'Who else could run?' - Nick Smith on the lack of three-year-olds in King George

Over the last decade the King George has routinely attracted a small but select field, and with only two trainers represented this year and no three-year-olds among the eight entries this season's race has faced familiar questions – but Ascot's director of racing Nick Smith has dismissed concerns.

"I don't think there is an issue – the reality is who else could run?" Smith said. "It's been well known Enable's going for the race since the Eclipse and with whatever Ballydoyle decide to send there isn't really anything else, with the exception of Ghaiyyath who is staying at ten furlongs for now, you could logically expect to be entered.

"The only horses you could say might have been entered are Love and Serpentine, who are also trained by Aidan [O'Brien]. He's got his team, which was always going to be headed by Magical and Japan, and there isn't really a horse you can say is not there that should be."