Darjina And Art New Favourites For QEII Darjina and Excellent Art are vying for favouritism ahead of Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.The brilliant George Washington had headed the ante-post market on the Group One showpiece but he now looks highly unlikely to bid for back-to-back victories.Final declarations are made today and last-minute setbacks could change things, but his trainer Aidan O'Brien said: 'The situation in the QEII is that Duke Of Marmalade will probably run with Mick Kinane on board.'Excellent Art will probably run too with Jamie Spencer riding, but George Washington will probably not run.'Spencer has ridden Excellent Art in his last three starts, with the pair enjoying their finest hour together in the St James's Palace over the same course and distance at the Royal meeting.On that occasion, Excellent Art came with a well-timed run to defeat Duke Of Marmalade by a neck in a thrilling finish.Bookmakers had suspended betting following speculation over the participation of George Washington.William Hill now make Prix du Moulin heroine Darjina favourite ahead of Ramonti, with the Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained filly having beaten both Godolphin's runner and George Washington at Longchamp.They do, however, offer George Washington at 2-1 ?with a run'.Ladbrokes go 5-2 about Darjina and Excellent Art in their first show on the race.(C) PA Sport
