West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon is banking on a good pace for Youmzain to upset Duke Of Marmalade in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, writes Russell Smith.

Channon's five-year-old, the 3-1 second favourite for the midsummer showpiece, reversed Epsom form with Solider Of Fortune in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of last month when the race was run to suit him.

Jockey Richard Hughes insists the strong pace in France was far removed from that of the Coronation Cup in which the pacemakers were ignored and it turned into a sprint.

Channon said: "The race in France was truly run and for me was as strongly-contested as the King George is going to be.

"Youmzain sat closer than he usually does, but you could see he was going to win a long way out.

"Before then everybody wanted to knock him, but all of a sudden he's become very popular.

"It's up to him to do the talking on Saturday, but I think he's got as good a chance as last year when he was second to Dylan Thomas."

Channon enjoyed an across-the-card double on Saturday when Shadow Bay scored at Ripon and Rileyskeepingfaith won at Newmarket.

Sam Hitchcott was in the saddle as Shadow Bay took a seller at the north Yorkshire venue, while Eddie Creighton powered Rileyskeepingfaith home by a head in a six-furlong maiden at Head- quarters.

Intrepid Jack, from Hughie Morrison's East Ilsley stables, gained his biggest career success when bursting Corrybrough's bubble in the Group 3 Uplands Racing Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

Enjoying the quick ground, the six-year-old stormed home by two lengths under George Baker from Wantage trainer Henry Candy's highly-regarded sprinter.

No-one was more surprised by the 12-1 chance's win than Morrison, who said: "I was not remotely hopeful.

"He made them look very moderate - when I say moderate George said he picked up like a very decent horse. He needs a flat track and decent ground."

Intrepid Jack could now head for the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville next month.

It also sparked an across-the-card double for the East Ilsley trainer, who sent out Sohraab to land a five-furlong handicap at Newmarket.

Rankayo Hitam, from Paul Cole's Whatcombe stables, near Wantage, was awarded a Lingfield claimer after William Buick, the rider of first past the post, Hilbre Court, weighed in a 1lb lighter than he weighed out.

Cole's charge, ridden by John Egan, was beaten a neck, but was handed the race after colt was disqualified following an objection from the clerk of the scales.

Alan Jarvis, who trains at Twyford, near Bicester, sent out Gleaming Spirit to win at Yarmouth.

Darren Williams made all the running on the four-year-old to beat Nusoor by half a length in a five-furlong handicap.

Over the jumps, Sister Agnes, from Milton Harris's Edgcote yard, near Banbury, sprang an 18-1 surprise at Stratford.

John Kington brought the four-year-old filly home by four and a half lengths from Acapulco Bay in a novices' handicap hurdle.