News round-up: Alamshar's preparation for the weekend's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes is going according to plan ahead of the £750,000 Ascot showpiece.

The Epsom Derby third overcame a late injury scare to win the Irish equivalent to earn his position at the head of the betting for the King George, the Aga Khan's colt having suffered from a back problem just two days before the Curragh Classic.

"He seems fine. We have to mind his back all the time," Alamshar's trainer, John Oxx, told attheraces. "I wouldn't say we've no problems but it's kept under control and he's in good form at the moment."

Alamshar also had an abscess in his build-up to the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, which he won, at Leopardstown in May.

"He tends to give us some last-minute dramas and we've got several days to go yet," Oxx added. "We'll keep our fingers crossed.

"He just needs attention all the time, but he's been fine. He's been working away and things are going well. He worked today and he's pretty fit and ready.

"He's in good form, he's fresh and well. We are happy with him, so it's so far so good."

The Aga Khan's racing manager, Pat Downes, added: "We were pleased with the way Alamshar went. He moved nicely over a mile on grass and seems well on target for the King George."

Alamshar got the better of top French colt Dalakhani by half a length after a protracted battle in the Irish Derby but was quick to recover from his exertions.

"He always bounces out of his races very well," Oxx said. "They never seem to take much out of him and he's had an uninterrupted routine since then."

The trainer is at a loss to understand why Alamshar is a shorter price than Kris Kin in the midsummer highlight, as he was a length behind Michael Stoute's colt at Epsom.

"Kris Kin has beaten him fairly and squarely and it was only his fourth start. Kris Kin has beaten him so why isn't he favourite? Our fellow we think ran a bit better at the Curragh - a bit sharper.

"But we hope our fellow has come on since then and he'll probably need to have come on to have any chance in the King George."

The Curragh-based trainer is under no illusion as to the task facing Alamshar on Saturday when the Classic generation take on the older horses.

"There are plenty of dangers," Oxx said. "The three-year-olds have yet to prove themselves against the older horses.

"There are plenty of good older horses there, but it's the King George so you expect the opposition to be tough."

Meanwhile, Marcus Tregoning's high-class performer Nayef, runner-up 12 months ago, is on target to bid to go one better.

Nayef has been a model of consistency, having won four Group One races and finished out of the first four only once in 17 starts.

The Kingdown trainer has been happy with the five-year-old in his build-up to the King George.

Tregoning said: "He's working well and his weight is good and we are very happy with him."

The current fast conditions should suit Nayef. But Tregoning rates Sulamani a big threat.

"If Sulamani comes back to his best and it rains he's very much a danger. He's a very good horse.

"But we are very happy with ours. He's in as good a form as we've seen him before a big race."