Joe Mercer backs Golden Horn to win at Ascot

Golden Horn could face as many as 10 rivals in Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot – including stablemates Eagle Top and Romsdal as well as prolific Italian victor Dylan Mouth. Luca Cumani’s Postponed is another possible front-runner in the Qipco-backed contest.

“I’m waiting to hear from the owner”, he said.

“Taking the decision to go forward in the Eclipse was the right decision. He’s taken the race well”.

Odds-on favourite Golden Horn is the only three-year-old in Saturday’s line-up. I love his character – he has a lovely disposition and he has a great frame – I would love to sit on him. Last year’s runner-up Telescope misses the race following a setback.

“Don’t underestimate him as if there are any cracks in Golden Horn’s armour, then he could well find them”.

Golden Horn is likely to meet challengers from France and Italy plus impressive Hardwicke Stakes (Eng-II) victor Snow Sky, who was supplemented at a cost of £75,000 July 20.

“I was delighted with him (Snow Sky) when he won the Yorkshire Cup, it was a very courageous performance”, said Stoute. “We’re not being faint-hearted with him, we’re trying to go this tough route”.

Stoute will also saddle Telescope, who was runner-up to Taghrooda in last year’s King George but was well behind Snow Sky at the Royal meeting. And indeed Gosden is the only trainer in the past decade to have won the King George with a three-year-old, something he is attempting to do for the third time. “Ryan [Moore] said to forget the race, he just didn’t switch off. It was a muddling pace early on”.

Among the potential usurpers to his crown are Snow Sky and Flintshire, both owned by Prince Khalid, with his racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe talking up their chances in the build-up to the Ascot showdown.

The race has been put back five minutes to accommodate the needs of the French PMU in a bid to boost betting turnover.

“We know Flintshire – he’s reliably consistent and has very few blips”.

“Not many horses win a Group One, let alone two”. He was very relaxed in front and he finished the race well. He showed that in the Eclipse when he took off.

In his most recent outing, Golden Horn defeated The Grey Gatsby impressively by 3 1/2 lengths in the Coral-Eclipse (Eng-I) July 4 at Sandown Park.