Confirmed runners and riders for the King George as Enable bids to make history

Enable will face three rivals in her bid to make history on Saturday as the first horse ever to win the Qipco King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times at Ascot.

The John Gosden-trained mare won the Group 1 last year when edging Crystal Ocean by a neck in one of the most thrilling races of the season, as well as in 2017 when beating Ulysses by four and a half lengths.

Frankie Dettori will once again be aboard Enable, with the jockey set to partner the six-year-old for the 15th consecutive time.

Standing between Enable and history is a three-pronged team from Aidan O'Brien, headlined by last year's Juddmonte International winner Japan.

The four-year-old secured a similarly close victory over Crystal Ocean in that race last season, but has since finished behind Enable on two occasions, most recently by a head in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown which was won by Ghaiyyath.

Ghaiyyath won the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown earlier this month, but there was little to separate Enable and JapanCredit: Mark Cranham

Ryan Moore will once again partner Japan, having ridden him on his last six racecourse appearances.

O'Brien's other two runners are 2019 Classic winners Anthony Van Dyck and Sovereign.

Anthony Van Dyck won last season's Derby, but the four-year-old has failed to win any of his subsequent seven starts, while Sovereign has run just once since his 33-1 shock Irish Derby success. He finished third in the Group 3 International Vintage Crop Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Oisin Murphy will be aboard Anthony Van Dyck, the reigning champion jockey having only previously ridden for O'Brien once in Britain and once in Ireland.

As reported on Wednesday, four-time Group 1 winner Magical will not line up in the King George, but will instead tackle the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on Sunday.

View the card for the King George here

King George runners and riders

EnableFrankie Dettori
JapanRyan Moore
Anthony Van DyckOisin Murphy
SovereignWilliam Buick

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