Field of 11 for King George

Aidan O'Brien's Powerscourt was the only withdrawl from the King George And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, leaving a field of 11 for the midsummer showpiece.

The Ballydoyle yard will now be represented by Tycoon, the only three-year-old in the line-up. Jamie Spencer's mount, third in the Budweiser Irish Derby at 150-1, will come out of stall three.

"Tycoon's improved a lot from his run in the Irish Derby, and is in good shape for Ascot," O'Brien told Irish-Racing.com.

Hot favourite Doyen is among a three-strong Godolphin team complemented by last year's runner-up Sulamani and pacemaker Lunar Sovereign.

We declared all three this morning. Sulamani is still an intended runner but obviously we would like more rain for him,  Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford told At The Races. "He's quite a clever horse, but a very good horse given the right conditions

"Obviously Doyen has a major chance and Lunar Sovereign is in there as a pacemaker."

Elie Lellouche's Vallee Enchantee bids to be the first French-trained winner since Pawneese in 1976. Angel Penna's filly was owned by the late Daniel Wildenstein, whose son Alec is responsible for Vallee Enchantee.

Hard Buck, trained in Kentucky by Kenny McPeek, bids to take this prestigious prize back to America for the first time.

Sir Michael Stoute and Kieren Fallon, successful with Golan two years ago, are represented by Gamut, who has drawn stall 11.

Andrew Balding's runner Phoenix Reach will wear a visor for the first time in a race that the trainer's father Ian won with the great Mill Reef in 1971.

A bigger run is expected from Warrsan than last year when Clive Brittain's in-form charge was only sixth to Alamshar.

Northern raider Bandari, trained by Mark Johnston, is also at the top of his form, having beaten Sulamani in the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket. The Marcus Tregoning-trained High Accolade, third in that Group Two contest,
completes the field.

King George (11)  Doyen, Vallee Enchantee, Warrsan, Gamut,  Sulamani, Bandari, Tycoon, Phoenix Reach, Hard Buck, High Accolade, Lunar Sovereign.

Filed by James McMahon