Abdication of reigning King George hero leaves race wide open

Postponed's absence from the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday means that for the second successive year the race is denied its headline act. It is worth remembering, though, that after Golden Horn's late withdrawal last season the race still produced a great finish with Postponed himself the beneficiary, just denying Eagle Top.

Again, while the renewal may not be vintage, it is far more open and may result in a closer outcome. The main story will be if Dartmouth can provide a royal success for the Queen and clearly the decision to supplement earlier in the week for £75,000 looks money well spent.

Highland Reel is closely linked with Dartmouth on their Hardwicke run where his rider lost his whip in the closing stages. Of more concern was his awkward head carriage which tempers enthusiasm and means it could be better to side with the younger horse, Wings Of Desire, whose fourth in the Derby came less than two months after his debut. There could be more to come from him, especially with Deauville having franked the form of his Dante success.