Japan to tackle Enable at Ascot as Magical goes to the Curragh on Sunday instead

Ryan Moore will ride Japan in the Qipco King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, where he will be joined by last year's English and Irish Derby winners Anthony Van Dyck and Sovereign as Aidan O'Brien launches a three-pronged attack on Enable.

Magical will instead wait to defend her Tattersalls Gold Cup crown at the Curragh on Sunday. She will also have company from her own yard as O'Brien plans to run Magic Wand and Sir Dragonet in the Group 1 contest over a mile and a quarter.

Oisin Murphy and William Buick have been booked by O'Brien to ride Anthony Van Dyck and Sovereign, although a decision on which horse each will ride has not been made yet.

O'Brien told the Racing Post on Wednesday evening: "The way we're thinking is for Japan, Anthony Van Dyck and Sovereign to go to Ascot. Magical will wait for the Curragh on Sunday and Magic Wand and Sir Dragonet will join her in that.

"That’s the way the lads are thinking and it looks like that's what we'll do at the moment, although that's not to say something could change in the morning."

Anthony Van Dyck: last year's Derby winner heads to AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

On jockey plans, O'Brien added: "Ryan will ride Japan. Oisin Murphy and William Buick will ride the other two at Ascot, although we're not sure which one will ride who yet."

Japan assumed second favouritism for the King George behind Enable on Wednesday and O'Brien issued an upbeat bulletin on the four-year-old, who has been beaten on both starts this season.

O’Brien said: "Japan's had two lovely runs over a mile and a quarter this year. We’re looking forward to stepping him up to a mile and a half at Ascot, although that’s not to say he’s better over it than a mile and a quarter as he won the Juddmonte International at York over that trip.

"We think he’s progressed again since Sandown and we’re very happy with him ahead of Ascot."

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