Portland relishes step-up in trip in King George V Cup

Portland relished the step-up in trip in the Listed King George V Cup, justifying favouritism to complete a quick double for Aidan O'Brien.

Tried over a mile-and-a-half for the first time, the 107-rated Dubawi colt raced mainly in third under Ryan Moore.

Pushed along to challenge on the outer from early in the straight, the bay victor gained a narrow lead from the furlong pole and found plenty when strongly pressed by Kinesiology in the closing stages, with a neck between them at the line.

The runner-up was returned a 9/4 chance (from 9/2 early) after coming in for plenty of late market support, while there was a further length-and-three-quarters back to Keeper's Heart in third.

"It's lovely to get another win as he's run some good races. We thought he'd appreciate stepping up to a mile and a half," Chris Armstrong, representing O'Brien, commented.

"Ryan gave him a lovely ride and wanted to get there at just the right time.

"That puts him in the mix now for Royal Ascot and he could go for the King Edward over a mile and a half or there is no reason why he wouldn't get the mile and six in a Queens Vase.

"We'll see over the next week where they are all going to fit in.

"It's nice to get another run into him, give him a confidence booster and he'll come on another bit from it.

"When the second horse got up his inside and came at him, he put the head down well. He's as game as the day is long."

STEWARDS REPORT

D. McMonagle, rider of Bad Desire (FR), trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was carried right in the straight.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee