O`Brien not certain about Diamond Stakes

Aidan O`Brien could be without a representative in Saturday`s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

The trainer, who won last year`s renewal with Galileo, has both Bach and Della Francesca entered for the mile and a half contest but neither is certain to run.

Should he run at the Berkshire track Bach, who was second behind Rebelline in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh earlier this year, would be tackling the mile and a half trip for the first time after showing much over his best form over shorter distances.

Della Francesca, whose best run came when winning the Group Three Gallinule Stakes at Leoparstown, has already run over this longer trip when a nine-length sixth behind High Chaparral in the Budweiser Irish Derby.

The pair also hold alternative engagements closer to home in the Group Three Meld Stakes at the Curragh on the same day.

The ground at the Kildare track is currently yielding but officials are hoping to be able to offer good to yielding ground, which could see O`Brien reroute his pair to the Irish event instead.

The champion trainer said: 'They are both good ground horses and that will be a factor as to whether they go to Ascot or stay at home for the Curragh.'

Bach is currently a 33-1 shot for the event while Della Francesca is available at 40-1.

Watering continued today ahead of the three-day meeting as the course enjoyed a drier, sunnier day than forecast.

Clerk of the course Nick Cheyne is aiming to produce going no faster than good to firm for the two-day fixture, which gets under way on Saturday.

He said: 'It remains good to firm. We have been watering yesterday and today.

'We were forecast some rain for today but that has not materialised. The forecast for tomorrow is for a warm, bright day but there might be some light rain on Thursday morning.

'After that we are moving into a period of warm and sunny weather. We will monitor the situation and assess the watering on a daily basis.'

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes betting:

William Hill: 11-8 Grandera, 2-1 Sakhee, 7-1 Golan, 8-1 Zindabad, 10-1 Nayef, 12-1 Aquarelliste, Boreal, 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.