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Anthony Van Dyck leads Aidan O'Brien's bid for fifth King George win

Aidan O'Brien: takes aim at the Brownstown Stakes, the only Group race in Ireland missing from his CV
Aidan O'Brien: runs four in the King George led by Derby winner Anthony Van DyckCredit: Patrick McCann

Just three Derby winners this century have run in the Qipco-backed King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as three-year-olds – and only Galileo in 2001 has been successful.

Kris Kin and Workforce both failed to add the Ascot showpiece to their Epsom triumphs, but Anthony Van Dyck will bid to emulate his trainer Aidan O'Brien's first King George winner 18 years ago.

O'Brien will be seeking a fifth victory in the race and sends a team of four led by Anthony Van Dyck, who runs for the first time since going down to stablemate Sovereign in the Irish Derby at the Curragh four weeks ago.

O'Brien said: "We were happy with Anthony Van Dyck's run at the Curragh. He didn't win but he ran a good race and the winner is a good horse. He's been in good form since the race and we're happy with him."

Anthony Van Dyck, Magic Wand and Hunting Horn each wear cheekpieces for the first time. Of the addition, O'Brien said: "We've often used cheekpieces in the past. They're all relaxed horses and we're just trying them to see if they might help."

Magic Wand has failed to secure a top-level success in ten attempts but has finished in the first four in seven of those, and landed the Ribblesdale Stakes over course and distance last year.

"Magic Wand has been very consistent over different trips and is in good form, while Hunting Horn is a very straightforward and hardy horse. He's done a lot of travelling and rarely runs a bad race," O'Brien said.

Anthony Van Dyck pros & cons

Pros Deserves respect as a Derby winner and Irish Derby defeat not true indication of his ability

Cons Is he good enough? Hard to see him being able to disable Enable


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Racing Post Reporter

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