Aidan O’Brien is set to rely upon Highland Reel in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot next Saturday.

The Galileo colt, whose biggest successes have arrived foreign soil in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, was narrowly denied by the Queen’s Darmouth in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

O’Brien said: “Highland Reel looks like our runner in the King George.

“Sir Isaac Newton is also in there but Highland Reel may be our only runner.”

The master of Ballydoyle has saddled three previous winners of the midsummer showpiece in Berkshire, with Galileo (2001), Dylan Thomas (2007) and Duke Of Marmalade (2008) all on the roll of honour.