Johnny Murtagh has been confirmed as the rider of Novellist in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

THE NEWS that So You Think would be aimed at the Prix de l’Arc at Longchamp on October 2 was perhaps a touch surprising but the reaction of the bookmakers hardly so as they shortened Aidan’ OBrien’s charge to 5-1 second favourite behind last year’s third, Sarafina.

PERHAPS it’s puristically disappointing but today’s King George can, readily, be boiled down to a two-horse race.