Ladbrokes Wait On O'Brien Plans

Bookmakers have taken a mixed view on the early betting exchanges ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Most firms have installed Aidan O'Brien's mercurial George Washington as favourite, but with stablemates Excellent Art, Astronomer Royal and Archipenko also entered, Ladbrokes have opted to hang fire.

Although ?The Magic Sign' are often said to know more than most with regard to Ballydoyle running plans, spokesman David Williams said: 'As with all the big races this summer, the Ballydoyle plans are bound to have an enormous bearing on the betting.

'We're happy to wait until they become a little bit clearer before we go up with Ascot prices.'

Coral go 9-4 about ?Gorgeous George', a brilliant winner of last year's renewal, with William Hill 2-1 and Boylesports 7-4.

A stellar line-up is on the cards for the mile feature, with Darjina, surprise conqueror of George Washington and Ramonti in the Prix du Moulin, having been supplemented as expected.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard Ramonti and is relishing the task ahead.

He said: 'He's very consistent and has won two Group Ones and has two seconds in Group Ones (this season).

'There's going to be George Washington, the good filly (Darjina) and Excellent Art in there, but you know he's going to run a big race and I'm looking forward to riding him on Saturday.

'I think the race should be made for him at Ascot with its nice stiff mile. Longchamp has a very quick straight and I was a bit vulnerable to the filly's turn of foot last time.

'But it'll be a different ball game at Ascot as it's a bit more of a true mile,' he told Racing UK.

(C) PA Sport