Jordan Yates' King George Qatar Stakes Preview. (Qatar Goodwood Festival 2018)

The King George Qatar Stakes takes centre stage on the fourth day of Glorious Goodwod which is of course a Group 1 five furlong sprint contest. We’ve got a decent renewal this year with some big names in the sprinting division set to do battle with last year’s winner Battaash who attempts to retain his crown.

As expected Battaash sits handsomely at the top of the market here trading at a best priced of around even money and he comes here off the back of a second placed effort in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot before winning his comeback run at Haydock. I’m not sure we’ve seen him to full effect yet this season and he’s likely to be primed to show that here. Jim Crowley once again takes the ride for Charlie Hills.

The rest of the field is bunched together in somewhat of a heap with a variety of smart performers involved. Aiden O’Brien is represented here by Sioux Nation, he flopped at Royal Ascot before bouncing back to form with a close up fifth placed effort in the July Cup the last day, he’s around the 13/2 mark and is the mount of Ryan Moore. A horse that has faced off against Battaash twice already this season is Kachy and he re opposes him once again here for Tom Dascombe. A smart sprinter on his day and was seen to best effect when bolting up at Chester’s May Festival, he can be found trading at around the 11/1 mark and is the mount of Richard Kingscote. Havana Grey for Karl Burke got back to winning ways when a decisive winner in Group 2 company the last day t the Curragh whereas we are still waiting to see the best of Heartache for Clive Cox. These two are 8/1 and 16/1 respectively.

VERDICT: Battaash is the most likely and obvious winner but that reflects in his short price therefore i’ll try to take him on and i’ll do that with SIOUX NATION for Ryan Moore and Aiden O’Brien. He clearly had a rare off day at Ascot when finishing down the field and got back to form the last day when finishing close up in fifth at Newmarket in the July Cup. I think he’s a decent each way alternative and has every chance of making the frame again.

SIOUX NATION – (13/2) (E/W)