He will now be teaming up with the horse that pipped his mount Hawk Wing a short head in last year’s Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Godolphin will be bidding to record their 100th Group One success in the £750,000 (€1m) feature.

Speaking on attheraces Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford confirmed the riding arrangements.

He said: “Grandera will be ridden by Mick Kinane with Jamie Spencer on Leadership and Frankie on Sulamani.

“We will put them (cheek pieces) on Grandera. His last two runs have been disappointing but he’s well in himself.

“Sulamani obviously doesn’t show a lot at home. He is not a robust horse that requires a lot of hard work going into a race.

“Obviously it was a great performance in Dubai but we came back to Newmarket and we took our time with him because we knew the races for him were in the second half of the season.”

Sulamani finished a below-par fifth (promoted to fourth) in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in his European comeback race at the end of last month.

Explaining the disappointing effort Crisford said: “I think a combination of factors worked against him on that occasion. The ground was probably a bit quick and I think the pace in the race was probably not quite strong enough.

“There were one or two legitimate excuses. Nevertheless we were disappointed that he didn’t finish better than his position.

“Having said that, he’s made significant progress since that event. I think going into the King George the whole of the Godolphin team would be a lot happier with him and very much hopeful that he can reproduce his best form.”

Godolphin will not be running a confirmed pacemaker.

“Looking at the way the race is shaping up right now, it looks like the pace is going to be on,” Crisford went on.

“I’m sure especially with the younger horses coming through probably with half a mile to run that the battle will really start early.

“Leadership is a natural pace horse and if for some reason the pace was not strong enough, he could pick it up.”

Pat Eddery is due to ride Millenary and the 11-time champion jockey will be riding in his final King George after announcing his retirement from the saddle at the end of this season.

“My horse has got great form this year,” he said.

“He’s run three times, won twice (although he was once later placed second after causing interference), and just been beaten by Warrsan giving 3lb at Newmarket on his other run.

“He’s got solid form and on that he has to be thereabouts.

“I don’t think the blinkers really worked the oracle, it’s just when the ground is a bit fast he tends to hang right and they just straighten him up a little bit.”

Eddery has won the King George previously on the star performers Grundy in 1975 and on Dancing Brave 11 years later.

There was one millimetre of rain overnight at Ascot and the going is now described as good to firm, good in places.

Further rain at the Berkshire track would assist the chances of Millenary, whose connections have warned that the six-year-old may not run if the ground is too firm.

All the leading fancies stood their ground at today’s final declaration stage.

Ante-post favourite Alamshar heads the list of 14 runners, the largest field since Ile De Bourbon beat 13 rivals in 1978.

Alamshar along with Vodafone Derby hero Kris Kin and Tote Dante Stakes winner Magistretti represent the Classic generation.

But the older horses have a very strong team headed by last year’s runner-up Nayef, Coral-Eclipse Stakes victor Falbrav and Arc second Sulamani.

Kris Kin will bid to become the third Derby winner in the last 10 years to go on to success in the King George.

Lammtarra followed up his Epsom triumph with victory in 1995 while Galileo achieved the feat two years ago.

Kieren Fallon, who won the King George last year on Golan, will ride Kris Kin for Newmarket trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

Nayef will have the benefit of a pacemaker in Izdiham while northern hopes rest with last year’s St Leger winner Bollin Eric.

Bollin Eric was beaten a neck by Indian Creek over course and distance at the Royal meeting and David Elsworth’s charge renews rivalry once again on Saturday.

Clive Brittain runs his improved performer Warrsan and South African runner Victory Moon adds an international flavour to a vintage renewal.