Conduit is slashed for King George

Conduit has been the subject of a major betting plunge for next month's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Sir Michael Stoute's St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf winner, who is expected to take his chance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown a week on Saturday, has been slashed to 6-4 favourite from 3-1 with William Hill.

Dual classic winner Sea the Stars, who is a doubtful runner, is at 5-1 with Derby runner-up Fame And Glory at 7-1.

But Peter Reynolds, manager of Ballymacoll Stud, who own Conduit, said: "I have no idea where this money has come from.

"It's an extraordinary price change even though it has been reported that Conduit has been working well."

The son of Dalakhani, who made his seasonal debut in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown last month, will bid to make it a fourth King George for trainer Michael Stoute after success with Shergar (1981), Opera House (1993) and Golan (2002).