King George update

Top French jockey Olivier Peslier will ride German horse Boreal in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, it has been revealed today.

Trainer Peter Schiergen was hoping champion jockey Kieren Fallon would renew his partnership with the horse on whom he won the Vodafone Coronation Cup at Epsom earlier this year.

But Fallon now looks set to ride Sir Michael Stoute's contender, last year's Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner Golan in the mile and a half event.

That means the plum ride on the four-year-old son of Java Gold, winner of last season's German Derby, has been snapped up by Peslier.

The rider said: 'I am delighted to get the ride and I'm now looking forward to Saturday.'

Boreal was one of 15 horses left in at the five day declaration stage for the midsummer showpiece.

There were no surprise withdrawals from the #750,000 race and the field is set to be headed by the Godolphin duo of Sakhee and Grandera.

The Dubai outfit also have Narrative in the mile and a half contest while Aidan O'Brien is another with multiple entries in Bach and Della Francesca.

Marcus Tregoning could be double-handed with Nayef and Sir Effendi.

Sir Michael Stoute runs last year's Sagitta 2000 Guineas winner Golan, while the European challenge includes Boreal and Aquarelliste from the Elie Lellouche yard.

The field for the #750,000 midsummer contest also contains Henry Cecil's High Pitched, the John Dunlop-trained Millenary and Storming Home from the Barry Hills yard.

Mark Johnston left both Zindabad and Sir George Turner in the race but the former seems more likely to run.

The six-year-old son of Shirley Heights won the Hardwicke Stakes over course and distance at the Royal meeting last time and connections are hopeful of another big run.

Johnston's wife Deirdre said today: 'He looks a million dollars, absolutely fabulous and he is jumping out of his skin, so we are hoping he will run a really big race.

'I hope the ground stays fast as that will be to his advantage.'

Three-year-old Sir George Turner, a former Derby hope, has not been seen on course since disappointing when finishing well behind Moon Ballad in the Convergent Dante Stakes at York.

Johnston has left him in but Mrs Johnston said he is not a certain runner.

She added: 'We have left Sir George Turner in but whether he runs or not is in the balance.

'We have a lot of nice three-year-olds ready to run now, Bandari and Simeon are ready and bacically what we are trying to do is keep our options open and not have to let them take each other on.'

William Hill report some significant support for Grandera today after the recent spell of warm weather and they have made him 6-4 favourite from 15-8.

Sakhee's participation will not be confirmed until later in the week and he has now drifted to 13-8 from 5-4.

King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes betting:

Tote: 6-4 Sakhee, 7-4 Grandera, 7-1 Golan, 12-1 Nayef, 14-1 Aquarelliste, Boreal, Zindabad, 16-1 Millenary, Storming Home, 20-1 High Pitched, 50-1 Bach, Narrative, 66-1 Della Francesca, 100-1 Sir George Turner, 250-1 Sir Effendi.

William Hill: 6-4 Grandera, 13-8 Sakhee, 8-1 Golan, 10-1 Nayef, 12-1 Aquarelliste, Boreal, Zindabad, 14-1 Millenary, Storming Home, 16-1 High Pitched, 33-1 Bach, 40-1 Della Francesca, 50-1 Narrative, 66-1 Sir George Turner, 200-1 Sir Effendi.

Coral: 11-8 Sakhee, 15-8 Grandera, 8-1 Golan, 10-1 Nayef, 12-1 Boreal, Millenary, Zindabad, 16-1 Aquarelliste, Storming Home, 20 High Pitched, 33-1 Bach, Della Francesca, 40-1 Narrative, 100-1 Sir George Turner, 200-1 Sir Effendi.