The market for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot has shifted this week, with Benvenuto Cellini emerging as a serious threat to last year’s winner Calandagan. The change in betting and the comments from trainer Aidan O’Brien will be noted by racing supporters in Derby and across the county as the race approaches.
Market movement and entries
Benvenuto Cellini, the Irish Derby winner, was shortened to 5-2 for the £2 million King George after ten horses were confirmed at the five-day declarations stage. He had been 5-1 at an earlier point. Calandagan remains the market leader at 7-4, while Masquerade Ball has been eased to 7-2.
| Horse | Recent price |
|---|---|
| Calandagan | 7-4 |
| Benvenuto Cellini | 5-2 |
| Masquerade Ball | 7-2 |
Trainer assessment and context
O’Brien reported that Benvenuto Cellini has progressed since the Irish Derby, when the colt beat stablemate and Epsom winner Christmas Day by one and three-quarter lengths at the Curragh. The son of Frankel had earlier been involved in a contentious non-runner declaration at Epsom because of a stalls incident, but O’Brien believes the horse has moved forward since then.
“We’re happy with Benvenuto Cellini. Everything has gone well since the Irish Derby and we think he's come forward since then. We've always thought this race would suit him. He likes fast ground and he got the trip well at the Curragh. We think he’s a very classy colt.”
O’Brien also acknowledged the difficulty a three-year-old faces when tackling older horses in this contest. Historically, three-year-olds have won the King George only rarely in recent years — notable winners include Enable (2017) and Adayar (2021) — emphasising the step up in challenge for Benvenuto Cellini.
Entries and Ballydoyle influence
The Ballydoyle handler has four of the ten remaining entries for the race. O’Brien’s yard last won the King George with Highland Reel in 2016, and only Galileo among O’Brien’s four King George winners was a three-year-old at the time. That record underlines the caution from the trainer about the prospect of sending a three-year-old against older established performers.
- Benvenuto Cellini shortened to 5-2 following recent support.
- Calandagan remains favourite at 7-4, with Masquerade Ball at 7-2.
- O’Brien fields four of the ten remaining entries and believes the race will reveal more about the three-year-old's credentials.
Derby racing fans will watch betting movements and declarations closely as Ascot approaches. The adjustments in the market reflect confidence from some punters that Benvenuto Cellini has improved since the Irish Derby, but the traditional challenge of a three-year-old meeting older horses at this distance means the race remains open and competitive.
