Seek profit from some Gordon Stakes Merch

EXCITING young stayer and HKJC World Pool Gordon Stakes favourite MERCHANT (2.30) can star on the day three undercard.

- By The Scout (Melissa Jones)

William Haggas toyed with the idea of running the progressive handicapper in Ascot's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But with Calandagan, Rebel's Romance and Jan Brueghel at least 120-rated horses, the trainer plumped for today's third-tier contest.

After taking the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in style, my pick has all the attributes to edge his stable's strike rate towards 30 per cent for July.

Up 21lb since the start of the season, the stamina-laden colt had his form advertised by Serious Contender in the Irish Derby, so Merchant's mark should only keep going in one direction.