Why the older horses have been underestimated against their younger opponents

Saturday: 3.35 Ascot
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) | 1m4f, 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

If you had looked at the market for Saturday's King George immediately after declarations you would have seen a most positive view being taken of the middle-distance Classics. The favourite, luckless Derby third and Irish Derby winner Westover, and second-favourite, luckless Oaks second Emily Upjohn, were taking up two-thirds of the book between them.

It becomes apparent that those prices represent a devout faith in the three-year-olds once you look at the four older horses in the race. All four have won an open-age middle-distance Group 1 in the last 14 months. They include the winners of the most recent Juddmonte International (Mishriff) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Torquator Tasso), two races which would appear on a very short list of those widely regarded as being stronger than the King George.