Pat Smullen targets King George before gearing up for Galway

Snow Sky has been supplemented into the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Pat Smullen celebrates winning the Darley Irish Oaks. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Pat Smullen celebrates winning the Darley Irish Oaks. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho

Pat Smullen will attempt to continue his run of Group One success on Snow Sky in Saturday's King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot but Ireland's champion jockey already has an eye on next week's Galway festival action.

Snow Sky has been supplemented into the King George, one of 10 possible rivals to the unbeaten Derby hero Golden Horn, in a race over the course and distance Smullen won last month’s Hardwicke Stakes on the horse at Royal Ascot.

Free Eagle also landed the Prince Of Wales's Stakes for Smullen at Royal Ascot and the rider partnered Covert Love to Irish Oaks glory on Saturday. The in-form jockey faces a typically busy Galway, however, for his boss, Dermot Weld.

“The boss, for as long as I can remember, has targeted the place with great force. It’s an enjoyable week but also very important,” Smullen said.

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The action is also in the west today in Ballinrobe where the former course winner Supreme Vic will have to post a career ratings best if she’s to follow up a recent Gowran victory in a handicap hurdle.

Aminabad has a task on figures against Vercingetorix in the three-runner hurdle but appeals as more straight-forward.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column