Enable heads high-quality field of ten in King George

Dual Oaks winner Enable leads a field of ten declared to run in Saturday's Qipco-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The John Gosden-trained filly became a likely runner earlier this week and has been by far the most popular horse in the market ever since. She was 5-4 at the final ante-post show on Thursday morning.

King George betting and card

Last year's winner Highland Reel, who has since won the Breeders' Cup Turf and Coronation Cup, is back to defend his title but faces a deeper field than 12 months ago.

As well as Enable, Highland Reel will have to contend with three other previous Group 1 winners: Jack Hobbs, My Dream Boat and Eclipse winner Ulysses. Sixties Song is also a dual Grade 1 winner in South America, while Highland Reel's year-younger brother Idaho comes in on the back of a win in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, perhaps the major trial for the King George.

The field is completed by Desert Encounter, Benbatl and Maverick Wave, the first two having recorded career-best efforts in the Eclipse and Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot respectively.

The most surprising of the six absentees at the declarations stage were Permian and Hawkbill.

The going at Ascot was described as good to soft on Thursday morning, with a GoingStick reading of 6.6 on the round course. Showers are expected in the run up to Saturday's card.

Read about the King George greats:

2000: Imperious Montjeu a fitting fiftieth winner

1999: Daylami takes his form to another level

1997: Battling Swain grinds it out against firmament of stars

1992: St Jovite routs his rivals with awesome display