The big rematch between Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is on as the pair are set to line out in the Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.
Last season's dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin had the edge in those Classic contests, but it was John Murphy's White Birch who accounted for Aidan O'Brien's colt in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last month.
Nevertheless, the bookmakers have the Ballydoyle runner as their favourite at odds of 7-4, expecting him to come forward from the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
French challengers Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) are set for action, while Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB})–who is likely to run in the Queen Anne on the opening day–Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and 2020 winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) are also among 13 confirmations.
James Tate's Royal Dress (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a luckless third at Epsom in the Princess Elizabeth S., has been supplemented for the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. The winner of that race, John and Sean Quinn's Breege (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), features in the 19 possibles, too.
Surprisingly, there is no Aidan O'Brien representative, but his son Joseph can choose from Goldana (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Gregarina (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) and Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), last year's winner when with Tom Clover. John and Thady Gosden's Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Willie McCreery's Ocean Jewel (Ire) (Sioux Nation) are other major contenders.
A big field looks assured in the Queen Mary, with 36 youngsters entered, including Wesley Ward's Burning Pine (Nyquist) and Saturday Flirt (Mendelssohn), Aidan O'Brien's Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Andrew Balding's Kassaya (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a half-sister to Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
There are 17 in the Queen's Vase, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for seven, including the promising Highbury (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), who won by seven and a half lengths last time out. Balding's Derby fifth Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) and Roger Varian's Defiance (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are others of note.
A total of 66 remain in the Royal Hunt Cup, with the weights headed by last year's runner-up Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). Ouzo (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Notre Belle Bete (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Beshtani (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) are others towards the top.
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