Racing: Aidan O'Brien and Sir Michael Stoute dominate the field for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with three entries apiece. O'Brien fields last year's Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire, this season's runner-up Golden Sword and likely outsider Rockhampton in the Ascot feature.
Stoute has leading fancies Conduit and Tartan Bearer, third in the Eclipse and second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes respectively, as well as Coronation Cup hero Ask.
Ralph Beckett’s Look Here, winner of last year’s Oaks, leads the competition from outside of Freemason Lodge and Ballydoyle.
John Gosden sends out recent Newmarket second Alwaary, one of a trio of three-year-old contenders, while the nine-strong field is completed by the Richard Hannon-trained Scintillo.
Cima De Triomphe and Freemantle were taken out of the King George at the final declaration stage.
Vincent O’Brien, meanwhile, will be remembered by the Curragh racecourse with the National Stakes renamed in his honour.
O’Brien, who passed away in June, won a remarkable 27 Classics at the Co Kildare venue and the track are keen to pay tribute to his achievements.
He saddled 15 winners of the Group One National Stakes, with such star names as Sir Ivor (1967), Roberto (1971), Storm Bird (1980) and El Gran Senor (1983).
O’Brien’s wife, Jacqueline, said: “Vincent enjoyed some of his greatest successes at the Curragh. The National Stakes was always a race held in high esteem by him as a target for his top two-year-olds.
“The family are delighted that the racecourse will honour his memory in this way and I know Vincent would have been very proud to have his name associated with this race.”
The seven-furlong event will be run on September 12, with a celebration of O’Brien’s life taking place throughout the race day — including an exhibition of memorabilia open to the public and presentations to some of his closest associates.
“Vincent O’Brien was undoubtedly the most influential person in horseracing history and we are delighted to be able to put together a fitting tribute to remember his remarkable career,” said racecourse general manager Paul Hensey.