Postponed defection will frustrate connections of others

Hawkbill would surely have been a leading contender for the King George with Postponed missingCredit: Edward Whitaker

A crystal ball would be a handy bit of kit for anybody involved in racing and there will doubtless have been plenty of owners and trainers on Wednesday wishing they could have known Postponed will not defend his King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes crown on Saturday.

Postponed has been the outstanding older horse of 2016 and had scared plenty away from Ascot's showpiece this weekend, a race he claimed 12 months ago and had been as short as 1-2 to do again.

Roger Varian blew the race wide open as he ruled his stable star out on Wednesday, though, so which horses could have had a big say in his absence?

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Mark ScullyRacing Post Reporter

Published on 20 July 2016inBritain

Last updated 15:51, 20 July 2016

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