Warrsan is worthy of King George win

The Classic generation just has the edge over the older brigade in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with the score standing at 27-26, but that should change next Saturday.

The defection of Derby winner North Light leaves the three-year-old division looking distinctly second-rate in the midsummer highlight.

Doyen is the class horse of the race and his impressive win at Royal Ascot ensured he will start favourite. He is guaranteed to stay and the ground is not a worry, but reports of lazy work-outs have to be a negative.

It is curious that the underrated Warrsan, who beat Doyen a length and three-quarters in the Coronation Cup over 12 furlongs, can be backed at 8-1 in plenty of places.

It was no secret that Doyen, making his seasonal reappearance at Epsom, would be sharper for the run, and the market says he will overturn the form. But Warrsan is over-priced considering his superb effort subsequently in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

Clive Brittain's charge also had Vallee Enchantee behind him in the Coronation Cup, and though the French filly was certainly unlucky that day, she is trying to buck an ominous trend next week.

Bandari is in tremendous form, having won the 12-furlong Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket recently, beating Sulamani by half a length.

That gives him a decent each-way chance at a top-priced 16-1, although the Godolphin-owned runner-up is a bit of a quirky horse and has a nasty habit of hanging when under pressure.

Of the rest, Gamut's impressive success in the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud makes him a worthy contender and the only worry would be fast ground, as he is more effective on good or easier.

But for value-seekers it simply has to be Warrsan. A tough, consistent campaigner, proven over the trip, he seems to be better than ever this year and ran a cracking race when failing by just a head to catch Refuse To Bend in the Eclipse last time out.

That form is right out of the top drawer, and he should be even better with an extra two furlongs to travel.

Filed by Katie Byrne