King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes: Irish Derby winner Westover takes on five in Ascot showpiece

Irish Derby winner Westover looks likely to go off favourite for the summer showpiece at the Berkshire track; Oaks second Emily Upjohn heads the possible opposition alongside Mishriff and Arc winner Torquator Tasso; watch live this Saturday on Sky Sports Racing

Image: Rob Hornby and Westover just hold off the late rallying Cash at Sandown

Westover will face a maximum of five rivals in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

A luckless third in the Derby at Epsom, Ralph Beckett's star colt gained compensation when routing his rivals in the Irish Derby at the Curragh earlier this month.

A rematch with his Epsom conqueror Desert Crown looked to be on the cards in this weekend's midsummer showpiece, but as expected the latter has been taken out following a well-publicised setback.

Image: Colin Keane celebrates Westover's victory in the Irish Derby

In his absence, Westover will be a hot favourite to add the King George to his big-race CV in the hands of Irish champion jockey Colin Keane. John and Thady Gosden have confirmed both Emily Upjohn and last year's runner-up Mishriff.

Emily Upjohn has been rerouted after missing Saturday's Irish Oaks due to travel complications, while connections of Mishriff will be hopeful he can go one better than when chasing home Adayar 12 months ago after finishing a close second to French raider Vadeni in the Eclipse.

Advertisement

Last season's shock Arc winner Torquator Tasso has been confirmed an intended runner for German trainer Marcel Weiss, while Pyledriver is set to represent William Muir and Chris Grassick after finding the now sidelined Hukum too strong when defending his crown in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Watch the King George on Sky Sports Racing

Don't miss the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes from Ascot on Saturday 23 July on Sky Sports Racing

Joint-trainer Muir is looking forward to running their six-time winner in a race he believes is one of the highlights of the summer and also confirmed PJ McDonald will take over in the saddle aboard the course-and-distance scorer as regular rider Martin Dwyer is sidelined by injury.

Also See:

"PJ McDonald is going to ride him and he's going to be the man until Martin (Dwyer) recovers.

"I said to him if you can commit, I'll commit to you. Listen, there's some fantastic jockeys and let's be quite fair, there were some fantastic jockeys and their agents ringing up for the ride on him, which you would expect.

Image: Pyledriver (far side) beats Al Aasy in the Coronation Cup at Epsom

"There is no slight against any one of them because they are all top class, but I wanted someone I could be consistent with. The other boys all have their jobs and if we get to the Arc, they are going definitely to have their runners. PJ has ridden him once and won on him once and we're going to stick with him."

The small but select field is completed by Broome, who is Aidan O'Brien's sole representative and was last seen winning the Hardwicke Stakes over the course and distance at the Royal meeting.

Outbrain