Today on Sky Sports Racing: Silver Dominion faces Alfred Wallace at Ascot

The King George weekend at Ascot begins with a clash of progressive colts as Silver Dominion and Alfred Wallace line up for the Listed Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes at 2.55pm on Friday. The race marks the first competitive meeting since the pair finished fourth and fifth in the Group Two July Stakes at Newmarket on 9 July, setting up a rematch that could define the next phase of their three-year-old campaigns. The Pat Eddery Stakes, traditionally a stepping-stone for horses stepping up from Group company, carries a £60,000 purse and a Listed status that adds competitive weight to a field already brimming with potential.

A rematch with momentum

Silver Dominion, trained by Oliver Cole at Whatcombe, finished just ahead of Alfred Wallace in the July Stakes and arrives at Ascot in fine fettle. Hector Crouch, who steered the colt to a fourth-place finish in Newmarket, returns to ride, with Cole’s team describing the horse as “in fine form.” The Pat Eddery Stakes offers a calmer environment than a Group race, and connections will hope Silver Dominion can translate that late-season progress into a winning return. Cole, whose yard has sent out three winners from its last ten runners, will be banking on the colt’s ability to handle the mile after finishing strongly at Newmarket.

Alfred Wallace, meanwhile, carries the experience of a horse who has already competed at the highest level. Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who knows Silver Dominion well after riding him last time out, could prove pivotal if he secures a soft lead early. Trainer Ed Walker’s 24 per cent strike-rate when pairing Murphy with his horses—five wins from 21 rides—adds another layer of intrigue. Walker’s yard has also produced two winners from its last seven runners, and Murphy’s tactical awareness could give Alfred Wallace the edge if he can dictate terms from the front.

Market movers and debutants

The racebook will be watching Gymbaazy closely after his winning debut at Sandown last month, where he outpointed the odds-on favourite Lumiere D’Ete under 9-2. With only three starts to his name, the Owen Burrows-trained colt remains unexposed in the finish, but his Sandown victory suggests he could improve further with each run. Burrows, operating at a 38 per cent strike-rate with three wins from his last eight runners, will be confident his charge can trouble the principals. The Pat Eddery Stakes often rewards horses who can settle in the midfield before making a late move, but Gymbaazy’s inexperience in the finish could count against him if the race turns into a slog.

Elsewhere in the card, Treasurer—winner of his last two starts over this trip at Kempton and Lingfield—and Kach Above—seeking a third consecutive victory after wins at Windsor and Salisbury—add depth to a race that already boasts pedigree and potential. The Pat Eddery Stakes has become a proving ground for horses stepping up from Group company, and this year’s renewal looks no different.

Beyond the feature race

While Silver Dominion and Alfred Wallace headline the afternoon, Ascot’s Friday card stretches across six competitive races, with Uttoxeter and Chepstow also live on Sky Sports Racing. At Uttoxeter, the Sky Sports Racing cameras will capture a strong handicap where French Duke and Al Azd are expected to attract market support. Roger Varian’s Al Azd has improved with every start since entering handicap company and found only Enceladus too good when an excellent second at the Royal meeting. This trip and track seem to suit, and he must be feared despite an 8lb rise in the ratings to 105.

Top-weight French Duke, meanwhile, has shown he retains plenty of ability, though an 8lb rise in the ratings adds a tactical hurdle. The Sodexo Live! Handicap could spring a surprise if either can translate recent form into victory. Varian’s yard has produced four winners from its last ten runners, while French Duke’s last two victories came at Musselburgh and Haydock, suggesting he can handle softer ground.

Tactical pointers

The Pat Eddery Stakes often rewards horses who can settle in the midfield before making a late move, particularly when Group form is as close as this. Silver Dominion’s Newmarket fourth suggests he has the stamina for the mile, while Alfred Wallace’s fifth-place finish indicates he may need a clear run to mount a challenge. If Murphy can engineer a soft pace, Alfred Wallace’s front-running style could force Silver Dominion to chase, turning the race into a tactical duel rather than a test of stamina.

Gymbaazy’s inexperience in the finish could count against him if the race turns into a slog, but his Sandown win proves he has the class to compete. The key question is whether he can replicate that performance against more seasoned rivals. Treasurer, meanwhile, has shown he can handle pressure after winning his last two starts, while Kach Above’s hat-trick bid adds another layer of unpredictability.

King George weekend at Ascot promises high-quality racing, and the Pat Eddery Stakes stands out as the day’s marquee event. With Silver Dominion and Alfred Wallace reopposing just two weeks after their Newmarket meeting, the rematch offers a chance to reassess their relative merits in a race that could shape their autumn targets. Whether it’s Murphy’s tactical acumen, Cole’s progressive training methods, or an outsider like Gymbaazy springing a surprise, Friday’s card has all the ingredients for a compelling start to the weekend.