Mishriff odds cut as Doyle relishes King George ride

Coral have cut last year’s runner-up Mishriff to 3/1 from 4/1 for Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes.

The odds on Mishriff have been cut following support for the five-year-old, although Westover continues to head the Ascot betting at 5/4 ahead of Emily Upjohn at 2/1.

“Although two representatives of the Classic generation remain at the head of the King George betting, their leading older rival Mishriff has been well backed to go one place better than he managed 12 months ago,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

James Doyle is relishing the prospect of partnering Mishriff after getting to know his big-race mount during an early-morning workout in Newmarket.

With owner Prince Faisal announcing last week that David Egan was no longer his retained rider, the plum ride aboard John and Thady Gosden’s globetrotting star was up for grabs.

Frankie Dettori steered Mishriff to win a Group Two in France two seasons ago but will be on board his stablemate Emily Upjohn on Saturday, paving the way for Doyle to get the call.

Doyle got acquainted with the five-year-old for the first time on Wednesday and could not have been happier with how the gallop went, telling Sky Sports Racing: “It was an early start but he felt fantastic.

“I jumped on him at 5.10am and he did a nice blow up the Al Bahathri, a gallop he knows well, and he felt in good order. There was no questions asked but I have to say he felt super and moved great.

“It’s very exciting – what a race. It’s a small but select field but there’s not one runner in the race that doesn’t deserve to be there.”