SIR Michael Stoute will be looking for his sixth King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this Saturday.

The Newmarket handler holds a strong hand with Crystal Ocean and Poet's Word, the first and second favourites, both going forward for the Grade 1 sprint over a mile and a half.

Both were successful last time out at Royal Ascot, with Crystal Ocean, owned and bred by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, taking the 12-furlong G2 Hardwicke Stakes by two and a half lengths.

The Saeed Suhail-0wned Poet's Word got the better of Cracksman in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes over 10 furlongs.

Stoute shares the honour of being the prestigious race’s most successful trainer of all time alongside Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor and the late Dick Hern with five victories.

Stoute's five previous winners are Shergar (1981), Opera House (1993), Golan (2002), Conduit (2009) and Harbinger (2010).

Prize money has been boosted again this year, up by £100,000 to £1.25 million, making the race the third most valuable 0f the year in Britain.

Meanwhile, Upper Lambourn trainer Sylvester Kirk will be banking on Salouen to bring him success.

The four-year-old son of Canford Cliffs finished third on his seasonal debut over Saturday's course and distance in the Listed Carey Group Buckhounds Stakes in May.

Kirk, based at Cedar Lodge Stables, said: "Salouen is in great form at home and we are looking forward to running him at Ascot on Saturday.

"He has run some excellent races in defeat this term and I was pleased with his run at Saint-Cloud the last day. We were slightly disappointed as he was in front that day and was only beaten in the closing stages.

"Regarding the going, you would have to say that his best form has been when there has been some cut in the ground.

"However, he has run plenty of times on good to firm going. The ground is being watered and we're hopeful of a good run on Saturday."

Aidan O'Brien, the reigning champion trainer in Britain and Ireland, has landed the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes four times, most recently with Highland Reel in 2016.

He has five contenders going forward in Hydrangea, Cliffs Of Moher, Kew Gardens, Nelson and Rostropovich.

Saturday’s seven-race programme also features the £150,000 Gigaset International Heritage Handicap over seven furlongs.

Ascot also races today (Friday) with a seven-race programme running from 1.50-5.15pm.