George Hopes Wait On Weather

Thierry Gillet and Pat Smullen are hoping for different conditions for their prospective rides in Saturday´s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Gillet, who rides French hope Bago, would prefer for the ground at Newbury to be on the fast side while Smullen wants a bit more cut in the ground for last season´s Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow.

The pair met in May´s Tattersalls Gold Cup, where Grey Swallow prevailed by three-quarters of a length but Gillet hopes that his mount can reverse the form.

'We wouldn´t want the ground to be too soft or holding,' he told the Racing Post.

'The better the ground the better it is for us. It shouldn´t be a worry as long as it´s good or good to firm.

'There´s no one particular danger as far as the competition is concerned, we´ll have to watch out for everybody.

'But I feel fine, just perfect, and I´m very confident.'

Bago was last seen finishing third in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud while Grey Swallow has not run since his victory at the Curragh.

Smullen said of Dermot Weld´s grey: 'Firm ground would be a concern. He doesn´t need it soft but he wouldn´t like it firm.

'I´m hoping for good ground, and if we get that it should be fine. If they don´t get rain, I hope they´ll water to prevent it being firm,

'It´s going to be very tough as it looks like being a very hot race, but he worked well after racing at the Curragh and is in great shape.'

The ground at Newbury is currently Good to Firm.

? PA Sport