Duke of Marmalade will silence the critics

You would have thought the critics had learned their lesson last year. They were adamant that Dylan Thomas had won a weak King George when beating Youmzain; never mind that two months later, the same two horses were praised to the rafters after finishing 1-2 in a thrilling finish to a strong Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe. Perception is everything, particularly in racing, and at present there is a widely-held belief that the King George 'ain't what it used to be'. If the French are not directly to blame, then a cluttered calendar might be. Few seem prepared to accept that the rigours of racing start to take their toll in the middle of the year, especially after the demands of Epsom and Royal Ascot. This year, Duke of Marmalade is favourite to follow on from his celebrated stablemate by winning this coveted showpiece, the race that... [read full story]