JAM tomorrow has a nasty habit of never materialising, so why not just go for the more secure option and settle for marmalade today?
With the last four runnings of the King George going the way of the favourite, Ascot's £850,000 event is one punters have grown to love and the good news is, this afternoon's renewal should again cost the bookies plenty.
Having all but cleaned-up
in this season's Group Ones, the current tally stands at 13, Aidan O'Brien's peers must wish they were half as unlucky as the man from Ballydoyle, and in Duke Of Marmalade, he has the ideal candidate to ensure the bandwagon rolls on.
Arguably, ideal might be pushing it a shade as the Duke has yet to race over the mile and a half he'll face here, so whether or not he has the engine for the trip, no-one really knows.
Even the oracle that is O'Brien had to pass on that one when questioned earlier in the week so until push comes to shove, all we can do is make as informed a guess as possible.
Duke Of Marmalade's pedigree isn't exactly bursting with stamina but on the evidence of how he's been finishing his races over shorter distances this term, Johnny Murtagh's mount wouldn't seem to lack a bit of puff. A view backed up by the man himself.
"I'm really looking forward to riding him, the King George is a special race and hopefully he can do the business," said Murtagh. "It's his first time over the trip and while you can't be overly confident he'll stay, we are pretty hopeful he will.
"We've got some great horses and they are all running very well. It's been going great and hopefully it will continue.
"I said the last day I won on him that he is very solid and has everything you need in a top horse. He's got a great temperament; he likes a battle, and never lets you down. He's special."
Not so special, however, that he's frightened all of the opposition away and if there are any chinks in the selection's armour, a few of his illustrious rivals will be queuing up to expose them. Most notably Youmzain who finished runner-up in last year's Arc and whose latest triumph at Saint-Cloud confirmed he was still a force to be reckoned with at the highest level.
Throw in Ask, Papal Bull, not forgetting Lucarno, and Duke Of Marmalade clearly faces no walkover but he's done enough to deserve our support in a contest that is trappier than the betting might suggest it will be.
Like Aidan O'Brien, Youmzain's handler Mick Channon admits he's in the dark as to how the whole thing will unfold so in the company of two such exalted doyens of the turf, it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who hasn't got a clue.
There are, thankfully, only eight runners to contend with in the King George which is at least a manageable number, the totesport International on the other hand boasts a field of 29 which makes things even more problematic.
Linda Perratt's Burnwynd Boy isn't without a chance, a remark you could apply to at least half the field and then some, but Redford will carry The Scotsman's hopes.
Michael Bell's charge has won three of his last four and while a little rain, which is forecast, would aid his cause, there will hopefully be enough juice in the ground to allow him to show what he's capable of.
Perfect Stride's last time out appearance in the 2000 Guineas might help persuade punters Sir Michael Stoute's colt is much better than a handicapper and if so, great. All that means is we'll get an even bigger price about the nap Yaddree who has been running consistently well, including when third in the Britannia Handicap at the Royal meeting.
The curtain comes down on the three days of Ascot's King George meeting tomorrow when I can pass on a very strong tip for the five furlong cavalry charge that masquerades as the Hong Kong sprint.
Don't even bother with the pin, look out a very large darning needle!
The full article contains 708 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
