Mandatory Credit: Photo by Masatoshi Okauchi/Shutterstock (15991875r) Calandagan, Mickael Barzalona Winner Calandagan ridden by jockey Mickael Barzalona, The Japan Cup , Horse Racing, Tokyo racecourse, Tokyo – 30 Nov 2025 Credit: Shutterstock EditorialTOP trainer Richard Hannon says Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes favourite Calandagan is ‘pretty much unbeatable’.
His comments came before Ryan Moore’s ride in Saturday’s blockbuster Group 1 was confirmed.
Calandagan looks nigh-on impossible to beat, according to top trainer Richard Hannon Credit: Getty
The trainer thinks Francis Graffard’s awesome five-year-old won’t even need to be 100 per cent to claim this Group 1 Credit: PA
French raider Calandagan is back to defend his crown won last year but faces a four-strong Aidan O’Brien squad.
Leading the line is Irish Derby hero Benvenuto Cellini, who has been given an outside draw in stall nine.
On his inside will be pacesetter Action, also trained by O’Brien, and next to him in seven will be Calandagan.
The latter bombed at Epsom on dire ground but came back with a bang in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Calandagan is as short as 13-8 with bookies to go back-to-back in the summer showpiece.
But Hannon reckons those odds look generous.
The multiple Group 1-winning handler told Boyle Sports : “You cannot look beyond Calandagan, who won last year.
“To win from where he did in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud was an extremely good performance.
“You take that one blip of the Coronation Cup out, and he is pretty much unbeatable.
“I cannot see a horse good enough to beat him.
“The Japanese don’t tend to win here. But Calandagan has gone there and won.
“And it takes an extremely good horse to do that. That might have had a bit of an impact on him early on in the year.
“But the way he won the other day and where he came from, was very impressive.
“And if he’s back to 95 per cent of what he was last year, he’ll win.”
Timeform reckon since they started recording.
But the Ballydoyle boss also saddles Minnie Hauk, who will be ridden by Wayne Lordan.
Former Derby hero Lambourn is in the field too but looks to be on pacemaker duties.
Coral report money for Japanese superstar Masquerade Ball, who has been punted into 7-2 second-fav.
The firm’s David Stevens said: “Calandagan remains a clear favourite to win successive King Georges, but it’s all change as second favourite, as support has seemingly dried up for Benvenuto Cellini, despite the Irish Derby winner having Ryan Moore in the saddle.
“Instead, Masquerade Ball is now the closest market rival to last year’s winner for what is a King George with true international flavour.”
King George odds via Coral
13-8 Calandagan
7-2 Masquerade Ball
9-2 Benvenuto Cellini
13-2 Minnie Hauk
8 Goliath, Kalpana
40 Wurttemberg
100 Lambourn, Action
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