Strongfield for King George

POWERSCOURT was the only withdrawal from the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at yesterday’s 48-hour final declaration stage, leaving a field of 11 for the Ascot showpiece.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien will still be represented in the midsummer middle-distance championship on Saturday 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,” said O’Brien, who won this race with Galileo three years ago.