest son of Frankel, he has done his best work on the all-weather this year, winning at Kempton and Newcastle. Previous runs over 7f have yielded less success than his runs over 6f.

Orazio

Luckless sprint handicapper who thundered home to take third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot when last seen. The step up to 7f is worth exploring, although doubts persist about whether he is ideally suited to softer ground.

Northern Express

Improved as a five-year-old, finishing fourth in this race last year off the same mark he runs off today. He also arrives in form after a second over 1m at York two weeks ago. Draw in stall one might be tricky.

Carrytheone

Third in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot and went in many more notebooks when fourth in the Bunbury Cup. He got no run that day but finished strongly and might have won with a clearer path through. Strong claims again.

Ropey Guest

A course specialist without a course win. He is 0-22 at Ascot, but has run five of the six best races of his life here, the majority of them over this 7f course. Fifth in May's Victoria Cup and a solid ninth in the Bunbury Cup last time. One to consider under the enhanced each-way terms.

Bless Him

Veteran who was second in this race two years ago and won the Britannia at Royal Ascot way back in 2017. Slowly coming down the handicap and is 1lb lower than when third in the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May.

Metal Merchant

Ran the best race of his career when winning here in October, but that was on the round mile. Most of his form is at 1m, but horses with form over further have a better record than you might expect on Ascot's straight course, which is a stiff test of stamina.

Billyjoh

Has run 17 times despite making his debut little over a year ago. Continued his good run of form on his first attempt at 7f when second in the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot, with a few of these behind. Unexposed at the trip.

Divine Libra

Started the season brightly with a win at Chester and went off favourite for the race Carrytheone won at Newmarket in May. Ran a solid sixth in the Buckingham Palace with Ryan Moore aboard and again has a top jockey aboard today in Christophe Soumillon.

Dancing Magic

Has run one of his best races here, although it was over 1m2f at last year's Royal meeting. Showed he has the pace for this sort of distance when second at Chester in May, but has to overcome a poor run at Sandown since.

Summerghand

Extremely likeable veteran who has slowed down a beat this year, but that just means he has brought his usual racing style up in trip to 7f. Third in the Bunbury Cup last time, ahead of Carrytheone, and has a course record at Ascot that includes a second and two fifths in the Wokingham.

Fresh

Another Ascot specialist, he won this race two years ago when rated 98 by the BHA. He is down to 91 now, which suggests he is on the downgrade but it is happening in slow motion and he showed the fire still burns when second over 6f here last time.

Aalto

Has really got going for Ian Williams in recent runs, with 7f seeming the key. Few would argue he was the best horse in the Bunbury Cup when he won last time, but there is a lot to be said for being the sort of horse who doesn't find trouble.

New Image

Lightly raced sort who missed a year after his two runs for Ger Lyons as a juvenile. Wins at Southwell and Musselburgh have been followed by a strong third at York and, while he needs to step up, he has more room than most to do so.

Hickory

Second in this race at 50/1 last year. That was in a first-time visor and the headgear has served him well since. He has since been third and fourth from three visits to this track in the visor, including a fourth in the Victoria Cup.

Riot

Has been kept busy but keeps paying his way, winning at York's Dante meeting and at Doncaster. Quick ground is clearly to his liking, which may be important by the time this race rolls around.

Eminency

Kept good company as a sprinter and offered some promise for this longer trip when fifth at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago. Once he has learned to settle he can do some damage, but it may need a little more experience.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.