RACING:  John Oxx yesterday indicated that his Irish Derby hero Alamshar was on course for a showdown with his Epsom conqueror Kris Kin in the King George, writes Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent

Alamshar was reported "sound, fresh and well" after his defeat of Dalakhani on Sunday and will be travelling over to Ascot with a superior rating to Kris Kin.

The Irish handicapper, Gary O'Gorman, has handed the colt a mark of 126, the same as High Chaparral last year, which is 4lbs superior to the 122 Kris Kin earned at Epsom.

"Brian Boru, who earned 116 last year, is the horse we went through to give that 126, said O'Gorman.

"Dalakhani is on 125 but there is nothing to say that Alamshar won't keep improving. He looks progressive."

The figures, however, didn't appear to cut much ice with Oxx yesterday as he confirmed the likelihood of the King George target.

"I wouldn't have any great view on it but I'm sure Kris Kin is capable of improving also and there wouldn't be much between them," he said.

"Alamshar ate up all his feed after the race and trotted out sound this morning. We haven't had a close look at his back but he seems to be moving normally.

"The King George is the plan. He likes fast ground so we'll keep him going," Oxx said.

The same cannot be said for The Great Gatsby, who trailed in a weary fifth at the Curragh and will be no rested.

"Mick (Kinane) said he rode very dead so he will be given a break.

"Brian Boru, however, will be kept going even though we have no firm plans as yet," said Aidan O'Brien yesterday.

The 150 to 1 Derby revelation was O'Brien's Roosevelt in third but the trainer was not surprised by the effort.

"We've always thought a lot of him. He was sick after he ran at Gowran and he has only been back for three to four weeks so he ran a great race," he said.

Roosevelt, however, did present something of a problem for the handicappers, who ultimately have handed the unexposed colt a rating of 120lbs.

"He was the problem horse in the Irish Derby. There's usually one.

"It remains to be seen if he is that good," said Gary O'Gorman.

KING GEORGE BETTING: (Paddy Power's) - 3 Alamshar, 4 Nayef, 9-2 Kris Kin & Sulamani, 13-2 Ange Gabriel, 9 Islington, 16 Bar.