Nathaniel could be added to King George field

NATHANIEL, favourite for the Ladbrokes St Leger, could have his sights aimed at the Betfair-backed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week.

The three-year-old, an impressive winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at the royal meeting last time, could return to the track to face older rivals for the first time.

Alongside the challenge of becoming the first three-year-old since Alamshar to win the race in 2003, the John Gosden-trained colt would have to besupplemented for the Group 1 at a cost of £75,000.

However that may not deter connections according to owner Lady Rothschild's racing manager James Wigan.

Wigan, quoted on the Independent's website, said: "It's up in the air at the moment, but we are discussing the possibility

"The ground will definitely be a factor, but good or good to soft will be fine. It would be a big ask, obviously. The difficulty is that there are very few races at this time of year. If you didn't go where would you go?"

"It would depend on a few things, but if we were happy and John felt the same way, then that would be our route."

Gosden also confirmed the possibility of Nathaniel running in the King George, saying on Wednesday: "The King George is under consideration."

Ground concerns led to Nathaniel not running in Thursday's Juddmonte Grand Prixde Paris at Longchamp, but Wigan added that an Arc trial would also be considered if the ground wasn't right at Ascot.