Dartmouth jumps to head of market after Postponed is ruled out

The £75,000 paid by the Queen to add Dartmouth to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes yesterday began to look money extremely well spent after the shock defection of odds-on hotpot Postponed, which led to expressions of sympathy from those who could now benefit from his absence.

Dartmouth is now a general 2-1 favourite to give the Queen a famous success in the Qipco-sponsored King George, which, 12 months on from Golden Horn's late withdrawal, has suffered another major reverse.

A respiratory infection was given as the reason Ascot racegoers will be denied the presence of last season's victor Postponed, who could now seek to build on devastating wins this year at Meydan and Epsom in the Juddmonte International.