Wonderful Tonight declared a non-runner in King George at Ascot

Hardwicke Stakes scorer Wonderful Tonight has been declared a non-runner in this afternoon's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on account of the ground.

Overnight rain and afternoon thunderstorms were forecast for Ascot but failed to materialise, leaving connections with a straightforward decision to not run their star filly on going described as good to firm, firm in places.

The David Menuisier-trained Wonderful Tonight, who has been beaten on her two starts on good ground, was a 9-1 shot for the Group 1 event.

Wonderful Tonight holds entries in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next Saturday and the Juddmonte International and Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York's Ebor meeting next month.

Menuisier said: "When you train a soft ground horse you always need a bit of luck. She's the filly of a lifetime with big targets in the autumn so we've got to do right by her. We'd like to give Goodwood a go and she's entered in the Lillie Langtry Stakes."

Saturday cards

Frankie Dettori could become the winningmost jockey in the history of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3.35) and his mount Lone Eagle has been backed into 10-3 (from 13-2) with bet365.

The Martyn Meade-trained three-year-old was narrowly denied by Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby last time, with the winner following up in the Grand Prix de Paris last week.

Dettori and Lester Piggott have won the Ascot showpiece seven times, with the Italian jockey successful in three of the last four years aboard Enable.

A sound surface will best suit King George favourite Love, who is a general 15-8 favourite and has won seven of her eight starts on good ground or quicker, and 8-1 shot Mishriff, who is 2-2 in such conditions.

Derby winner Adayar remains 5-2 second favourite after the omission of Wonderful Tonight.

The going is good to firm at York, where Mohaafeth takes on Armory in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes (3.15).

There has been a significant going change at Salisbury's evening meeting after 20mm of rain in the early hours of Saturday morning. The going is now described as good to soft, good in places (from good to firm, firm in places).

Read a selection of Saturday previews . . .

Why big-race throwback Adayar has it all to prove in stellar King George

3.35 Ascot: Aidan O'Brien on Love's chances in the King George

3.00 Ascot: are we looking at a Group 1 horse in a handicap? International Stakes insight

3.15 York: Armory takes on promising Mohaafeth in Group 2

2.40 York: dual winner Flying Pursuit one of four runners for Easterby in Dash

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