Jack Hobbs odds tumble with ground and trip to suit

Jack Hobbs is emerging as the main threat to stablemate Enable in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, according to the markets.

And rider William Buick says conditions should suit his mount, whom he calls "a very high-class horse" on his day, in the Ascot showpiece, for which ten were declared on Thursday.

The 2015 Irish Derby winner was a 10-1 chance in places a week ago but is now disputing second favouritism with last year's winner Highland Reel with both as short as 4-1 and a best-priced 5-1.

Highland Reel, in turn, was as low as 11-10 last week but has been conspicuously easy to back since news of Enable's probable participation emerged and ground on the easy side of good became increasingly likely.

A five-length winner at the Curragh two years ago, Jack Hobbs was able to race only twice in 2016 but looked as good ever when impressing in the Dubai Sheema Classic on his return in March.

He needs to distance himself from a very disappointing effort behind Highland Reel in Royal Ascot's Prince of Wales's Stakes, but the return to a mile and a half on easier ground are very much in his favour.

Jack Hobbs's rider Buick is hopeful, while not under estimating the task ahead. He said: "It will be tough giving a stone to a filly as good as dual Oaks winner Enable, but you would imagine the conditions are going to suit Jack Hobbs and we know that on his day he is a very high-class horse."

Buick is reluctant to blame the Royal Ascot disappointment solely on the ground, but believes a return to his best would put the five-year-old firmly in the picture.

He said: "It just wasn't his day and the race simply didn't suit him, but it's a longer trip on easier ground, and that should help. When things go his way he can be pretty devastating, as we saw again at Meydan, when he was very impressive, travelling around smoothly and showing a great turn of foot."

Gosden concurred, and said: "Jack Hobbs was very fortunate to get his ground in Dubai, but not so fortunate at Royal Ascot.

"It had always been the plan to run him in the Prince of Wales's. He had run brilliantly over one mile and a quarter miles in autumn ground, and I think the 34 centigrade heat and the lightning-fast track at Royal Ascot did not suit him.

Money for Ulysses

"He's back to probably his best distance and he's back to some give in the ground, so that should play to his strengths."

There has been money, too, for Coral-Eclipse winner Ulysses, third in the Prince of Wales's the time before, although with further rain around on Thursday there remains a doubt regarding his effectiveness on the ground. He is a best-priced 9-1.

Jockey Jim Crowley, who first rode the four-year-old at Royal Ascot, said: "I think he's got a great chance. It's going to be a very good race, but he's settling a lot better now than he used to and he's an improving horse, as anyone can see."

He added: "I've only ridden him on fast ground, which he clearly enjoys as he's a very good mover, but it was good ground when he won at Sandown back in April and he should be all right so long as it's not tacky or testing.

"He won over a mile and a half last year, so I'm not worried about stepping up in trip, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The six who did not accept at the 48-hour stage include Johannes Vermeer and US Army Ranger from the Aidan O'Brien stable, Godolphin's Frontiersman and Hawkbill, and Mark Johnston's Permian.

Explaining the reasoning behind sidestepping the King George with recent Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up Permian, who has thrived during a tough campaign, Johnston's son Charlie said: "We didn't declare him because it just looked too tough a race.

"Had the photo gone the other way in France and he had that Group 1 win already we might have been able to roll the dice in races like the KIng George, but for now the priority is getting that Group 1 win and we'll have better options to do that."

The going at Ascot remains good to soft, and clerk of the course Chris Stickels's said his "best guess" will be that Saturday's ground will be good to soft on the round course and probably better up the straight.

He said: "We had 3mm on Wednesday and, after a dry night a heavy shower at lunchtime on Thursday, added another 2mm or so. There was another short, sharp shower mid-afternoon, but it was nothing significant.

"There's another band of rain due after racing on Friday and overnight that could bring 3mm or 4mm, and if that happens it will probably be good to soft on the round course on Saturday, although it could be a bit better than that and it might also be a little worse. Saturday itself should be dry until well after the King George."

Read about the King George greats:

2010: Harbinger unbelievable as he wins in style

1999: Daylami takes his form to another level

2000: Imperious Montjeu a fitting 50th King George hero

1997: Battling Swain grinds it out against firmament of stars

1992: St Jovite routs his rivals with awesome display