Workforce (10/11) is priced up to gain revenge over Cape Blanco (11/2) for his defeat in the Dante Stakes at York when the rivals meet again for Saturday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The Derby winner was beaten by three and a quarter lengths when Cape Blanco took the Group Two Dante in May over ten furlongs.

But subsequent events have shown that form to be rather suspect as the Aidan O’Brien trained-colt was well beaten in the French Derby next time.

Although Cape Blanco stormed back to wn the Irish Derby, there is a growing belief that it was a below-par renewal at the Curragh when he beat stablemates Jan Vermeer and Midas Touch – who were both beaten a long way by Workforce at Epsom.

Mark Johnston’s Monterosso, fourth at the Curragh, failed to deliver when going off favourite at Hamburg for the German Derby – hardening the line of thought that Workforce can turn the tables on Cape Blanco when they leave the stalls on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute had the first three home last year in the King George at Ascot and he again saddles three runners, although one of them, Confront (200/1), is a pacemaker.

Harbinger (9/4) has won all three of his starts this season but not at Group One level and significantly, stable jockey Ryan Moore has opted to ride Workforce instead.