Love can conquer rivals of the King

Love can take her Group One tally to six in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Aidan O’Brien’s filly enjoyed a great first half of last season, looking imperious in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.

Having also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes at two, her ability was never in doubt but the Ballydoyle handler was at pains to repeatedly point out she must have a decent surface.

She missed several objectives towards the end of the campaign because of rain and soft ground, including her intended target of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

When Love finally did reappear this season, O’Brien could not be accused of looking for an easy comeback as it was in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Ryan Moore set out to make all over 10 furlongs – probably not a surprise given she had already won twice over a mile and a half – and she kept on finding more as Breeders’ Cup winner Audarya threw down a challenge close home. She faces new opposition in Derby winner Adayar and John and Thady Gosden’s Mishriff here, but as long as the thunderstorms hold off, she will prove very difficult to beat.

Mr McCann has so far created as many column inches due to the fact he is owned by a group of Liverpool players than his exploits on the track, but that is a little unfair.

He looks to hold a very solid chance in the Pat Eddery Stakes as long as it is not asking too much of him too soon.

Tom Dascombe’s colt will be having his fifth run since June 1 but he has improved with reach of them, finishing a game fourth in the Superlative Stakes last time out. This represents a drop in grade but Jane Elliott gets a great tune out of him and can register her first Listed success.

Stuart Williams’ filly Desert Dreamer has been on the go since the Craven meeting, but she continues to improve ahead of her assignment in the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes.

She was beaten by Richard Hannon’s System on her penultimate outing and the two meet again, but that looked a funny race with runners spread across the track.

More recently Desert Dreamer flashed home to be second to the potentially topclass Sandrine in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes – after which the handicapper put her up 12lb. She is one of the more exposed runners in the race, but on the other hand has achieved by far the most.

Ed Walker’s faith in Matthew Flinders can be rewarded in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes.

Walker has always talked him up and he came close to repaying that faith in a Listed race at Chester last time out.