Irish Derby hero Westover would be 'by far' bookies' worst result in King George

Bookmaker Star Sports believe King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (3.35) favourite Westover would be their worst winning result, with the Irish Derby hero a solid favourite for the Ascot showpiece.

The Ralph Beckett-trained star, a wide-margin winner of the Curragh Classic last month, remains the 13-8 market leader to win a star-studded midsummer highlight and the son of Frankel has been popular to back with that firm throughout Saturday.

A Star Sports spokesperson said: "Westover would be by far be the worst result and a big loser in our book, we keep laying him. It would comfortably be our worst result. We're finding Emily Upjohn quite hard to lay."

3.35 Ascot: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes card and betting

Cazoo Oaks second Emily Upjohn remains weak in the market having drifted this morning and has been overtaken as second favourite by stablemate Mishriff.

The daughter of Sea The Stars was a 9-4 chance overnight as she bids to avenge her luckless effort in the Oaks at Epsom last month, as well as dramatically missing last weekend's Irish Oaks due to travel issues, but is now as big as 100-30 in places.

Mishriff returned to action in Britain when a narrow second in the Coral-Eclipse earlier this month and is now the 3-1 second favourite to add another major race to his glittering CV.

Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: "Westover is easy enough to back with us, while punters are coming for Mishriff whose performance in this year’s Eclipse bodes well for today.

"He ran better than in last year’s running of that Sandown race and he managed to find only Adayar too good in the 2021 King George."

Zain backed to be king in International

On Ascot's supporting card, progressive four-year-old King Zain has been notably supported in the International handicap (3.00) and is now 10-1 in places, having been as big as 16-1 overnight.

The son of Kingman has improved from each start for trainers Harry and Roger Charlton and was an easy winner of a Kempton handicap last time.

Northern Express has been also been a notable mover in the race and is now a general 14-1 (from 20).

The Michael Dods-trained four-year-old has been in fine form, winning at York last month before finishing runner-up there last time, and bids to provide the north with their first win in the lucrative prize since 2017.

At York, Claymore has been weak in the betting and has been usurped as favourite for the Sky Bet York Stakes (3.15).

The Hampton Court Stakes winner had been as short as 5-4 on Friday, but has drifted to a general 9-4 to strike at Group 2 level for the first time on the Knavesmire.

Last year's Champion Stakes runner-up Dubai Honour, who has not been seen since finishing down the field in the Sheema Classic, has taken over favouritism and is a general 6-4 chance.

Updated at 12.40

Market movers

Ascot

3.00:7. King Zain 10-1 (from 16) 8. Bless Him 12-1 (from 14) 17. Northern Express 14-1 (from 20)
3.35: 6. Emily Upjohn 3-1 (from 9-4), 2. Mishriff 3-1 (from 7-2)

York

3.15: 4. Claymore 9-4 (from 5-4)

Officials thrilled with Ascot track ahead of King George day

Ascot officials believe the track is in "great shape" ahead of their King George card having watered overnight following racing on Friday.

The going is good to firm, good in places at the Berkshire venue after 4mm of water was applied on the straight and round courses, with a warm day expected for the card, which gets underway at 1.50.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "We're good to firm, good in places and we put 4mm of water on the track following racing yesterday. It's been fine and we're set for a nice, dry day which'll get quite warm later on.

"The King George is absolutely full of quality, but the card looks great as a whole."

Like many tracks across Britain, Ascot felt the force of the heatwave earlier in the week but Stickels was pleased with how the track coped with the adverse conditions.

He added: "It got very hot here and was around 38C and 39C on Monday and Tuesday, but the track handled it well and it's in great shape. We're very happy with how it is."

The going at York, where the Sky Bet York Stakes (3.15) is the highlight, is good to firm with a mainly dry day expected on the Knavesmire.

Saturday's cards and betting

Posted at 8.40

Read Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Ascot: 'There’s no such thing as a penalty kick' - Lezoo camp wary of unexposed rivals

2.05 York: Can Harry Cobden grab the bragging rights in jump jockeys' Nunthorpe?

2.40 York: Keith Melrose explains how the draw could help solve York's Dash Handicap puzzle

3.00 Ascot: 'He's improving and has a definite chance' - key insight for big-field handicap

3.15 York: Will Claymore prove his class for Jane CHapple-Hyam and down Dubai Honour?

3.35 Ascot: King George insight as Westover and Emily Upjohn face top-class rivals

King George analysis: Why the older horses have been underestimated against their younger opponents (£)

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