Unbeaten Amiloc set to return to Ascot for King George as his star stablemate bids for Irish Derby redemption

Amiloc is set to return to Ascot next month for the £1.5 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes after extending his unbeaten record to five in the King Edward VII Stakes last week.

Trained by Ralph Beckett for owner-breeders David and Vimy Aykroyd, Amiloc is a general 14-1 chance for the King George after holding off Zahrann by three-quarters of a length in the Group 2 last week.

Amiloc lined up at Royal Ascot in spite of connections' concerns about the quickening ground, and Patrick Cooper, the Aykroyds' racing manager, said similar conditions would not be welcome for the three-year-old in future.

He said: “In retrospect, he ran on the quickest ground anyone is going to run on in England in the summer as by 5.35pm last Friday there had been plenty of sun on it. He’s handled it once, but I’d say it’s unlikely he’ll be asked to do so again. 

“He’s in the King George and I’d say that we’d go there. It makes the most sense as he’s a course-and-distance winner, and while he’ll be stepping up in grade he’s been able to keep finding a gear or two. 

"I'd have no idea where his ceiling would be as he keeps pulling out more with every run. The plan will be to go to the King George. If it doesn’t work for whatever reason, we’ll find an alternative.”

Pride Of Arras (right): will bid to atone for Epsom disappointment in Irish DerbyCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Aykroyds’ colours will also be seen at the Curragh on Sunday, when Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras is set to line up inj the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, for which he is a general 8-1 shot.

Pride Of Arras finished 17th in the Derby after being sent off 4-1 favourite and Cooper said: “He ran so badly that it's tough to put it down to any particular reason. 

“He travelled fine through the first part of the race, but he came down the hill on the wrong leg. When I went home after the race, I was on the plane with Johnny Murtagh and Norman Williamson and they both said if you do that you have no chance – and they’d know what they're talking about.

“I think it’s right to try the Derby trip again, as it's either the Curragh or the Eclipse, which looks much stronger, so you might as well go for the race that looks the weakest.”

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Ascot, July 26)

William Hill: 11-4 Jan Brueghel, 3 Kalpana, 5 Goliath, 8 Calandagan, 10 Amiloc, Rebels Romance, Sosie, 12 bar.

Read these next:

Joseph O'Brien excited to turn the tables on Lambourn in the Irish Derby as Epsom 1-2-3 meet again  

Derby rematch moves closer as Epsom 1-2-3 are all confirmed for Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh 

'It's a rarity and an interesting project' - Australian-bred Frankel two-year-old in line for unique Newmarket debut 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.