Thomas up there with the best – BHB handicapper

THE King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot may have been tagged a substandard affair beforehand, but the manner in which Dylan Thomas slammed his rivals has been acclaimed by the senior British Horseracing Board handicapper.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt shot four lengths clear of Youmzain in a race which had attracted close scrutiny and led to suggestions it was in decline, with once again no representative of the Classic generation taking part.

But the son of Danehill has been rated 126 by Phil Smith, the same mark as he achieved in last year’s World Thoroughbred Rankings and the same as the last two King George winners, Hurricane Run and Azamour.