'It's hard to take too positive a view' - Paul Curtis on the King George

With the big three underperforming the King George proved rather anticlimactic and with doubts over the suitability of fast ground for Torquator Tasso on top, it's hard to take too positive a view of what nonetheless rates a career-best effort from Pyledriver with a Racing Post Rating of 125.

After weight-for-age and sex allowance considerations, Pyledriver was the lowest-rated runner in the King George and there are too many doubts over the race to be thinking he's improved as much as this defeat of last year's Arc winner might suggest. As well as doubts over the fast conditions, Torquator Tasso's surprise Longchamp win, achieved on heavy autumn ground, remains something of a standout performance on his CV. A RPR of 121 is more in keeping with the balance of his form.

Mishriff has won over a mile and a half at Group 1 level in Dubai, but he looked to be outstayed by Adayar when runner-up in last year's King George and was never going to get home here after blowing the start and having to make up ground through a strong opening third to the race.