O’Brien rain worry for Abbey

Jockey Joseph O’Brien is praying the rain stays away from Ascot to allow St Nicholas Abbey show his true brilliance in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The six-year-old has finished third in the last two renewals of the midsummer showpiece and returns to England fresh from his third triumph in the Coronation Cup at Epsom – his sixth Group One success.

There is little doubt the son of Montjeu’s devastating acceleration is most potent on a sound surface.