King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes: Runner-by-runner guide

What was supposed to have been a midsummer highlight felt like a sodden scene from mid-October in 2017 as the field sloshed through the driving rain.

At least we had a winner to cherish in the wonderful Enable, and early-season headlines speculated about the prospect of John Gosden’s filly finally lining up for a showdown with her stablemate Cracksman, whose owner Antony Oppenheimer has long-held family links with this race.

Not to be, with Enable slowly making her way back from a setback and Cracksman under a cloud figuratively in terms of his recent troubling performances and also literally, in that he needs rainstorms to replace the prevailing azure skies in order to compete.

That said, the race remains a defining event in the calendar of a middle-distance horse, honed from memories of the likes of Mill Reef, Dahlia, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave and Montjeu, even if we don’t seem to have one of those this year.

Trainer: John Gosden. General odds: 7-2

Would have been a very short-priced favourite for this up until the spring but worrying signs of temperament appeared in the Coronation Cup and were very much confirmed when beaten by Poet's Word in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Will only run is there is sufficient rain.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute. General odds: 9-4

The latest in a long line to benefit from the patient eye of Stoute as he has built on his St Leger second with three straight wins in 2018. Could not have looked much more like a future King George winner with a towering performance over course and distance in the Hardwicke and must be very nearly top of everyone’s list.

Trainer: David Simcock. General odds: 50-1

Probably forgiven his run in the Prince Of Wales’s and ran much better when second to Emotionless last weekend but that still looks to be a long way short of what is required here.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute. General odds: 9-4

Has long been campaigned like a smart horse by his trainer, running second twice in the Champion Stakes, and has started to look more like the finished article as a five-year-old. Built on his Sandown win by lowering the colours of Cracksman in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and versatile enough to go a mile and a half. Entitled to be in the shake-up, but there must be a question mark as to the merit of his Royal Ascot form with Cracksman clearly not his usual self.

Trainer: Sylvester Kirk. General odds: 25-1

Has done his connections proud, nearly pulling off a major upset under an inspired Silvestre De Sousa in the Coronation Cup and again running a sterling third in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. May well pinch a Group One one day but it probably needs to be a weaker affair than this.

Trainer: John Gosden. General odds: 10-1

Been knocking on the door since landing last year’s Ribblesdale over course and distance and beaten in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in rather agonising circumstances. Brings a high level of form to the table and conditions will suit - if the thunderstorms do not materialise - but there might be some question over her resolution in a finish.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. General odds: 16-1

Proved her worth at the highest level between a mile and a mile and a half as a three-year-old and may well rediscover that form at some stage. However, she was disappointing as favourite for the Duke Of Cambridge and would appear to be favoured by easier ground than likely to be on offer here.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. General odds: 20-1

Looked very good in the Dee Stakes and an Irish Derby runner-up under positive tactics, which entitles him to take part in proceedings. Quite tempting to take a chance on him at a big price but hard to say he has the scope to find the necessary improvement to enter serious calculations.

The Racinguk.com verdict:

It will hardly be a revelation to suggest that this race revolves around the two runners from the Sir Michael Stoute yard who both shone at Royal Ascot.

The question for punters is whether the speedier Poet’s Word can prove he was not flattered by the curious Cracksman, or if Crystal Ocean is able to finally step up to the Group One table.

The unoriginal feeling in this corner is that bookmakers have it about right in having the upwardly mobile CRYSTAL OCEAN as narrow favourite with his Hardwicke win making him look like a King George hero in waiting.