Lucarno team confident

St Leger winner heads for Ascot in good shape

Last updated: 21st July 2008

Lucarno team confident

Lucarno: Won the Leger

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Connections of Lucarno are hopeful that their horse can upset odds-on favourite Duke Of Marmalade in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Last year's Ladbrokes St Leger winner disappointed on his first couple of runs this season, but bounced back to form when making all the running in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket.

He had fellow King George hopeful Papal Bull back in second on that occasion and connections are expecting another good run at the weekend.

Great form

"He is in great form and we are looking forward to seeing how he performs. He has come out of the Newmarket race in good shape," said Gosden's office manager Peter Shoemark.

"Obviously Duke Of Marmalade is going to be very hard to beat if he gets the trip.

"It is a very tough race as you would expect for a King George, but our horse is in good form so we are hopeful."

As well as Duke Of Marmalade, Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien can call on the services of Coral-Eclipse victor Mount Nelson, Hardwicke hero Macarthur and Red Rock Canyon.

Last year's runner-up Youmzain will aim to go one better for Mick Channon, while the 10-strong field is completed by Ask Literato, and Petara Bay.

Evens

Duke Of Marmalade is odds-on with the bookies but has shown some weakness in the Betfair market, touching evens.

Spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "Duke Of Marmalade was undeniably impressive at Royal Ascot and he is the marginal form horse in the race, according to Timeform.

"But I think evens is a more accurate reflection of his chances at the weekend, given this is his first try over a mile and a half against proven top-flight performers such as Youmzain, who perhaps continues to be under-estimated by the market."

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